From September 4–8, 2026, Makera brought desktop CNC machining to Messe Berlin in Berlin, Germany, for IFA 2026. At Hall 17, Booth 215, visitors could see our machines in action, explore projects made from different materials, and discover how a digital design becomes a finished piece.
Across five days, our booth brought together live machining, personalized DIY projects, and conversations with makers and potential partners. We also celebrated two media awards, gave interviews to CNN and other media outlets, and took our online community inside the booth through a livestream from the show floor.
Eight Machines Bringing CNC to Life
With eight machines running at the booth, visitors could watch CNC machining as it happened. Our Carvera, Carvera Air, and Z1 series demonstrations showed different ways to approach a project, from automatic tool changing to rotary machining and personalized engraving.
The Carvera demonstrated how automatic tool changing supports projects that require multiple cutting tools. The Carvera Air showcased fourth-axis machining, giving visitors a closer look at how a rotating workpiece opens up possibilities beyond flat surfaces. The Makera Z1 and Z1 Pro highlighted everyday customization possibilities, using a vacuum bed to hold ABS sheets securely in place for quick engraving and cutting.
Alongside the machines, finished projects gave people a reason to stop and look closer. Aluminum accessories, small RC vehicle components, brass models, commemorative coins, and carved reliefs showed the variety of objects makers can create.
These examples helped connect the machining process with practical ideas: a custom part for a hobby project, a decorative object, or an accessory designed for everyday use.
Two Awards and a CNN Interview
IFA 2026 also brought recognition for the Makera Z1 series:
Makera Z1 Pro received a Best of IFA 2026 award from Yanko Design.
Makera Z1 was selected as one of Gadget Flow’s Best Products of IFA 2026.
For our team, these honors were an encouraging milestone as we continue working to make desktop CNC more accessible to creators.
During the exhibition, our team spoke with CNN and other media outlets in a series of interviews. These conversations offered another opportunity to introduce Makera and desktop CNC machining to a wider audience.
Personal Ideas, Custom CNC Creations
From custom nameplates to wooden portrait reliefs, personalized DIY projects gave visitors a chance to turn their own ideas into keepsakes at the Makera booth.
One demonstration used thin ABS sheets to make personalized nameplates. A vacuum bed held the material securely in place during engraving and cutting, allowing visitors to follow the process from design and toolpath preparation to the finished piece.
Visitors could also turn photos of themselves or their families into wooden portrait reliefs. Makerables’ AI Craft relief generation feature transformed each photo into a digital model, and Makera Studio prepared the machining toolpath. A Makera desktop CNC machine then carved the portrait into wood, giving visitors a chance to watch a familiar face take shape.
Across the exhibition, the finished pieces reflected the different personalities and ideas visitors brought to the booth—and offered inspiration for what they could create next.
Connecting Design, Software, and Machining
The demonstrations also highlighted the software behind the machines. During the show, we shared the progress of the Makera Studio public beta and demonstrated how software can help make project preparation more approachable.
Makerables added another route into the creative process. Its AI Craft tools demonstrated how a text prompt could become a 2D vector design for further preparation and machining.
Together, Makerables, Makera Studio, and our desktop CNC machines illustrated a connected workflow: develop an idea, prepare the design and toolpaths, set up the material, and machine the part.
For beginners, seeing those stages together helped explain what happens between an idea and a finished object. For experienced makers, it offered a closer look at how these tools could fit into their existing projects.
We also brought our online community into the booth through a livestream, sharing live CNC demonstrations, project highlights, and conversations with the team.
Thank You, Berlin
Thank you to everyone who visited Hall 17, Booth 215, explored a DIY project, asked a question, or joined us online.
The awards and media attention made IFA 2026 a special event for Makera. Just as meaningful were the moments when visitors watched a part take shape and began thinking about what they could make themselves.
We left Berlin with new connections, fresh project ideas, and more motivation to bring desktop CNC into workshops, classrooms, and creative spaces around the world.
Explore our desktop CNC machines and discover more community projects on Makerables. We look forward to seeing what you create next.
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