Makera Z1 Pro: Is 150W Enough for Aluminum?

Can a 150W desktop CNC really cut aluminum, or is it just an engraver with good marketing? I tested the Makera Z1 Pro to find out. I started with a real part: a custom motorcycle footpeg adapter, machined from solid 6061-T6 aluminum.

Then I made it harder. The second part is an aluminum hex nut with internal threads and a 60-degree Hirth joint coupling, the kind of part where sloppy machining shows up immediately. In the video, I go through the design, how I prepped the material and held it down, the cutting tools I chose, and how each operation went, right through to the finished parts.

I also ran some side tests in brass, epoxy tooling board, and dual-color plastic stock, just to see how the machine handles different materials.

What I wanted to know was whether a 150W spindle can take on serious aluminum milling and still hold accuracy and a clean surface finish. I’ll say this much: it didn’t go the way I expected.

If you’re thinking about buying a desktop CNC for aluminum work, custom motorcycle parts, or small-batch machining at home, this should give you a realistic picture of what the Z1 Pro can and can’t do.