2 machines compared on published specifications
This is the decision a lot of people face after a month on YouTube: buy the cheap 3018 to learn on, or spend properly on a LongMill and skip the upgrade. They are not the same class of machine - the LongMill has roughly seven times the bed, closed-loop motors and profiled rails - so the real question is whether you already know enough about your own work to justify the jump.
Every figure below is transcribed from the manufacturer's own published sheet and read live from the same database as the individual machine pages.
| Machine | List price | Work area | Z travel | Spindle | Drive loop | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genmitsu 3018-PROVer V2 | $269.00 | 290 × 180 mm | 40 mm | Not included | Not stated | 47 |
| Sienci LongMill MK3 30x30 | $1,890 CAD | 813 × 813 mm | 130 mm | Not included | Closed-loop | 68 |
Every figure below is transcribed from the manufacturer's published specification. Where a maker does not state something, the cell says so rather than carrying an estimate.
| Specification | Genmitsu 3018-PROVer V2 | Sienci LongMill MK3 30x30 |
|---|---|---|
| List price | $269.00 | $1,890 CAD |
| Cutting area (X × Y) | 290 × 180 mm | 813 × 813 mm |
| Z travel | 40 mm | 130 mm |
| Spindle | 775 spindle, 42mm diameter (power not rated by manufacturer) | Not included - add a router or spindle |
| Spindle mount | Not published | 65mm router or 80mm spindle |
| Frame | all aluminium | Not published |
| Drive system | Not published | T12 lead screws on all X, Y and Z axes |
| Linear guides | Not published | 15mm profiled linear guide rails and bearing blocks on all axes |
| Motors | Not published | High-torque NEMA 23 closed-loop steppers |
| Controller | Not published | grblHAL-based |
| Rapids / feed rate | Not published | 275 IPM max feed |
| Gantry clearance | Not published | 4.6" |
| Footprint | Not published | Approx. 40" x 45" x 20" including motor space |
| Country of origin | United States / China | Canada |
Buy this to find out whether you even like CNC
At this price it is a teaching tool, and everything you learn on it transfers upward. If you are not yet sure CNC is for you, or what you want to make, this is the cheapest way to find out - and if you outgrow it, you have lost very little.
Buy this if you already know what you want to build
Closed-loop NEMA 23 motors, 15mm profiled rails and a 32-inch square bed - a machine you grow into rather than out of. If you already know your parts do not fit on a 300mm bed, buying the 3018 first is a detour, not a saving.
If you have never run a CNC and are not certain you will stick with it, buy the 3018-PROVer V2, learn on it, and let it tell you what you actually need next. Most people under-estimate how much the accessories cost, and learning that lesson on a cheap machine is the point.
If you already know your work needs the envelope, skip the 3018 - the LongMill MK3 is a machine you will not outgrow in a hurry, and buying the small one first only delays the purchase you were always going to make.
