From Circles to Carvings: How Brayan Turned

For Brayan, the journey into CNC machining started with something simple: the desire to build a custom desk for his gaming setup. That curiosity sparked a  passion—and a garage workshop—that now houses a heavily modified Shapeoko Pro XXL powered by a MASSO G3 Touch Controller.

“I’ve always been into computers,” says Brayan, who studied CAD and computer science in high school in Lemoore, California. “I never imagined back then how  much that would shape both my career as a surveyor and my CNC hobby  today.”

Brayan first picked up CNC with a Shapeoko 3 XXL, inspired by the idea of crafting one-of-a-kind pieces. Over time, he cycled through a few upgrades, eventually landing on a custom-rigged Shapeoko Pro XXL packed with mods—from 20mm belts to a 2.4kW water-cooled spindle and, of course, the MASSO G3 Touch.

What drew him to MASSO? Stability.

“My old controller would disconnect from the PC during long 3D carves. I’d lose hours of work. With MASSO? Zero disconnects.”

The shift to MASSO didn’t just bring reliability. Upgraded stepper motors and increased power also opened the door to carving harder woods and pushing creative boundaries. That matters a lot when your passion lies in 3D carving.

One of Brayan’s proudest creations is a personal model of Aloy from Horizon Zero Dawn, a piece he sees every day as he walks into his garage.

“It always makes me smile. The things this machine can make are amazing.”

While his setup is advanced, his advice to newcomers is grounded and genuine:

“Celebrate small wins. Make mistakes. Learn from them. And most of all—don’t let your hobby become a chore. Challenge yourself, but enjoy the journey.”

You can see more of Brayan’s stunning 3D work at @carved3d on Instagram. It’s a great reminder of what’s possible when passion, patience, and the right tools come together.

From Circles to Carvings: How Brayan Turned

From Circles to Carvings: How Brayan Turned His CNC Hobby into Art with MASSO

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