<a href="https://www.gearbest.com/3d-printers--3d-printer-kits/pp_356129.html?wid=21&amp;lkid=13218367"><img src="https://makerhacks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_5846-225x300.jpg" alt="T8 CNC mill review" width="225" height="300" /><br></a>The <a href="https://www.gearbest.com/3d-printers--3d-printer-kits/pp_356129.html?wid=21&amp;lkid=13218367">T8 CNC is a desktop CNC kit</a> built with aluminum extrusions, open source Arduino hardware, and GRBL software. If you were looking to learn CNC, perhaps this little $200 CNC mill could be a good start?
<h3>T8 CNC specs</h3>
Firstly, we need to address the obvious. This CNC mill is tiny. The cutting area is roughly the size of an A6 piece of paper. 130mm x 10mm x 4mm.

It does, however, come with a decent 24v motor as the router, getting up 7000rpm (not necessarily PWM, as we will discuss later).

This is why a lot of stores and reviews described it as for PCB milling. It is small but beefy.

<center> <img src="https://makerhacks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_6116-1024x1024.jpg" alt="T8 CNC Cutting Area" width="1024" height="1024" /><br></a> T8 CNC Cutting Area</center>

There are a lot of these machines out there and they all seem to have variations. Mine came with no instructions or software but did come with 4 v-cut end mill bits.

The T8 runs using an Arduino Uno clone and a CNC shield. Pretty standard stuff.
<h3>What can the T8 CNC do? What is it good for?</h3>
If it is so small and has a motor rather than a commercial router, what is it useful for?

First I would say due to it being a kit, the fact it is based on open hardware and software, and because it is so small, it would be good for learning, especially in a small classroom or makerspace. Everything learned on this machine is applicable to larger CNC operations.

We already mentioned that people see this as a PCB mill, but it can also handily cut and engrave plastics and wood, maybe even soft metals, though I did not try.
<h3>Building the T8 CNC Kit</h3>


As mentioned earlier, as for instructions you are pretty much on your own.

I did the crazy thing of just working off product images, and it worked out mostly. On <a href="https://www.gearbest.com/3d-printers--3d-printer-kits/pp_356129.html?wid=21&amp;lkid=13218367">the Gearbest product page, there are some videos and links</a>, plus <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/T8-Mini-CNC-Complete-Guide/">there is an Instructable here</a> that seems to be a slightly different machine to mine.

There <em>is</em> some soldering, the steppers arrive with snipped wires rather than connectors. My crimping tool came in handy.

You can get it working relatively well enough after building but set a good weekend aside, don't expect to build and run this guy over a lunch break.
<h3>Other than documentation - Any problems?</h3>
Unfortunately, the CNC shield is not set up for the pins of the latest GRBL firmware. After a little hacking and snooping I found I could connect the motor signal pin to the Uno and get it working.

<img src="https://makerhacks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_5743-e1519767351260-768x1024.jpg" alt width="768" height="1024" /><br>

While in theory, the machine is capable of speed control, the kit as arrived uses a relay to turn the motor off and on, so that's all you get as far as control is concerned without mods.

<img src="https://makerhacks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_5744-768x1024.jpg" alt="T8 CNC Motor relay" width="768" height="1024" /><br>
<h3>Modifications and Upgrades</h3>
Gearbest sent me this machine knowing I was into CNC (see future articles about my Sienci and X-Carve). While I was tempted to try some PCB milling, and still might, what I am more intruiged about is the upgradability of this guy.

It is built with standard extrusions, lead screws and smooth rods ... so I bought some new larger replacements. When the weather is better I will be taking all this to the Fuse33 maker space and upgrading. Look out for an update.
<h3>Bottom Line</h3>
If you are prepared to do a bit of research and effort, this is a fine little machine, and not only that, a good foundation for a much better machine. Think of it as buying a bill of materials for a CNC, rather than something that will give you support and hand holding.
<h4><a href="https://www.gearbest.com/3d-printers--3d-printer-kits/pp_356129.html?wid=21&amp;lkid=13218367">Take a look at Gearbest for more information and videos.</a></h4><br /><center><hr/><em>Posted from my blog with <a href='https://wordpress.org/plugins/steempress/'>SteemPress</a> : https://makerhacks.com/t8-cnc-kit-review/</em><hr/></center>

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