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-Minute CNC Router Setup:

Traditional 3018 CNC kits take over 2 hours to assemble by hand. The 3018 REX ships pre-assembled and modular, so beginners finish setup in under 10 minutes and start cutting sooner

Expandable CNC Router System:

Add a laser module or 4th-axis rotary attachment anytime through built-in ports, so you never outgrow this machine. Built-in WiFi sends jobs wirelessly, no cable required

High-Speed CNC Cutting Up to 3000mm/min:

Quiet, independent stepper drivers keep noise down. Speed nearly doubles the 1500 to 2000mm/min of standard CNC routers, so projects finish sooner 

Reinforced X-Axis for Precise Cuts:

A 10mm optical shaft and HG15 rail on the X-axis hold cuts to within ±0.1mm. A reinforced Z-axis and 91mm clearance fit thicker stock, and the Y-axis upgrades to a dual-rail kit, sold separately 

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.