Otherwise referred to as Computer Numerical Control, CNC has become one of those tools disrupting the traditional woodworking tools market. Once only used in industry and by those with large budgets, now the best CNC machines for woodworking are cheaper and more accessible than ever.
A CNC is a computer powered and controlled machine used for cutting a ton of materials including plastic, metal, wood, composites, glass, etc. for the making of various objects, decorations, pieces of furniture, etc.
Before developing this computer-controlled machine, woodworkers who needed to cut various materials used their hands to guide each and every cut. This machine disrupts this by offering them computer-aided cutting that is efficient, easier, and more accurate.
The benefits these CNC routers offer woodworkers have made it a sought after machine.
Since there are tons of these routers available in the market, most woodworkers, especially beginners, have found themselves in a dilemma when it comes to picking one of them.
Best CNC Machines for Woodworking Projects
1. The Taishi 220V Air Cooled CNC Spindle Motor
If you’ve used most CNC routers, you would agree that most of them heat up fast. The Taishi Air Cooled CNC begs to differ in that regard.
This powerful router is designed to offer you more. First, it is a super durable router capable of lasting for a long time.
Specification
- Brand; Taishi
- Weight; 16.37 pounds
- Power; 2.2KW
- Voltage; 2200 Volts
- Cooling method; air
- Speed (RPM); 0 – 2400 RPM
- Material; silver
- Bearing lubrication; grease
Pros
- It is an ideal CNC router.
- Noise emanating from this router is quite low.
- It is affordably priced
Cons
- Compared to the others, its Low-Speed setting does not heat up as fast as it should.
2. Square Air Cooled Spindle Motor (2.2KW)
This product comes with what is referred to as the VFD Inverter, which increases its overall performance. In addition to this, it also has an ER20 collet.
Let’s talk about the VFD inverter and how it boosts performance in this router. With an input voltage and frequency of 220 Volts and 48-63 Hz, respectively, this core component helps to ensure more precise and accurate cutting of materials.
Like the other product, this is another powerful CNC router that happens to be one of the best you can get your hands on.
Specification
- Weight; 11.6 pounds
- Power; 2.2KW
- Voltage; 220 Volts
- Cooling method; air
- Speed; 10 – 2400 RPM
- Bearing lubrication; grease
Pros
- Built with an inverter which helps to boost performance.
- It has a high RPM speed
- Ideal for cutting almost every material
Cons
- It is quite expensive
3. JFT 6090 CNC Router (2200W)
With JFT known for making some of the best CNC machines for woodworking available, the 6090 CNC Router does not falter in that regard. This product is an ideal industrial level machine for all industrial woodworking projects.
Some of the first things that will endear you to this product when you first lay eyes on it are its beautiful and modern design and structure. Unlike any of the routers you’ve made use of prior, this machine will definitely leave a lasting impression on you.
This product has a beautiful design, but it is also made with some of the best materials in the market. The use of these quality materials further makes this one very durable router.
Another feature you would find fascinating when you use this router is versatility. While that word is often overused in the world today, this product embodies everything it stands for.
For example, this product can be used to cut various materials, ranging from iron to copper, wood, glass, metal, plastic, etc. Aside from that, it can also be used to process a ton of other objects like sculpture, two-color plates, etc.
It is truly a multi-purpose router.
Specification
- Brand; JFT Jessica
- Weight; 352 pounds
- Speed; 2000 – 24000 RPM
- Cooling method; water
Pros
- It is a multi-purpose machine.
- It is an ideal CNC machine for cutting various materials.
- It has a greater speed revolution per minute than most of the other products.
Cons
- It is quite heavy to carry about.
4. Genmitsu 3018-Pro CNC Router
Being a successor to the 3018 MX2 (2-axis), the 3018-Pro happens to have an edge of it in terms of overall usage.
This product has been built to be durable and to hold materials in a better and more suitable manner than most of the other routers.
If you’ve used some of the routers, then you would agree that restarting a cut or cutting session without breaking bits is a difficult task. This product offers you the opportunity to restart cuts without having to break bits.
Additionally, this product also ensures that you are able to recover when you stop a cut for any reason. Surprisingly, this router offers you offline control, meaning that you can control each cut without necessarily connecting to your computer.
To enable you to control this product, you would need to purchase the Mach3 software. Unlike the other parts of this product, this software is not included in the box, meaning that you have to get it separately.
Interestingly, the Mach3 software is compatible with the Windows and MAC operating systems.
Specification
- Brand; JFT Jessica
- Weight; 15.5 pounds
- Material; aluminum
- Speed; 10000 RPM
- Cooling method; air
Pros
- It is a powerful machine that is both versatile and durable.
- It offers you total control.
- It is a high-performance CNC router.
- It offers you a stable engraving table.
Cons
- It is quite expensive.
5. JFT 3040 CNC Wood Router
To help you resume carving from where you stopped, the start button and the resume carving functions have been incorporated.
This water-cooled spindle motor is a low noise machine that offers higher precision and accuracy level. The ball screw used in the manufacture of this product has been identified to be of the best quality, making it incapable of rusting or breaking down.
One of the most fascinating features of this product is its high-speed motor. Located right in the direction of the 3-axis, this feature affords you the rare privilege of returning to the machine’s original point by clicking just one button. Sounds impressive right?
Like the other product reviewed, you are required to purchase the Mach3 software if you’re to gain control of this machine offline.
Specification
- Brand; JFT Jessica
- Weight; 105 pounds
- Power; 1500W
- Voltage; 220 Volts
- Cooling method; water
- Speed; 0 – 24000 RPM
Pros
- It is a well-designed product.
- It is made from the best materials available.
- It is incredibly easy to make use of.
- It is both creative and versatile.
- It is an ideal CNC router for long-term projects.
Cons
- It is quite a heavy product.
6. RATTMMOTOR Air Cooled Spindle Motor
Like most of the others reviewed here, this product has an RPM of 24000, which makes it one of the fastest spindle motors out there.
When you hold this product for the first time, one of the first things you notice is its lightweight nature. It is a portable and unique CNC router that lets you cut as many materials as you want.
Although being suitable for almost every material, it is particularly ideal for non-metal materials. For durability, the manufacturers of this product have built it with some of the most high-quality materials you’ve ever seen.
Finally, this product is capable of offering you more.
Specification
- Brand; Changseng
- Weight; 5.2 pounds
- Power; 2.2KW
- Voltage; 220 Volts
- Cooling method; air
- Speed; 9000 – 24000 RPM
- Material; iron
Pros
- It is a lightweight product.
- It offers you an opportunity to carve as many materials as you want.
- It is a versatile CNC router.
Cons
- Its Low-Speed Setting starts at 9000 RPM
- It is mainly suitable for non-metallic materials
Buying Guide
Thanks to the development of CNC machines, cutting and carving woodblocks and other materials has become easier. While there are tons of these routers to choose from, people may still find it hard to pick one.
This buying guide will simplify the entire process, ensuring that you can pick one.
Weight
Often most people overlook the aspect of weight when it comes to the factors to take into consideration when shopping for any CNC machine.
Some of the most common materials used in the production of CNC machines are aluminum, iron, and polyester. While these materials are all good, the iron cast is way better because of its weight. The iron makes them suitable for heavier jobs.
When shopping for a CNC machine, you should consider the weight and type of material you plan on carving. If you’re to carve heavier materials, an iron cast-made machine would be best for you.
Speed
Otherwise referred to as the feed rate, speed happens to be another key feature to look out for when choosing a CNC machine. You’re probably wondering why this feature is so important, I’ll tell you.
When cutting or carving materials with any CNC machine, speed determines the rate at which you can cut materials during the manufacturing phase.
This simply means that if you want to cut materials faster, then it is only best that you opt for a machine with high-speed levels.
Spare Parts Availability
When getting machines, most people tend to forget to check for the availability of spare parts. That should be one of the first things you need to look out.
As machines, even best CNC machines for woodworking may break down, meaning that you would need to either repair or change some of the parts. If there are no spare parts available, you may have to get a new one.
Checking for the availability of spare parts before picking a CNC machine is also important.
Power Consumption
Always check for the power consumption level of the CNC you plan on getting. If there are adjustments to be made, you should make them earlier.
While the machine you opt for may not be that expensive, the cost of powering it will make running it very expensive. To prevent that, you should check for the power consumption level of each machine.