Lunyee 3018 Pro Ultra CNC Review: A Compact Desktop CNC Router for Hobbyists and Beginners

Written by Caleb Whitman

I recently got my hands on the Lunyee 3018 Pro Ultra CNC, a compact desktop CNC router that’s perfect for hobbyists and beginners looking for an easy-to-assemble machine for home projects. After unboxing, assembling, and running it through a full set of CNC milling tests in my workshop, here’s my honest take on what it can actually do.

 

Unboxing and First Impressions

Right out of the box, the 3018 Pro Ultra is well-packed and mostly pre-assembled, which is always nice. Inside, you get the CNC machine, a thick instruction manual, the control board, a 500 W air-cooled spindle, and a small “magic box” with screws, wrenches, and a USB stick with software.

 

The control board is a JRBL 32-bit board mounted on a rigid fiberglass base with a clear acrylic cover to keep dust out. All the main connectors are there: spindle, limit switches, touch probe, and the offline controller. One thing to note—the stepper drivers are soldered in place, so upgrading them isn’t super easy. But that’s pretty common for modern hobby CNC machines.

 

The offline controller lets you move the axes, start and stop the spindle, and load files from the USB stick without connecting to a computer. It’s handy for basic operations, though it doesn’t save positions or let you tweak advanced settings. So it’s convenient but not a full replacement for PC control.

 

 

Assembly and Setup

Assembly is simple and takes about 20–30 minutes since most of the frame is already put together. I only needed to mount the base, attach the X-axis limit switches, install the spindle, and connect the control board. Cable management works, but the included sleeve is a bit flimsy. If you plan to use this machine often, a basic cable chain will make things cleaner and more durable.

 

Before my first cuts, I checked the flatness of the work surface using the classic paper test. Across multiple points, the surface variation was under 1 mm—not perfect, but fine for a hobby CNC router. If you need tighter tolerances, surfacing the spoilboard with a wide bit will get everything aligned.

 

 

Performance and Material Testing

I generated G-code in Vectric Aspire and tested the machine on several materials:

• 6 mm plywood: Clean cuts with a down-cut bit; no chatter, no burning.
• 20 mm birch wood: At 700 mm/min, it handled multi-pass cuts smoothly.
• MDF: Fast and easy milling; MDF is what 3018 CNCs love.
• 3 mm aluminum composite: Slightly rough edges, mostly due to the bit, but it cut through fine.
• 3 mm acrylic: Good results with slower spindle speed and a bit of lubrication to avoid melting.
• Aluminum: I kept the feeds conservative since I rarely cut aluminum, but it held up and produced usable results.

 

Overall, this desktop CNC handled wood, acrylic, and soft metals well. It’s capable of small milling and cutting projects in a home workshop without any issues.

 

 

Key Features and Takeaways

1. Solid build quality

At 14 kg, it feels substantial. The 12 mm linear guides and wide aluminum base keep vibration low, making the setup rigid for a 3018-class CNC.

2. Fast, simple assembly

Most parts come pre-installed. Extras like limit switches, an emergency stop button, a touch probe, and the offline controller make setup quick—about 20–30 minutes.

3. Capable 500 W spindle

Handles wood, plywood, plastics, acrylic, composites, and soft metals with ease. Great for relief carving, small milling jobs, and everyday hobby work.

4. Minor downsides

The cable sleeve is basic, so a cable chain is a good upgrade. The 500 W power supply works, but for heavier milling, a stronger PSU or dedicated spindle supply could help.

 

 

Final Thoughts

For hobbyists, makers, and beginners getting into CNC, or anyone looking for a reliable, beginner-friendly desktop CNC router for small home workshops, the Lunyee 3018 Pro Ultra CNC is a strong choice. Its combination of rigid construction, easy setup, and versatile cutting performance makes it one of the better machines in the 3018 category. It’s not perfect, but the limitations are minor compared to what you get. For typical home projects—engraving, cutting, small milling jobs—it gets the job done and does it well. If you’re looking for an affordable hobby CNC machine for home projects, this is worth considering.