In November 2024, I purchased a Genmitsu 3018 Pro. Not long after, I began upgrading, starting with the expansion upgrade, Z-axis upgrade, and I changed out the 775 spindle motor for a 300W spindle with a PSU.
To me, it wasn’t enough. So, I upgraded the NEMA 17’s to ones that have more torque, upgraded the linear screw on the Y-axis to a 16mm ballscrew, changed out the control unit, added a 2nd PSU, and added an SSR. I also changed the working area to 370mm x 370mm.
Granted, the machine itself was $170, and the upgrades? Um…I…spent $500 in upgrades, screws, extrusions, etc., as there is very little left of the original machine.
At current, all the upgrades are processes in fabricating different sizes of well-built CNC machines that will not cost signing over your first-born child to obtain.
I will provide instructions after I am finished.
I bought an all metal one just for the heck of it. I was surprised how decent it was. The size is limiting for me, but for a beginner, it would be a decent start. The brass anti backlash nut is a little noisy.
The brass backlash nut is the reason I switched to a ballscrew type…I kept having to disassemble the lead screw to clean it, then spray it with a dry lube. Several projects were either unfinished or destroyed because of the old setup
Wow! That’s an incredible transformation! You’ve basically rebuilt the Genmitsu 3018 Pro into a powerhouse of precision. It’s impressive how methodical you’ve been with each upgrade—boosting torque, refining accuracy, and expanding the workspace. At this point, it’s less of a stock CNC and more of a custom-engineered machine tailored exactly to your needs.
Once you finalize everything and share the instructions, your modifications could be a game-changer for people looking to build high-quality CNCs without breaking the bank. I’d love to hear more about how your final version performs—any unexpected challenges or victories along the way?
Best regards,
Laura Scott
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