4040 Reno CNC Router Milling Machine, Upgrade Desktop Engraver with Silent Movement for Wood Acrylic Metal, Support 4th Axis Rotary Module, Working Area 400 x 400 x 76mm

The media could not be loaded. My husband has been wanting to start this as a hobby for some time. We already have experience with 3D printers, so we figured that something like this would be relatively easy to set up, after all, it's billed as being a good machine for beginners.Yes, I can hear some of you already chuckling.The machine was relatively easy to put together - it took my husband around an hour or so. The instructions are clear, although he had to refer to some online videos to double check the wiring positions as it's not obvious in the included instructions.It's a slight annoyance that a computer needs to be connected to the machine to read the files. An interface would've been better - there is one available to purchase separately and I may well look at getting this in the future.There's an included USB stick containing software and some sample files to install on your PC. Sadly the included instructions don't extend to the usage of the software - it's a little like being given an extreme version of, ahem, photo...shop and being told to figure it out yourself. There's a lot of trial, error and searching the internet hoping someone, somewhere can help.Ours didn't work straight out of the box once the software was installed. We had every error code known to man and it refused to touch the included probe to even get started.There was much frustration and hair pulling, but 10 hours later we eventually got the sample printed. It was a joyous event. It's possibly the first time I've seen my husband reduced to tears.It looks ok - I'm not blown away but it's a start.Being new to this, we're currently at the mercy of the router bits provided, although I've now ordered more. The included bits are all the same and seem to be for lighter engraving work. I've already ordered a variation of router bits as my husband is eager to try more designs. It would've been nice had a variety of bits been included.Overall it's a good machine, if not frustrating for a beginner. It's complicated to set up the software, for the price I feel an interface of some sort should be included and it could do with more router bits to get started. Having said that, with a lot of perseverance and research, I'm hopeful we can get this working wonderfully well.

UPDATE 2 - I have got a replacement board from the seller and it works like a dream now, thanksUPDATE - The machine's controller board seems to have failed after only 3 months of light use.It's a fantastic machine for anyone who wants to get into desktop CNC carving and cutting. This CNC router is very user-friendly, even for beginners like me. It comes mostly assembled, and the setup process was simple. The motor is strong enough to handle a variety of materials, from wood and acrylic to even softer metals. And, with the ±0.1mm accuracy on the XY axis, I can create incredibly detailed projects. The silent operation lets me work on projects without disturbing anyone. The working area is a good size for most hobby projects, and the ability to use 4th axis rotary module opens up a whole new world of creative possibilities, like engraving curved objects.

Assembled in 10-15 minutes. One small criticism, the MDF bed flexes a little in the middle of the table, but a 18mm spoilboard will take care of that.Couldn't use my preferred control software (Openbuilds Controller), but works perfectly on Candle(supplied).This is an upgrade from my 3018 Prover, well pleased.