Recommendation for Small CNC Router for Soft Metal — Memorial Plaque

FAQ / By CNC router / Jun 17 , 2026 14:53:35

For a Single Memorial Plaque Project

Since this is a one-time project on soft metal, you don't necessarily need to buy a machine. Consider:

Local makerspace — most have CNC routers and someone to help you get started. Cost: $50–100/month membership
Local machine shop — they'll often do one-off personal projects for a reasonable fee
Online services — SendCutSend, Xometry, or local engraving shops

If You Want to Buy a Machine

For a 4"×6" brass plaque at ½" thick, you need:

Minimum 300W spindle — brass is gummy, needs proper feeds/speeds
Rigid Z-axis — engraving text at 2 mm height means every 0.01 mm of backlash shows
Work area: 200×200 mm is plenty for this project, but consider future use

Small-Format Options

Model	Price	Work Area	Spindle	Best For
Genmitsu 3018 Pro	~$200	300×180 mm	200W	PCB, light engraving
Genmitsu 4040 Pro	~$800	400×400 mm	300W	Wood, MDF, light brass
ROCTECH RC0609	~$3,500+	600×900 mm	3.0 KW HSD	Production-grade everything

Engraving Parameters for Brass

Tool: 30°–60° V-bit, carbide
RPM: 12,000–16,000
Feed: 400–800 mm/min
Depth: 0.1–0.3 mm (multiple passes for deeper text)
Coolant: light mist or WD-40 spray (prevents brass from galling on the tool)

On ROCTECH for small work: ROCTECH primarily serves professional and industrial users, so their smallest machine (RC0609 at 600×900 mm) is larger than you need for a single plaque. But if this project leads to more — signs, gifts, custom parts — ROCTECH machines are built for continuous production. Welded steel frames, Yaskawa servo motors, ISO/CE/UL certifications, and 15 years of CNC expertise backed by 50 patents. Their machines use DSP standalone controllers, so you don't even need a dedicated PC.