Genmitsu KABA Lite Enclosure for 3018

Genmitsu built this lighter KABA for its 3018 series. The panels go together without screws, and the finished box measures 450 × 390 × 300 mm, enough to house a classic 3018 frame with a little room to spare.

• Material: PETG, a tough, clear plastic that resists cracking better than acrylic.
• Size: 450 mm wide, 390 mm deep and 300 mm tall on the outside.
• Assembly: no screws; the panels join by hand.
• Access: two pre-cut holes for the offline controller's cable or other devices outside the box.
• Weight: 4.36 lb, light enough to lift off the machine for bit changes.

Three things change at the bench. Chips stay inside, dust mostly settles on the machine rather than on the desk, and the running bit sits behind a barrier rather than at arm's reach.

Noise drops too. A panel between the ears and a spindle at 10,000 rpm or more takes off the sharpest edge, although the sound of the bit in hardwood still carries. The upgrade order entry places the enclosure among the parts worth adding once the machine is cutting regularly.

Many 3018-PRO style frames measure about 420 × 350 × 270 mm, as CNCTOPBAOS and RATTMMOTOR quote for their kits. Inside a 450 × 390 × 300 mm box, that leaves only 30 to 40 mm of clearance on each dimension, minus the thickness of the panels.

Height is the dimension that catches people out. A spindle raised to the top of Z, or a laser module on the carriage, can stand taller than the frame itself.

1. Measure the frame's width, depth and height with Z raised fully.
2. Jog Y to both ends and check whether the bed or cables stick out beyond the frame.
3. Add room for the dust hose and any clamps that stand above the stock.
4. Compare with 450 × 390 × 300 mm, remembering the panel thickness comes off the inside.

The two pre-cut holes carry the offline controller cable or another lead. A vacuum hose needs a route in as well, so compare its diameter with the holes before planning the layout; the aim is a box that stays closed while a shop vacuum runs.

• MDF: the finest and most irritating dust a 3018 makes. Run a vacuum on a dust shoe, and let the box settle for a minute before opening it.
• Acrylic: chips are larger and cling with static. The box stops them spreading; a brush clears them afterwards.
• Plywood and hardwood: chips fly furthest. The box holds them in, which is where the difference shows most on a desk.
• PCB: FR4 dust contains glass fibre and should never be breathed. Keep the lid on and vacuum at the bit.

A 42 mm dust shoe on the stock 775 or a 52 mm shoe on a 500W spindle pairs well with the box. With both in place, the bed stays clear enough to see the toolpath and the desk stays clean.

Cleaning the panels is part of the routine. Like any clear plastic, PETG scratches when wiped dry, so a damp, soft cloth keeps the view clear. For bits and settings that make less dust in the first place, the materials entry covers feeds by stock.

They solve different parts of the problem. The KABA Lite contains mess and adds a barrier; a dust shoe removes dust at the source; an enclosed machine such as the 3018-SE V2 does both in a smaller, lower-power package.

For most Genmitsu owners on a desk, the enclosure and a dust shoe together make the biggest difference. Either one alone leaves part of the mess behind. The enclosed 3018-SE V2 suits a different buyer: someone starting from scratch who wants a small, housed machine for light engraving rather than a full 3018 with a box added later.

• Pick the KABA Lite for a Genmitsu 3018 in a shared room, a classroom or next to a computer.
• Pick a dust shoe first if the machine already lives in a workshop and only the dust bothers you.
• Skip the enclosure for laser work unless it has a proper filter panel; clear PETG does not block a diode beam.

Before ordering, measure the machine with Z at full height and the table at both ends of Y. On a non-Genmitsu frame, the margin inside the box can be a few centimetres, and a cable run or hose adapter can be the part that does not fit.