Top 3018s
MKS DLC32 V2 Wi-Fi Controller Kit
Controller · 32-bit GRBL · Wi-Fi · TS35-R LCD

MKS DLC32 V2 Wi-Fi Controller Kit

A 32-bit GRBL controller board with Wi-Fi and offline control, paired with a TS35-R LCD for live status and settings, sold as an upgrade kit for CNC3018 Pro and Max machines.

  • BoardMKS DLC32 V2, 32-bit
  • FirmwareGRBL, offline capable
  • WirelessWi-Fi
  • DisplayTS35-R LCD
  • FitsCNC3018 Pro, 3018 Max and similar
  • Warranty3 years
Suits
  • Generic 3018 Pro and Max owners replacing an 8-bit GRBL board
  • Sending files over Wi-Fi from another room
  • Watching job status and changing settings on a screen at the machine
Skip if
  • Genmitsu owners who want their offline controller and accessories to keep working as before
  • Anyone unwilling to rewire and re-enter settings
  • Machines that just need a like-for-like board replacement
Get it here

A 32-bit brain for a CNC3018 Pro or Max

Most budget 3018 routers ship with an 8-bit GRBL board: reliable, simple and tied to a USB cable. The MKS DLC32 V2 is Makerbase's 32-bit replacement. It keeps GRBL as the control language, adds Wi-Fi and offline running, and comes in this kit with a TS35-R LCD that shows the job live.

The kit's pieces and what each does:

  • DLC32 V2 board: a 32-bit controller from Makerbase, built around the ESP32 chip, with Wi-Fi on board.
  • GRBL firmware: the same G-code dialect the 3018's CAM files already use.
  • TS35-R display: real-time monitoring and parameter changes while the machine runs.
  • Offline mode: jobs run without a computer connected.
  • Wi-Fi mode: files and commands arrive over the network.

The kit is sold as an upgrade for CNC3018 Max and Pro machines and similar models, and suits laser engravers as well. It carries a three-year warranty from Yutrees, which packs and brands the kit.

An upgrade, not a spare. The DLC32 is a different board from the one in a typical 3018. Plugs, settings and sometimes the wiring order change, so it is a project for an evening or two, not a ten-minute swap.

Why bother with 32 bits on a small router? An ESP32 has far more processing headroom than the 8-bit chips in classic GRBL boards. That headroom runs the Wi-Fi, the screen and planning together. On a 3018, the practical gains are the wireless link and the screen, more than raw cutting speed.

The board fits best on generic 3018 Pro and 3018 Max frames, where the stock controller is a basic 8-bit board with no screen.

Measurements

The spec log

SpecValue
BoardMKS DLC32 V2
Architecture32-bit, ESP32-based (Makerbase DLC32 design)
FirmwareGRBL, with offline control
WirelessWi-Fi
Control modesWi-Fi or offline
DisplayTS35-R LCD
Display functionsReal-time monitoring, parameter changes during operation
AxesMulti-axis coordination for engraving and routing
Compatible machinesCNC3018 Max, 3018 Pro and similar models
Also suitsCNC laser engraving machines
Kit optionSuit-1
In the boxController board, LCD display
MaterialsMetal, plastic
ColourBlack
Dimensions6 × 4 × 2 in
Weight8 oz
Warranty3 years

Sending a plywood sign over Wi-Fi from the next room

The Wi-Fi mode is the headline. A 3018 is loud and dusty, and the DLC32 lets the computer that made the file stay in a quiet room. The G-code travels over the network, and the TS35-R shows progress at the machine.

  1. Power the board and let it start its Wi-Fi connection, following the MKS setup notes for joining your home network.
  2. Open the board's interface from a browser on the same network.
  3. Upload the plywood sign's G-code from the CAM program's output folder.
  4. At the machine, jog to the origin and set zero from the TS35-R or the web interface.
  5. Start the job and watch progress on the display or in the browser.

Stay near the machine for the first minutes of every job, whatever the link. A bit that breaks or a clamp that shifts needs a hand on the stop, not a browser tab two rooms away.

JobBest modeWhy
Plywood signWi-FiUpload from the desk, start at the machine
Long relief carveOfflineNo network dropouts mid-job
Laser test gridWi-FiQuick edits and re-sends
PCB isolationOffline or Wi-FiKeep the zero exact across passes
  • Keep the router's 2.4 GHz band enabled; the ESP32 has no 5 GHz radio.
  • Use short file names, so the display shows them in full.

Offline mode covers the times the network cannot be trusted. A long 3D carve in walnut can run for hours, and a router restart halfway through should not stop it. Load the file for offline running and the job no longer depends on the Wi-Fi link at all.

For the CAM programs that produce these files, see 3018 CNC software.

In the lineup

Where it lands among 3018 gear

3018 CNC machine models by type, September 2026. Highlighted: MKS DLC32 V2 Wi-Fi Controller Kit.

Rewiring a 3018 for the DLC32: steppers, spindle and switches

Moving to the DLC32 means moving every cable from the old board. The logic is the same as any board swap, but the connectors and settings will not match one to one. Photos and a saved settings list make it straightforward.

  1. With the old board still working, type $$ in Candle or UGS and keep the settings list it prints.
  2. Photograph every connector, then label each cable: X, Y, Z motors, spindle, limit switches, power.
  3. Mount the DLC32 and the TS35-R where chips cannot reach them.
  4. Connect the power supply, checking the voltage matches what the board and spindle need.
  5. Connect the motors and switches, then the spindle or laser output, following the MKS pin diagram.

Then bring the settings across. Steps per millimetre, travel limits, maximum spindle speed and laser mode all need to match the machine. A 32-bit GRBL build may name or organise some settings differently from classic GRBL 1.1, so check each value against the MKS documentation rather than pasting the old list blind.

Check each motor's direction with a short jog before running any file. A reversed axis on a new board is common and fixed in settings, not by rewiring.
  • Spindle: a 775 runs from the board's spindle output; a 300–500W spindle takes its PWM signal through its own controller.
  • Laser: enable laser mode before burning, and disable it before milling.
  • Limit switches: test each by hand before enabling homing.

Cut a 50 mm test square in MDF after the swap and measure it. If it is off, steps per millimetre is the first setting to check.

Swap-ins

Three other ways to go

DLC32 kit, Genmitsu offline module or GGW-UART Wi-Fi

The DLC32 kit is the biggest of several ways to free a 3018 from its USB cable. Smaller options add offline or Wi-Fi control to the existing board. Which fits depends on the machine and how much rebuilding is welcome.

OptionFitsWhat changes
MKS DLC32 V2 kitCNC3018 Pro, Max and similarNew 32-bit board, Wi-Fi, LCD
Genmitsu offline moduleGenmitsu 3018-PRO, 3018, 1810-PROAdds SD-card running to the existing board
Genmitsu GGW-UART3018-PRO and larger Genmitsu machinesAdds phone-app G-code sending
Genmitsu 3018-PRO boardGenmitsu 3018-PRO, 3018, 1810-PROLike-for-like GRBL replacement

Choose the DLC32 kit when:

  • The machine is a generic CNC3018 Pro or Max with a basic board.
  • Wi-Fi, a screen and offline running should all arrive in one upgrade.
  • Rewiring and re-entering settings sounds like an evening's fun, not a chore.

Pick a smaller add-on when:

  • The machine is a Genmitsu, where the offline module or GGW-UART fits without rewiring.
  • The current board works and only the USB cable bothers you.
  • You want the machine back cutting within the hour.

Budget time as well as parts. The board itself is the smaller share of the work; labelling cables, mounting the display, re-entering settings and cutting a test square fill most of an evening on a first swap.

A laser on the same machine gains too: the DLC32 is also sold for laser engravers, and the display helps with focus and test runs. For the laser side, see 3018 CNC laser. The upgrade order places a controller swap after the mechanical basics.

Bench notes

Setup questions

Does the MKS DLC32 V2 kit fit my 3018?

It is sold as an upgrade for CNC3018 Max and Pro machines and similar models. Check the connectors against your current board before ordering.

What does the TS35-R display do?

It shows real-time machine status and lets you change parameters while the machine runs.

Can the DLC32 run without a computer?

Yes. It supports offline control as well as Wi-Fi, so jobs can run with no computer connected.

Do my old GRBL settings transfer?

The values do, but not automatically. Save the old list and re-enter each value, checking names against the MKS documentation.

Is it worth it on a Genmitsu 3018-PRO?

Usually not. Genmitsu's offline module or GGW-UART adds offline or Wi-Fi control without replacing the board.