Image: Bantam Tools
Bantam Tools Desktop CNC Milling Machine
Bantam Tools
Best for: Engineers and PCB designers who need rapid prototyping of circuit boards and small precision parts
Starting price
$3,600Overall score
out of 100
Overview
The Bantam Tools Desktop CNC (formerly Othermill) is a precision desktop milling machine designed primarily for PCB prototyping and small-part machining. Its tiny 140x254mm work area and premium price make it impractical for typical CNC routing projects, but for its intended use -- milling circuit boards and precise small parts -- it is exceptional. The software includes automatic PCB alignment and one-click milling from KiCad or Eagle files. It is widely used in engineering labs, university programs, and tech companies for rapid prototyping. This is a precision instrument, not a general-purpose CNC router.
Pros
- Outstanding precision for PCB milling and small parts
- Fully enclosed and self-contained
- Software is extremely easy to use, especially for PCBs
- Excellent for rapid prototyping
- Used by engineers at SpaceX, Google, and other tech companies
Cons
- Very small work area -- only 140x254mm
- Extremely expensive for the size
- 250W spindle limits material removal rate
- Not suitable for woodworking or large projects
- Proprietary software limits flexibility
Specifications
140 × 254 mm
356 cm²
250W
250W Brushless DC Spindle (built-in, ER11 collet)
20 kg
$3,600
premium
Full specification table
Relative to database
Benchmark Scores
Overall Score
Composite across 5 dimensions
Community Sentiment
The Bantam Desktop CNC (formerly Othermill) is a beloved tool in engineering labs and hardware startups for rapid PCB prototyping. It is not a CNC router in the traditional sense -- it is a precision instrument for a very specific use case, and users who need that capability consider it irreplaceable.
What owners love
- PCB milling workflow is unmatched -- one-click from KiCad/Eagle to milled board
- Precision is exceptional for the size -- used at SpaceX, Google, and university labs
- Fully enclosed and self-contained -- plug in and start cutting
- Software handles alignment, probing, and material setup automatically
Common complaints
- Absurdly expensive for a 140x254mm work area -- $3600 is hard to justify
- 250W spindle is very weak and slow for anything beyond PCBs and wax
- Proprietary software means no Fusion 360 or VCarve without workarounds
- Not a general-purpose CNC -- useless for woodworking or large projects
Typical upgrades
- Fixture plates and alignment pins for repeated PCB production
- Upgraded endmill collection for different PCB trace widths
- Custom fixtures for small-part machining beyond PCBs
- FlatCam or other PCB-to-Gcode tools as software alternatives
Community sentiment is aggregated from forums, Reddit, Discord, and manufacturer communities. Individual experiences may vary.
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Bantam Tools
Bantam Tools Desktop CNC Milling Machine
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