In 2011, SainSmart started the way most makers do: with an open-source board, a soldering iron, and the belief that precision tools shouldn’t come with an industrial price tag. Years of Arduino-compatible boards, 3D printers, and late-night maker projects later, our community kept asking for one more thing: a way to cut and carve, not just print and solder.

That's how Genmitsu was born — and in 2018, the very first 3018 CNC router shipped. It wasn't perfect. Ours never are on the first try. But it was the start of a specific, eight-year education: thousands of beginners telling us exactly what almost stopped them from finishing their first project.

The 3018 REX carries both timelines forward — fifteen years of building for makers, and eight years spent learning what a first CNC cut actually needs to go right.

10-Min Fast Setup & Modular Design:

Traditional 3018 CNC kits take over 2 hours to build. The 3018 REX features a pre-assembled modular design, letting beginners complete setup in under 10 minutes to start creating faster

Never Outgrow This Machine:

Add a laser module or a 4th-axis rotary attachment anytime—the ports are already built in, so you’re not stuck buying a new machine as your skills grow. Built-in Wi-Fi also lets you send jobs wirelessly, no cable required.

Nearly 2X Faster: Finish Projects Sooner:

Quiet, independent drivers mean less noise while you work. Cutting speeds run up to 3000mm/min—nearly double the 1500-2000mm/min of standard competitors—so your projects finish sooner.

Clean, Accurate Cuts Every Time:

A rock-solid dual-rail frame, optical-axis Y and Z, and linear bearings keep the bit steady for cuts accurate to ±0.1mm—no wobble, no wasted material. A taller 91mm Z-clearance also means thicker stock fits without extra risers.

Enhanced Safety & Easy GRBL Control:

Equipped with physical X/Y/Z limit switches and an instant Emergency Stop button for max safety. Fully compatible with mainstream GRBL 1.1h software, ensuring an easy learning curve

Fifteen Years of Makers, Eight Years of CNC — Not Just Machines

We didn't design the 3018 REX in a vacuum. It's built on eight years of CNC-specific feedback, layered on top of fifteen years of being a maker brand first — from the same community that's been sharing their boards, prints, and first cuts with us since our earliest open-source days. That's a Facebook group thousands of makers strong, and a maker showcase we run every year.