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FOUR FISHING LINES AND A FRAME CUT AN ENTIRE KITCHEN OUT OF PLYWOOD

Four tensioned belts replace the gantry so a full-sheet CNC can pack away when you are done.

by MaslowCNC

FULL CAD BOM FIRMWARE DOCS

Workshop

difficulty
●●●●○
time
a long weekend
license
GPL-3.0
repo
repo ACTIVE95 stars

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

  • 3D printer + filament — printable parts — files are in the repo
  • Electronic parts — full list with part numbers in the repo BOM
  • Dev board / microcontroller — runs the project firmware

Partner

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Videos
1

COMPAREE VERDICT

Maslow 4 is an open-source CNC router that hangs from four measured belts instead of a rigid gantry, so it can cut a full 1200 by 2400 mm sheet yet pack away into a backpack-sized sled. The project is honest about the trade: it is much cheaper than a gantry CNC and generally less accurate than a good one. People have cut saunas, tables, signs and a thirty-foot catamaran with it, so the capability is there if you can live with looser tolerances. The control software is a local website hosted on the ESP32 board inside the machine, reachable over USB-C or Wi-Fi from a phone or laptop. The thing most likely to go wrong is underestimating the frame: the sled is portable but you still need a stiff external frame or solid anchors for every cut, and the README says troubleshooting is part of the process. If you want plug-and-play precision or have nowhere to anchor a four-by-eight frame, this is not the project. If you have the space, the patience and a pile of plywood, it is a serious tool.

NOT IN THE REPO

  • —STEP files for all parts live in a separate repository (Maslow_4_Mechanics).
  • —BOM is in the wiki, not a single exported CSV.
  • —Firmware is GPL-3.0 and built on FluidNC; no commercial restriction.
  • —The README explicitly states it is generally less accurate than a good gantry CNC and not plug-and-play.
  • —You still need a stiff external frame or anchors around the sheet — the sled is portable, the cutting area is not.
  • —No official kit or price list; parts are sourced individually.

Can I build this?

Printnothing required
BuyESP32 control board, stepper motors, belts, pulleys, linear rails for the sled, router, and frame material (wood or aluminium extrusion)
Toolssoldering iron for the board, drill, saw for the frame, basic hand tools
Skillsintermediate electronics (ESP32 board assembly), intermediate woodworking or metalworking for the frame, patience with calibration and troubleshooting
Timea long weekend for assembly, then iterative tuning
Cost$$ — motors, belts, board and rails dominate; router not included
SafetyRouter carries all the usual risks: dust, noise, sharp bits, kickback if the piece shifts. Stepper drivers get warm but not hazardous. No mains voltage work if you use a standard router with its own plug.

Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.

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Videos

Project intro video, passed 642000 views within two months of release in May 2026

Gallery

Start here

Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.

  1. 1.Read the README end to end (It lists what is not plug-and-play and where you will spend time troubleshooting)
  2. 2.Check the mechanics repository for STEP files(Separate repo holds all the CAD; link is in the main README)
  3. 3.Review the BOM in the wiki(Not a single CSV; parts are listed across multiple wiki pages)
  4. 4.Decide on your frame(Stiff external frame or solid anchors are required; the sled alone is not enough)

Resources

Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.

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KNOWN ISSUES

  • Underestimating the frame: the sled is portable but you still need a rigid external structure for every cut, and building or anchoring that structure is not covered in detail.
  • Expecting gantry-level accuracy: the README explicitly says Maslow is generally less accurate than a good gantry CNC, so if your project needs tight tolerances this is the wrong tool.
  • Assuming a kit exists: there is no official kit or single supplier; you source every part yourself from the wiki BOM.
  • Skipping calibration: the machine measures position by belt length, so calibration and tuning are not optional and the README warns troubleshooting is part of the process.
  • Missing the mechanics repository: STEP files are not in the main repo; they live in Maslow_4_Mechanics and the link is easy to miss.
  • Planning a build with no space for a four-by-eight frame: if you cannot anchor or build a frame that size, the portability of the sled does not help you.

How accurate is it compared to a gantry CNC?

The README states it is generally less accurate than a good gantry machine. People have cut furniture and boats with it, but if you need tight tolerances for joinery or precision parts, a gantry CNC is the better choice.

Do I need a permanent table?

No permanent table, but you do need a stiff external frame or solid anchors around the sheet for every cut. The sled is portable; the cutting area is not.

Is there a kit I can buy?

No official kit. The BOM is in the wiki and you source parts individually. No price is given in the repository.

What size sheet can it cut?

A full 4x8 foot (1200 x 2400 mm) sheet, cutting up to 60 mm deep.

Can I use it without Wi-Fi?

Yes. The control software is hosted on the ESP32 board and reachable over USB-C, Wi-Fi direct, or your local network. All three work.

Community builds

No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.

Discussion1

FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM

The README says it is less accurate than a gantry CNC but people have still cut a thirty-foot catamaran with it. What would you trust it to cut, and where would you draw the line?

CompareeTEAM28d agoedited

Practical notes from our verification: the intro video hit 642000 views in two months, which is rare for a CNC project, and the honesty in the README (explicitly calling out lower accuracy and required troubleshooting) is why the project has credibility. The biggest surprise is that STEP files live in a separate repository (Maslow_4_Mechanics) rather than the main one, and the BOM is spread across wiki pages instead of a single export. The frame requirement is real: every build photo shows either a wooden perimeter frame or wall anchors, and the README is clear that the sled alone is not enough. No kit exists and no price is given, so budget planning means working through the BOM yourself.

MaslowCNC

Maslow 4 is the fourth generation of an open-source CNC router project that replaced chains with belts and a heavy frame with a portable sled. The design has been iterated by a community of makers cutting everything from kitchen cabinets to catamarans.

GitHub

Star the project on GitHub

DISCLAIMER

  • Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
  • Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
  • Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
GitHub repo