Machines / Elara 2 — System Overview

NS CNC Elara 2

The Elara 2 is a high-precision desktop CNC milling machine manufactured by NS CNC, built for scientific, aerospace, and precision manufacturing applications. It mills materials ranging from waxes and plastics to hard metals and ceramics.

NS CNC Elara 2 — high-precision desktop CNC milling machine with front control panel and NS-Motion monitor on a swing arm
Elara 2

Micromilling Capabilities

Designed for ultra-precision micromilling and microdrilling — operating milling cutters and drills with diameters as small as 5 microns.

Five microns, under control.

High-precision mechanical components, a specialized carriage design, and optimized lubrication and cooling let the Elara 2 run milling cutters and drills down to 5 microns in diameter.

The capability is utilized in microfluidics, miniature device fabrication, and precision instrumentation.

Min tool diameter
5 μm (0.005 mm)
Resolution
0.3 μm
Spindle runout
< 1 μm
Max spindle speed
60,000 RPM
The Short List

Six specs that matter most.

Everything here comes off the spec sheet — the full table is further down the page.

Accuracy in three numbers

Resolution — the smallest move it can make: 0.0003 mm (0.3 μm). Positional accuracy — how close it lands to a target: 0.008 mm. Repeatability — how exactly it returns to the same position, cut after cut: 0.010 mm.

Cutters down to 5 microns

Designed for ultra-precision micromilling and microdrilling, the Elara 2 operates milling cutters and drills with diameters as small as 5 microns — for microfluidics, miniature device fabrication, and precision instrumentation.

Nakanishi spindle, runout under 1 micron

Cutter tip runout of less than 1 micron delivers high machining accuracy, superior surface finishes, and extended tool life. Three standard E3000-series spindle options, all rated to 60,000 RPM.

Four standard configurations

3-axis, 3-axis with ATC, 4-axis, and 4-axis with ATC — all built on the same rigid base and proven three-axis platform. Custom configurations are available upon request.

Modular workholding

The X table carries threaded mounting holes at 25 mm intervals for fixtures, rotary heads, and sub-tables. Quick-Release Holders position and repeat within 1 micron.

Standard wall power

110 or 220 VAC at roughly 1,000 W. Compressed air (21.7–36.2 psi) is required only for ATC configurations. At 838 × 560 × 965 mm and 200 kg, a sturdy bench or the optional stand is the only foundation it needs.

Elara 2

Standard Configurations

The Elara 2 utilizes a standardized rigid base and 3-axis platform. Custom configurations are also available upon request.

3-Axis

XYZ

Standard configuration for flat part milling. The workpiece is clamped directly to the X carriage to maximize stability.

3-Axis with ATC

XYZ

Includes an Automatic Tool Changer for automated bit swaps. Requires a compressed air supply.

4-Axis

XYZA

Features a rotary head (A-axis) mounted on the X-axis. Enables combined 3-axis and 4-axis milling operations.

4-Axis with ATC

XYZA

The most advanced standard configuration, requiring extensive operator experience in CNC machining.

Elara 2 / System Components

Nakanishi Spindles

Equipped with Nakanishi spindles, known for high reliability, long-term durability, and low vibration.

Nakanishi spindle nose at work: a small-diameter cutter machining a miniature part held in a machine vise, with the coolant nozzle at the cut

Runout of less than 1 micron.

Every spindle option holds cutter tip runout below 1 micron — the basis for the machine's accuracy, surface finish, and tool life.

For specialized applications, custom spindle options are available — including models with higher speed or increased torque.

Brand
NSK Nakanishi, Japan
Runout
< 1 μm
Max speed
60,000 RPM
Max power
350 W
Elara 2 / Spindle Options

Three standard spindles.

The ideal choice depends on your milling type, material requirements, preferred tool-change method, and production goals.

E3000 3060 QC

E3000 3060 QC spindle mounted on the Z-axis carriage, with the manual quick-release lever on the clamp block

Soft materials only; not recommended for metal. A very limited number of collet sizes — fine for standard milling bits, a complication for drills of different diameters.

Tool changing
Manual quick lever
Collets
2.0–4.0 mm
Max speed
60,000 RPM
Max power
350 W

E3000 3060

E3000 3060 spindle mounted on the Z-axis carriage — tool changes are made with wrenches at the collet nut

The most popular spindle for metal milling where automatic tool change is not required. Known for very high reliability — it runs for a long time in very dirty environments.

Tool changing
Manual wrenches
Collets
0.5–6.35 mm
Max speed
60,000 RPM
Max power
350 W

E3000 3060 AQC

E3000 3060 AQC spindle — the Nakanishi EM-3060J motor in the pneumatic automatic-tool-change clamp body

The spindle for the Automatic Tool Changer — tool clamping is done by a pneumatic clamp inside, so air is required for the spindle to operate.

Tool changing
Pneumatic (AQC)
Collets
0.5–6.35 mm
Max speed
60,000 RPM
Max power
350 W
Elara 2 / System Components

Automatic Tool Changer

A pneumatic system using miniature conical tool holders for precise, repeatable exchanges.

Automatic tool changer inside the Elara 2 work area: conical tool holders standing in their pots with the tool-length sensor beside them, the spindle and coolant nozzles above

Measured at every exchange.

During each tool change, the tool length is automatically measured to ensure machining precision and reduce setup time. A protective cover shields the tool pots from chips and contaminants.

Tool clamping and unclamping is controlled automatically through NC machine code, or manually via a dedicated button on the front panel or the screen interface.

Capacity
10 tools
Holders
Miniature conical
Tool length
Auto-measured
Air supply
21.7–36.2 psi
Elara 2 / System Components

Flexible Clamping System

The X table carries threaded mounting holes at 25 mm intervals to integrate modular fixtures, rotary heads, and sub-tables.

The Elara 2 X table from above: a grid of threaded mounting holes at 25 millimeter intervals, the raised perimeter rim, and a drain hole in the corner

One grid, every fixture.

Users install workholding devices, sub-tables, rotary heads, auxiliary spindles, and custom accessories wherever the job requires. Compatible fixtures from NS CNC carry matching hole patterns at 25 or 50 mm intervals.

A machined drainage groove around the table perimeter and two dedicated drain holes manage coolant during machining.

Hole grid
25 mm intervals
Mounts
Fixtures · rotary heads · sub-tables
Drainage
Perimeter groove
Drain holes
Two
Elara 2 / System Components

Quick-Release Holders

Positioning accuracy and repeatability within 1 micron — for fast, repeatable workpiece exchange.

Brass workpiece on its removable pallet, seated on the machine-mounted low-profile chuck base with lock and unlock markings

Play-free on reseating.

The system consists of a base mounted on the machine and a removable pallet for the workpiece or fixture. Both parts carry a precision mating seat for accurate, play-free alignment when the pallet is reseated.

The pallet is secured manually with a clamping bolt; an optional pneumatic clamping system is available for automated or high-production applications.

Repeatability
Within 1 μm
Base
Machine-mounted
Pallet
Removable
Clamping
Manual bolt · pneumatic option
Elara 2 / System Components

Machine Stand

Designed for mobility and stability — heavy-duty casters for repositioning, integrated leveling mounts for cutting.

The Elara 2 on its machine stand: pull-out tray under the machine, coolant tank with level markings on the lower shelf, heavy-duty casters with leveling screws, and the keyboard and monitor arm at right

Roll it in, level it down.

Heavy-duty casters move the machine around the workshop; once positioned, the leveling mounts lower to lift the stand off the casters. Because the mounts sit slightly outside the machine footprint, they maximize rigidity and reduce vibration during machining.

A lower shelf is sized for the coolant tank, and a pull-out tray holds tools, milling cutters, or accessories such as a keyboard and mouse.

Mobility
Heavy-duty casters
Leveling
Outboard mounts
Lower shelf
Coolant tank
Tray
Pull-out
Elara 2

In the work area.

Real setups on the 25 mm grid — probing, indicating, fixturing, and cutting in the same enclosure.

Inside the Elara 2 work area: rotary axis with trunnion plate, stacked pallet vise with brass block, and a gold stepped quick-release fixture under the drill
4-axis setup — rotary trunnion, pallet vise, and quick-release fixtures on one table
Touch probe in the spindle over a brass block on a pallet vise, with ATC tool pots and the tool-length sensor at right
Touch probe locating a workpiece on the rotary side
Mitutoyo dial indicator on a holder bar reading off a pallet, with the touch probe and spindle above
Dial indicator checking a pallet on the table
Spindle over an aluminum fixture plate with dome-head screws mounted on the hole-grid table
Fixture plate bolted to the 25 mm grid
Thin brass plate held by two low-profile edge clamps on a fixture plate, tapered engraving cutter above
Brass plate under low-profile edge clamps
The Machine

Everything on one bench.

Spindle, rotary head, workholding, controls, and coolant in a 33 × 22 × 38″ footprint. The numbers reference the photo.

Front view of the Elara 2 with the spindle, rotary head, X table, front control panel, NS-Motion monitor, and enclosed work area called out by number
01

Nakanishi spindle

An E3000-series spindle rated to 60,000 RPM with cutter tip runout of less than 1 micron. Three standard options cover soft materials, metal milling, and automatic tool change.

02

Rotary head — A axis

On 4-axis configurations a rotary head mounts on the X-axis, enabling combined 3-axis and 4-axis milling operations. Both rotary and flat work run in the same setup.

03

X table

Threaded mounting holes at 25 mm intervals integrate vises, modular fixtures, rotary heads, and sub-tables. A machined drainage groove and drain holes manage coolant.

04

Front panel controls

The spindle controller, power and servo switches, USB ports, and the emergency stop are physical controls on the front panel — not menus buried in a screen.

05

Monitor — NS-Motion

The machine is driven from a monitor on a swing arm. Tool clamping and cycle control run from the screen interface or the dedicated front-panel buttons.

06

Enclosed work area

A full enclosure with a viewing window keeps chips and coolant contained — the self-filtering liquid coolant loop circulates from a 23-liter tank.

Specifications / Elara 2

Full technical
specifications

Machine Overview

Model
315 Elara 2
Type
3 or 4-Axis Desktop CNC Mill
Linear Axes
X, Y, Z
Rotary Axis
A (4-axis config)
Materials
Metal, Stone, Plastic, Wood
ATC Capacity
10 tools (optional)

Accuracy

Resolution
0.00001″ (0.0003 mm)
Positional Accuracy
0.0003″ (0.008 mm)
Repeatability
0.0004″ (0.010 mm)
Rotary A Resolution
0.10 Arc-Sec
Spindle Runout
< 0.001 mm

Motion

Linear Drive
Ball Screws · LM Guide
Max Feed Rate
200 in/min (5,000 mm/min)
Max Rotary A Speed
300°/sec
A Turntable
6″ (150 mm)
Backlash
Zero

Spindle Range

Brand
NSK Nakanishi, Japan
Models
E3000 3060 QC · E3000 3060 · E3000 3060 AQC
Max Speed
60,000 RPM
Max Power
350 W
Bearings
Ceramic
Standard Collet
1/8″ (3.175 mm)
Collet Range
0.5–6.35 mm

Working Envelope

X
9.0″ (230 mm) · 5.0″ w/ ATC
Y
7.0″ (180 mm)
Z
5.0″ (127 mm)
A
360° continuous

Coolant

Type
Liquid, self-filtered
Circulation
Continuous
Capacity
6 gal (23 L)

Power

Supply
110 or 220 VAC, 50/60 Hz
Consumption
~1,000W
Air Supply
21.7–36.2 psi (ATC configs)

Machine

Width
33″ (838 mm)
Depth
22″ (560 mm)
Height
38″ (965 mm)
Weight
440 lb (200 kg)
FAQ

Common questions.

Which configuration should I start with?

3-axis is the standard configuration for flat part milling — the workpiece clamps directly to the X carriage to maximize stability. Adding the ATC automates bit swaps but requires a compressed air supply. 4-axis adds a rotary head (A-axis) on the X-axis, enabling combined 3-axis and 4-axis operations. 4-axis with ATC is the most advanced standard configuration and assumes extensive operator experience in CNC machining.

What materials can it mill?

Materials ranging from waxes and plastics to hard metals and ceramics. The spindle choice matters: the E3000 3060 QC is for soft materials only, while the standard E3000 3060 is built for metal milling and stays durable in dirty environments.

How small a tool can it run?

Milling cutters and drills with diameters as small as 5 microns — roughly one-fourteenth the width of a human hair. That capability is used in microfluidics, miniature device fabrication, and precision instrumentation.

Which spindle should I choose?

E3000 3060 QC — quick lever tool changes, soft materials only, collets 2.0–4.0 mm. E3000 3060 — the standard for metal milling: wrench tool changes, collets 0.5–6.35 mm, durable in dirty environments. E3000 3060 AQC — pneumatic tool changes for use with the ATC; requires an air supply. Custom spindle options are also available.

Does the ATC need shop air?

Yes — it is a pneumatic system requiring 21.7 to 36.2 psi. Tool length is measured automatically at each exchange, and a protective cover shields the tool pots from chips and contaminants.

How repeatable is a workpiece swap?

With Quick-Release Holders, positioning accuracy and repeatability are within 1 micron. The base stays mounted on the machine; the removable pallet carries the workpiece and is secured by a manual clamping bolt — or an optional pneumatic system.

How big a part can it handle?

Working distances are 230 mm in X (127 mm with the ATC installed), 180 mm in Y, and 127 mm in Z. If your parts are bigger than that, talk to us — a custom configuration may fit better.

What does it need to run?

110 or 220 VAC at approximately 1,000 W — an ordinary outlet. The machine measures 838 × 560 × 965 mm and weighs 200 kg. A sturdy bench works, or the optional stand adds casters, outboard leveling mounts, a coolant-tank shelf, and a pull-out tray.

Next Steps

One more look, a quote, or a purchase.