• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Maker Hacks

Maker Hacks

Ideas, news & tutorials for makers and hackers – Arduino/Raspberry Pi, 3D printing, robotics, laser cutting, and more

  • Home
  • About
  • YouTube
  • Recommendations
  • Contact

Sienci Mill One CNC Review

You are here: Home / Reviews and Buying Guides / Sienci Mill One CNC Review
FacebookTweetPin
Author: Chris Garrett

Sienci Mill One desktop CNC router is a compact, open-source, partially enclosed CNC machine for hobbyists and learners. Let's check it out!

I have had several CNC machines for a little while now and I just bought a brand new one, so I felt it was long overdue that I offered some thoughts on the Sienci Mill One which is what really got me into CNC.

The Sienci Mill One is a partially-enclosed desktop unit, so not something for building furniture, etc. Think of it as something to learn on, good for props, tabletop terrain, Arduino enclosures, that kind of thing.

Disclosure

While I bought this machine, 3DPC and 3D printer chat (sites I also write for on occasion) were independently and without my knowledge sent free review machines.

These findings are based on my experience of the one that I purchased, which may be different to the review machines they were sent and tried out.

Sienci Mill One CNC DIY Kit

Sienci Mill One Box
Sienci Mill One Box

What you get when you buy the Sienci Mill One is the wood (MDF), metal, electronic, and plastic parts, plus the instructions to put it all together.

What you do not get is the router itself, that is purchased separately. Factor in $100–150 for a good router. I bought the Makita as suggested on the site.

Seeing as this is open source, you could say the instructions and support are really what you are purchasing.

Parts-wise nothing in the box is outstanding quality, it is all the kind of thing you would expect from overseas online stores, which is how they keep costs down. The Arduino and CNC shield are especially low-quality and you might consider buying legitimate versions if you plan to use yours heavily.

Building the Sienci Mill One

The instructions are excellent (the company responds well to customer feedback) and everything goes together well, apart from you might need to re-tap holes. There are a couple of places where the parts don’t quite line up successfully without some persuasion.

Sienci Mill One Parts and Instructions

Unfortunately, I got all the way through the build before I realized I had purchased an anti-backlash kit with no idea how it fits and no energy to take everything apart again!

Using the Sienci Mill One

The Sienci has a regular Arduino CNC setup so it is standard fare for anyone who has experience of these machines. For people new to CNC the instructions are again great, plus the Sienci folks are helpful and eager to get you moving.

There is no dust collection, have your shop vac handy.

Sienci Mill One

Sienci Mill One Pros and Cons

My machine lived at the Fuse33 maker space in Calgary for quite a while and got given a lot of abuse, but it fared very well. As a machine for learning/teaching on, that can be easily maintained, with no expensive, proprietary or difficult to acquire parts, while still having customer service, it is at a sweet spot.

Don’t expect to be able to do precision work on this machine (which is the main reason for me to buy an expensive new machine), but it is great at chewing through every material I threw at it, even soft metal!

Yes, it is open source so you could save a lot of money by gathering the parts yourself. The biggest purchase you have to make yourself anyway! But that is not the point, by buying from the company you support their efforts, and you get access to their support.

For more work area, check out the Longmill from the same company.

As mentioned, recently I upgraded to a far more expensive pre-built machine which is more fully enclosed that I can use indoors. I will write about soon. The Sienci Mill One design seems to attract dust into hard to reach areas and throws dust everywhere, plus it is LOUD.

Bottom Line

For $576.41 CAD I found it good value, sitting between the T8 chinese CNC, and the X-carve in price, quality and capability.

While Sienci is right now focusing on the Longmill, perhaps they can be persuaded to offer a new version of the Mill One, or maybe just the designs?

Related

Category: Reviews and Buying GuidesTag: cnc, sienci
FacebookTweetPin

About Chris Garrett

Marketing Director by day, maker, retro gaming, tabletop war/roleplaying nerd by night. Co-author of the Problogger Book with Darren Rowse. Husband, Dad, 🇨🇦 Canadian.

Check out Retro Game Coders for retro gaming/computing.

☕️ Support Maker Hacks on Ko-Fi and get exclusive content and rewards!

Previous Post:Elegoo Saturn Review – Elegoo’s Budget-Friendly Mid-Size Resin Printer
Next Post:Beginner’s Guide to Blender for 3D Printed Props and Tabletop Gaming (Part 1)Beginners guide to Blender for 3D printed tabletop

Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Recently Popular

  • Gweike Cloud Review
  • How to choose the right 3D printer for you
  • Glowforge Review – Glowforge Laser Engraver Impressions, Plus Glowforge Versus Leading Laser Cutters
  • Original Prusa i3 Mk3S Review
  • Best 3D Printing Facebook Groups
  • Elegoo Mars Review – Review of the Elegoo Mars MSLA Resin 3D Printer
  • Glowforge ‘Pass-Through’ Hack: Tricking the Front Flap of the Glowforge with Magnets to Increase Capacity
  • How to Make a DIY “Internet of Things” Thermometer with ESP8266/Arduino
  • Wanhao Duplicator i3 Review
  • IKEA 3D Printer Enclosure Hack for Wanhao Di3
  • Creality CR-10 3d printer review – Large format, quality output, at a low price!
  • 3D Printed Tardis with Arduino Lights and Sounds
  • Anet A8 Review – Budget ($200 or less!) 3D Printer Kit Review
  • Make your own PEI 3D printer bed and get every print to stick!
  • Upgrading the Wanhao Di3 from Good to Amazing
  • How to Install and Set Up Octopi / Octoprint
  • Creality CR-10 S5 Review

Copyright © 2023 · Maker Hacks · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Theme