"NEMA 17 steppers are too small for wood carving. Success depends on the cutting tool you use, the hardness of the wood, and the speed. I once used them myself on my first small (very small) CNC with a Dremel spindle, and as soon as it encountered resistance, it would lose steps. The cheapest solution with very good results is NEMA 24 motors (I still have those on my CNC). Forget about using ASH; with BASSWOOD, it will work, but at a very low speed."