I Got Tired of Weak CNCs—So We Built the MAXMAKE HiMill D1 & D1S to Master Aluminum
18 Jan 2026
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Hi everyone,
I’ve been working with desktop CNC machines for years, both as an engineer and as a hobby maker. Over time, my team and I realized we all shared the same frustrations — the kinds most of you have probably run into too.
No matter which machine we used, the same three problems kept showing up:
1.Not enough rigidity, especially when cutting aluminum
2.Annoying assembly and tramming, not friendly for beginners
3.A huge gap between affordable hobby machines and expensive “real” metal-cutting models
One day, after yet another failed aluminum cut, one of our engineers said — half-jokingly:
“Why don’t we just build the machine we actually want to buy?”
That one sentence accidentally started a project that went way further than we expected.
2. The hardest challenge: rigidity
The biggest challenge wasn’t electronics or software — it was frame stiffness.
We tested:
- 2040/2080 extrusions
- full-plate designs
- hybrid steel + aluminum frames
- different rib patterns and reinforcement layouts
Every solution had trade-offs: too much vibration, too expensive, or too heavy to ship.
After a ton of FEA simulation + real cutting tests, we eventually designed a cast-aluminum frame with a triangular rib structure. It gave us the highest rigidity for the lowest weight.
The day we did a full-depth aluminum cut with almost zero chatter…
We knew we were onto something.
3. Talking to over 100 users changed everything
During development, we talked to more than 100 people:
- beginners
- experienced machinists
- Etsy shop owners
- school labs
- small workshops
- mechanical and robotics enthusiasts
Their feedback made us change more things than we expected: spindle mount design, Z-axis structure, frame reinforcement, even the machine’s working area and extension options.
The project evolved way beyond our first prototype.
4. From One Vision to Two Professional Tools: HiMill D1 & D1S
Originally we planned to build only one machine for ourselves. But as user needs became more diverse, the MAXMAKE project naturally evolved into two distinct models:
- HiMill D1: Our more accessible, beginner-friendly version. It’s the perfect entry point for makers who want reliability without complexity.
- HiMill D1S: The "Super" version—more rigid, heavier, with higher precision and professional-grade toolholding. Designed specifically for those pushing the limits of desktop metal milling.
5. Why we keep doing this
Every time someone tells us: “I cut aluminum for the first time!”, “I just made my first usable part!”, or “I didn’t expect a small machine to work like this!” — that excitement is the exact feeling that made us fall in love with CNC years ago.
And it’s the reason we kept pushing this project forward.
6. If you’re interested, I can share more
Let me know if you want to see rigidity tests, failed prototypes, aluminum/steel cutting tests, FEA results, or cost breakdown and engineering trade-offs.
Happy to post them if the community wants to see more.
Thanks for reading this far — and I’d love to hear your thoughts from both hobby and pro machinists here.
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