Metal keycaps, a keyboard plate, watch parts, an Apple Watch band. There’s a lot I want to make, and I still don’t own a machine. I do have a 3D printer, but resin prints only ever feel like mock-ups to me. They never feel finished.
So I keep researching machines that can make things out of metal at home! I’ve written enough articles now that it’s time to gather them in one place, so anyone who wants to make metal things at home can see where to start.
I don’t own or use any of the machines covered here. Each article is research done before buying. Most of the linked articles are in Japanese for now. I’m adding English versions one at a time.
Where to start
- Why I want to make things: I want to make titanium keycaps! (Japanese) It starts with building a keyboard with hinoki wood sides, and my woodworking not keeping up. Read this first to see what I care about in the other articles.
- How the machines work, and how to choose: Choosing a home CNC mill: rigidity, accuracy and automation (Japanese) What to look at before comparing models: rigidity, accuracy, automatic tool changing, power and noise, chips, and getting the machine into your home.
- Comparing machines
- ToolDance X1 for small titanium parts: my current pick, and I’ve placed a VIP reservation. I compared it with the C500 on the spindle, coolant, the 5-axis option and help with setup before cutting.
- Why I wanted the C500 (Japanese): my first pick. I wanted to make small metal parts with less hassle swapping tools and setting positions.
- Is the TwoTrees ED1 worth it?: a machine I really want. But I still have questions, so I haven’t reserved one.
- Making without cutting: Making metal at home: what about materials? The SnowPod A metal 3D printer that melts metal powder and stacks it up. I focused on whether chips from a CNC could become its material.
- Extra: I asked the maker: Can the TwoTrees ED1 cut jade? (Japanese) I was curious about its “Gemstone” support, so I asked TwoTrees directly. This is their answer.
Cut it or stack it?
Reading my articles side by side, the thing I went back and forth on most was whether to get a machine that cuts or one that stacks. Here’s a rough comparison.
| Desktop CNC (X1, C500, ED1) | Metal 3D printer (SnowPod) | |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Cuts a block of metal into shape with a spinning tool | Melts metal powder with a laser and stacks it layer by layer |
| Materials | Aluminum and titanium are options. How far you can go depends on the machine and tools | 316L stainless steel powder |
| Shapes | Keycaps, keyboard plates, watch parts | Mesh-like lattices, which are hard to make on a CNC |
| Leftovers | Chips. Cleaning up is a chore | The maker says over 90% of the unmelted powder can be recovered |
| Worries | Rigidity, and whether small parts come out at the sizes I want | Handling the powder, and whether materials can be bought cheaply |
The detailed numbers and conditions are in each article. Here, a rough sense of direction is enough.
Which one am I leaning toward?
Lined up like this, a CNC is closer to what I want to make, especially titanium keycaps.
- ToolDance X1 is my current pick, and I’ve placed a VIP reservation. I’m drawn to its spindle, flood coolant and the 5-axis option. The Kickstarter campaign was announced for October 2026, and I’ll decide whether to back the machine itself once I see the price and configuration.
- C500 was my pick when I wrote the C500 article. I’m still drawn to how it cuts metal while taking away much of the hassle of tool changes and positioning.
- TwoTrees ED1 is a machine I’d like to buy once my questions are answered.
- SnowPod: honestly, a CNC would be enough for me. But if I could make its material from my CNC chips, I’d want one.
What I’ll write next
- When the X1 Kickstarter launches, I’ll update my article with the official price and set options.
- When a machine arrives, I’ll write about what I actually cut. The first goal, of course, is keycaps!