How to assemble a CNC wood milling machine. Creating a CNC machine with your own hands

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Many craftsmen often think about assembling a homemade CNC machine. It has a number of advantages and will allow you to solve a large number of problems more efficiently and quickly.

They carry out milling and cutting of almost all materials. In this regard, the temptation to manufacture such a device is quite great. Maybe it's time to take matters into your own hands and replenish your workshop with new equipment?

Numerically controlled machines have become widespread not only in industrial production, but also in private workshops. They allow flat and profile processing of metal, plastic and wood.

In addition, you cannot do without them when performing engraving and drilling and filler work.

Almost any task solved using such devices is performed at a high level.

If you need to draw something on a board or a wooden slab, you just need to create a layout in a computer program and transfer it to the product using CNC Milling. In most cases, it is simply impossible to perform such an operation manually, especially if we're talking about about high accuracy.

All professional equipment of this type is characterized high level automation and ease of operation. Only basic skills required to work in specialized computer programs to solve simple material processing problems.

At the same time, even with CNC they cope with their goals. With proper configuration and the use of high-quality components, you can achieve good accuracy, minimal backlash and acceptable operating speed from the device.

DIY CNC machine

Functional diagram of a CNC machine.

So, how to make this device? To make a CNC machine with your own hands, you need to spend time developing the project, as well as familiarize yourself with existing factory models. Following these first and most simple rules, you will be able to avoid the most common mistakes.

It is worth noting that a CNC milling machine is a technically complex device with electronic elements. Because of this, many people believe that it cannot be done by hand.

Of course, this opinion is wrong. However, it must be borne in mind that for assembly you will need not only a drawing, but also a certain set of tools and parts. For example, you will need a stepper motor, which can be taken from a printer, etc.

The need for certain financial and time costs should also be taken into account. If such problems are not terrible, then produce an affordable and effective unit with coordinate positioning cutting tool for processing metal or wood is not difficult.

Scheme

The most difficult stage of CNC machining on metal and wood is choosing the optimal equipment layout. Everything here is determined by the size of the workpiece and the degree of its processing.

For domestic purposes, it is better to give preference to a drawing of a small device with the necessary set of functions.

One option could be a design consisting of two carriages that will move in a plane. Steel grinding rods work well as a base. Carriages are attached to them.

You will also need a motor and screws with rolling bearings to ensure the transmission. The CNC router will be controlled using a program.

Preparation

To automate a homemade CNC milling machine, you need to think through the electronic part as much as possible.

Drawing of a homemade machine.

It can be divided into several elements:

power supply that supplies power to the motor and controller;
controller;
a driver that regulates the operation of moving parts of the structure.

Then, to build the machine yourself, you need to select assembly parts. It is best to use available materials. This will help minimize the cost of the tools you need.

The base is usually made of wood, plexiglass or metal. It is important that no vibrations occur during the movement of the calipers. They will lead to inaccurate operation of the device. In this regard, it is necessary to correctly develop their design.

Here are some tips for choosing parts:

rods with a diameter of up to 12 mm are suitable as guides;
the best option there will be textolite for the caliper;
SD is usually taken from printers;
The cutter fixation block is also made of textolite.

Assembly instructions

After preparing and selecting the parts, you can begin assembling the milling unit for processing wood and metal.

First of all, you should check all the components again and make sure that their sizes are correct.

CNC device diagram.

The assembly sequence looks approximately as follows:

installation of caliper guides, their fastening to the side surfaces of the structure;
grinding in the calipers as a result of their movement until a smooth ride can be achieved;
bolt tightening;
installing components on the device base;
securing lead screws with couplings;
fastening to coupling screws stepper motors.

All electronic components should be located in a separate unit. Thus, the likelihood of failure during operation will be minimized. This type of placement of electronics can be called the best design.

Features of work

Once the CNC machine has been assembled with your own hands, you can begin testing.

The actions of the machine will be controlled by software. It must be chosen correctly. First of all, it is important that the program is working. Secondly, it must maximize all the capabilities of the equipment.

Kinematic diagram of the device operation.

The software must contain all the necessary drivers for the controllers.

You should start with simple programs. During the first starts, it is necessary to monitor each pass of the cutter to ensure that the cutting width and depth are correct. It is especially important to control the three-dimensional versions of such devices.

Bottom line

CNC woodworking devices incorporate various electronics into their design. Because of this, at first glance, it may seem that such equipment is very difficult to make on your own.

In fact, do-it-yourself CNC - feasible task for each. You just need to believe in yourself and your abilities, and then you can become the owner of a reliable and efficient milling machine that will become the pride of any master.

In order to make a CNC machine from a printer with your own hands, you will need the following available materials:

spare parts from several printers (in particular the drive and pins);
hard drive drive;
several sheets of chipboard or plywood, furniture guides;
controller and driver;
fastening materials.

1. The base is a box made of chipboard. You can take a ready-made one or make it yourself. We immediately take into account that the internal capacity of the box must accommodate all the electronic filling, so the height of the side is calculated from the height of the board with parts, fastenings and reserve to the table surface. The base and frame are assembled from chipboard using self-tapping screws. In this case, all parts must be smooth and fixed at right angles.

2. The machine axes must be secured to the base cover. There are three of them - x y z. First we attach the y axis. To make the guide, a furniture runner on ball bearings is used.

It is better to use two guides for two horizontal axes, otherwise the axes will have significant play. For the vertical axis, the role of the guide is played by the remains of the hard drive, the part where the laser moved.

As lead screw a printer rod is used. IN in this case For the horizontal x y axes, threaded screws with a diameter of 8 mm are made. For the vertical z axis, a threaded screw with a diameter of 6 mm was used. Drives from old printers are used as a stepper motor. One drive per axle.

3. The pin is attached to the plane using a metal angle.

The motor shaft is connected to the stud through a flexible coupling. All three axes are attached to the base through a chipboard frame. In this design, the milling cutter will move only in the vertical plane, and the movement of the part is carried out due to the horizontal movement of the platform.

4. The electronic unit consists of a controller and a driver. The controller is made on Soviet K155TM7 microcircuits; for this case, three were used.

From each chip, wires go to the driver of each of the three motors. The driver is made on a transistor. The drive uses KT 315, transistors KT 814, KT 815. From these transistors an electrical signal is supplied to the winding electric drive.

At normal operating voltage, motors may overheat due to the lack of busbars in the electronic unit. To prevent this, a computer cooler must be used for each engine.

Video: a simple DIY CNC machine for beginners.

Electronic filling

There are two options:

You arm yourself with a soldering iron, flux, solder, a magnifying glass, and understand the chips from the printer. Locate the 12F675 and LB1745 printer control boards. Work with them by creating a CNC control board. You will need to attach them to the back of the CNC machine, under the power supply (we also take it from the long-suffering printer).
Use the factory CNC machine controller. Offhand - a five-axis CNC controller. Homemade electronics are wonderful, but the Chinese are heavily dumping on prices. So, with a light click of the mouse, we order the CNC from them, because in Russia you cannot buy such a CNC device. CNC controller 5 Axis CNC Breakout Board allows you to connect 3 inputs of end motors, a shutdown button, automated control Dremel and as many as 5 drivers to control the stepper motor of a homemade machine.

This CNC is powered by a USB cable. IN homemade version The control board based on the printer chips needs to be powered from the power supply of the CNC machine.

A stepper motor for a homemade CNC machine will have to be selected with a power of up to 35 volts. At other powers, the CNC controller runs the risk of burning out.

Remove the power supply from the printer. Connect the wiring between the power supply, the on/off switch, the CNC controller and the Dremel.

Connect the wire from the laptop/PC to the machine control board. Otherwise, how will you load tasks into the machine? By the way, about assignments: download the Math4 program for drawing sketches. For non-professionals industrial design CorelDraw will do.

You can cut plywood (up to 15 mm), textolite up to 3 mm, plastic, wood with a homemade CNC machine. The products will be no more than 30-32 cm in length.

metmastanki.ru

What can be done from an old printer. DIY CNC machine

Quite often, among owners of poorly functioning or already faulty office equipment, the question comes up about what can be done from an old printer. Of course, the easiest way to solve this problem is to send your used inkjet or laser printer for recycling. But if you have free time and some desire, then you can turn a printer into a CNC machine, i.e. computer numerical control equipment that has found wide application for solving both amateur and professional problems. You can find out about this in more detail below, but first, let’s look at the question of what can be extracted from an old printing device.

Retrieving future spare parts

So, if your printer (whether inkjet or laser) has already failed or its service life is coming to an end, then do not rush to throw it away. The fact is that it is best to disassemble old office equipment into spare parts, which can later be used to repair new printers. Multifunctional devices and devices that use matrix printing technology are best suited for analysis, because from them you can get a lot of useful things for those who want to make a CNC machine with their own hands.

First of all, disassemble the old device into parts, and all the nuts, screws and screws may be necessary in the future, so do not throw them away, but put them in some box and put them aside. Moreover, many often have to face a situation where they do not have the necessary nut at hand.
One of the most valuable parts in any printing device is the hardened steel guide. This is especially true for older model printers, the guides of which are very difficult to bend. But in some 3D printers they often skimp on these parts, as a result of which the guides in them can bend even under the pressure of a tensioned drive belt. High-quality and reliable steel guides are perfect for machine tools, so feel free to remove a part of this kind from your device.
Along with the above-mentioned part comes the so-called. device head sliding unit. For inkjet printers, a similar part is made of plastic, as a result of which it is only suitable for unloaded axes of CNC engravers - be sure to take this into account! As for old matrix-type devices, their assembly contains a bronze bushing - a part of this type can be safely used on homemade equipment with numerical control, which will be used for processing plastics and non-ferrous metals.
Another important part that can be used to make a machine is a toothed drive belt. It is worth noting that a part of this kind is available in both the old copier and the laser MFP.
Also, be sure to remove the stepper motors that are used to move the machine head and move the paper. As a rule, a matrix device has a more powerful stepper motor than other types of printers. From an MFP that uses laser printing, you can take out a stepper, which is quite suitable for the production of a milling machine with numerical control, which will be used in living conditions.
Along with the stepper, do not forget to also remove the controller that controls it.
Another great device that can be used as a spare part is Limit switches. In printing office equipment, they are designed to control whether there is paper in the device or not. Such switches are divided into automatic and mechanical type devices.

Assembling the machine

Use a printer as the basis of the machine - a matrix device is an excellent option. The motors from such office equipment can be installed absolutely independently; moreover, they are durable and low-noise. In addition, get all the necessary tools and small parts in the form of screws, bearings, aluminum corners, bolts and construction studs. Among the tools you will need are side cutters, a file, a vice, electric drill, pliers, screwdriver and hacksaw.

At the first stage, take and cut two pieces of plywood square shape 370x370 mm for the side walls, one 90x340 mm for the front and 340x370 mm for the rear wall.
The walls for the future machine must be fastened using self-tapping screws. To do this, make holes in advance using a drill at a distance of 6 mm to the edge.
You should use aluminum corners as guides along the Y-axis. Make a 2 mm tongue to attach these corners to the side walls of the machine body at a distance of 3 cm from its bottom. The corners must be screwed through the central surface using self-tapping screws.
For the manufacture of work surface You should use 14 cm long corners. One 608 bearing should be secured to the bolts from below.
Make an exit for the Y-axis motor about 5 cm from the bottom. Also drill a hole in the front wall with a diameter of 7 mm so that the propeller support bearing can be inserted there.
As for the stroke screw itself, it can be made from a hairpin construction type. It will interact with the motor using a clutch. The latter can be done absolutely independently.
Make holes in the M8 nut, the diameter of which should be 2.5 mm.
To make the X axis, you need to use steel guides, which can be found in the body of an old printer. From there, take out the carriages that will be put on the axles.
The base of the Z-axis must be made of a material such as No6 plywood. Fix the plywood elements to each other using PVA glue. Make another running nut.
Instead of a spindle, install a Dremel in the CNC machine, which will have a holder made of a bracket for the board. Make a hole at the bottom, the diameter of which should be 19 mm, so that the Dremel can be inserted there. Next comes fixing the bracket with a self-tapping screw to the base of the Z axis.
To make supports intended for the Z axis, it is necessary to use plywood with a base of 15 by 9 cm. Its upper and lower sides should be equal to 5x9 cm. You will also need to drill corresponding outlets for the guides.
On last stage you will need to assemble the Z axis with the Dremel bracket, and also work on mounting it into the body of a practical finished machine.

Overall, as you can see, an old printer can be an excellent basis for making a CNC machine. Of course, if your skill and skills to create such equipment are not enough, then it is better to disassemble the old device into components that you may need in the future to repair a new printer.

Still have questions? Leave them to the professionals. What can be done from old printers. Designing a CNC machine Link to main publication

printeros.ru

Homemade CNC milling machine: assemble it yourself

Knowing that a CNC milling machine is a complex technical and electronic device, many craftsmen think that it is simply impossible to make it with their own hands. However, this opinion is wrong: you can make such equipment yourself, but to do this you need to have not only detailed drawing, but also a set necessary tools and related components.

Processing a duralumin blank on a homemade desktop milling machine

When deciding to make a homemade CNC milling machine, keep in mind that this may take a significant amount of time. In addition, certain financial costs will be required. However, by not being afraid of such difficulties and by correctly approaching all issues, you can become the owner of affordable, efficient and productive equipment that allows you to process workpieces from various materials With high degree accuracy.

To make a milling machine equipped with a CNC system, you can use two options: buy a ready-made kit, from which such equipment is assembled from specially selected elements, or find all the components and assemble a device with your own hands that fully meets all your requirements.

Instructions for assembling a homemade CNC milling machine

Below in the photo you can see a self-made CNC milling machine, which comes with detailed instructions on manufacturing and assembly, indicating the materials and components used, exact “patterns” of machine parts and approximate costs. The only negative is the instructions on English language, but it is quite possible to understand the detailed drawings without knowing the language.

Download free instructions for making the machine: Homemade CNC milling machine

The CNC milling machine is assembled and ready to go. Below are some illustrations from the assembly instructions for this machine.

“Patterns” of machine parts (reduced view) Beginning of machine assembly Intermediate stage Final stage of assembly

Preparatory work

If you decide that you will design a CNC machine with your own hands, without using a ready-made kit, then the first thing you will need to do is choose schematic diagram, according to which such mini-equipment will work.

Diagram of a CNC milling machine

You can take an old one as a basis for CNC milling equipment. drilling machine, in which the working head with the drill is replaced with a milling one. The most difficult thing that will have to be designed in such equipment is the mechanism that ensures the movement of the tool in three independent planes. This mechanism can be assembled using carriages from a non-working printer; it will ensure the movement of the tool in two planes.

It is easy to connect software control to a device assembled according to this concept. However, its main disadvantage is that only workpieces made of plastic, wood and thin materials can be processed on such a CNC machine. sheet metal. This is explained by the fact that the carriages from the old printer, which will ensure the movement of the cutting tool, do not have a sufficient degree of rigidity.

A lightweight version of a CNC milling machine for working with soft materials

In order for your homemade CNC machine to be able to perform full-fledged milling operations with workpieces made of various materials, a sufficiently powerful stepper motor must be responsible for moving the working tool. It is absolutely not necessary to look for a stepper type motor; it can be made from a conventional electric motor, subjecting the latter to minor modifications.

Using a stepper motor in your milling machine will allow you to avoid using a screw drive, and functionality and characteristics homemade equipment it won't make things any worse. If you still decide to use carriages from a printer for your mini-machine, then it is advisable to select them from a larger model of the printing device. To transfer force to the shaft of milling equipment, it is better to use not ordinary, but toothed belts that will not slip on the pulleys.

Belt drive unit

One of the most important components of any such machine is the milling mechanism. It is its production that needs to be given special attention. To properly make such a mechanism, you will need detailed drawings, which will need to be strictly followed.

CNC milling machine drawings

Drawing No. 1 (side view)

Drawing No. 2 (rear view)

Drawing No. 3 (top view)

Let's start assembling the equipment

The basis of homemade CNC milling equipment can be a rectangular beam, which must be securely fixed on guides.

The supporting structure of the machine must have high rigidity; when installing it, it is better not to use welded joints, and all elements should be connected only with screws.

Unit for fastening machine frame parts using a bolted connection

This requirement is explained by the fact that welded seams very poorly withstand vibration loads, to which they will necessarily be subjected Basic structure equipment. Such loads will ultimately lead to the machine frame beginning to deteriorate over time, and changes in geometric dimensions will occur in it, which will affect the accuracy of the equipment settings and its performance.

Welds when installing the frame of a homemade milling machine often provoke the development of play in its components, as well as deflection of the guides, which occurs under heavy loads.

Installation vertical racks

The milling machine that you will assemble with your own hands must have a mechanism that ensures the movement of the working tool in the vertical direction. It is best to use a screw gear for this, the rotation of which will be transmitted using a toothed belt.

Important detail milling machine - its vertical axis, which for homemade device can be made from aluminum plate. It is very important that the dimensions of this axis are precisely adjusted to the dimensions of the device being assembled. If you have a muffle furnace at your disposal, then you can make the vertical axis of the machine yourself by casting it from aluminum according to the dimensions indicated in the finished drawing.

Top carriage assembly located on cross rails

Once all the components of your homemade milling machine are prepared, you can begin assembling it. This process begins with the installation of two stepper motors, which are mounted on the equipment body behind its vertical axis. One of these electric motors will be responsible for moving the milling head in the horizontal plane, and the second will be responsible for moving the head, respectively, in the vertical plane. After this, the remaining components and assemblies of home-made equipment are installed.

The final stage of machine assembly

Rotation to all components of homemade CNC equipment must be transmitted only through belt drives. Before connecting to assembled machine system program control, you should check its performance manually and immediately eliminate all identified deficiencies in its operation.

You can watch the process of assembling a milling machine with your own hands in a video that is easy to find on the Internet.

Stepper motors

The design of any CNC-equipped milling machine necessarily contains stepper motors that ensure the movement of the tool in three planes: 3D. When designing a homemade machine for this purpose, you can use electric motors installed in a dot matrix printer. Most older models of dot matrix printing devices were equipped with electric motors with fairly high power. In addition to stepper motors, it is worth taking strong steel rods from an old printer, which can also be used in the design of your homemade machine.

Attaching the stepper motor to the upper carriage

To make your own CNC milling machine, you will need three stepper motors. Since there are only two of them in the dot matrix printer, it will be necessary to find and disassemble another old printing device.

It will be a big plus if the motors you find have five control wires: this will significantly increase the functionality of your future mini-machine. It is also important to find out the following parameters of the stepper motors you have found: how many degrees are rotated in one step, what is the supply voltage, as well as the value of the winding resistance.

To connect each stepper motor you will need a separate controller

The drive design of a homemade CNC milling machine is assembled from a nut and a stud, the dimensions of which should be pre-selected according to the drawing of your equipment. To fix the motor shaft and attach it to the stud, it is convenient to use a thick rubber winding from electric cable. Elements of your CNC machine, such as clamps, can be made in the form of a nylon sleeve into which a screw is inserted. In order to make such simple structural elements, you will need a regular file and a drill.

Electronic equipment

Your DIY CNC machine will be controlled by software, and it needs to be selected correctly. When choosing such software (you can write it yourself), it is important to pay attention to the fact that it is operational and allows the machine to realize all its functionality. Such software must contain drivers for the controllers that will be installed on your mini-milling machine.

IN homemade machine with CNC, an LPT port is required, through which electronic system control and connects to the machine. It is very important that such connection is made through installed stepper motors.

Wiring diagram for unipolar stepper motors for a 3-axis CNC machine (click to enlarge)

When choosing electronic components for your homemade machine, it is important to pay attention to their quality, since the accuracy of the technological operations that will be performed on it will depend on this. After installing and connecting all electronic components of the CNC system, you need to download the necessary software and drivers. Only after this is a test run of the machine, checking the correctness of its operation under the control of loaded programs, identifying deficiencies and promptly eliminating them.

All of the above steps and the listed components are suitable for making your own milling machine, not only a jig boring machine, but also a number of other types. With such equipment it is possible to process parts with complex configurations, since the working part of the machine can move in three planes: 3d.

Your desire to assemble such a machine controlled by a CNC system with your own hands must be supported by the presence of certain skills and detailed drawings. It is also highly advisable to watch a number of thematic training videos, some of which are presented in this article.

So, you've decided to build a homemade CNC milling machine, or maybe you're just thinking about it and don't know where to start? There are many benefits to having a CNC machine. Home machines can mill and cut almost all materials. Whether you are an amateur or a craftsman, this opens up great horizons for creativity. The fact that one of the machines could end up in your workshop is even more tempting.

There are many reasons why people want to build their own DIY CNC router. As a rule, this happens because we simply cannot afford to buy it in a store or from a manufacturer, and this is not surprising, because the price for them is rather high. Or you can be like me and have a lot of fun with your own work and creating something unique. You can simply do this to gain experience in mechanical engineering.

Personal experience

When I first started developing, thinking through and making the first CNC router with my own hands, it took about one day to create the project. Then, when I started buying parts, I did some research. And I found some information in various sources and forums, which led to new questions:

Do I really need ball screws, or will regular studs and nuts work just fine?
Which linear bearing is best and can I afford it?
What motor parameters do I need, and is it better to use a stepper or a servo drive?
Does the housing material deform too much when large size machine?
And so on.

Fortunately, I was able to answer some of the questions thanks to my engineering and technical background left after my studies. However, many of the problems I would encounter could not be calculated. I just needed someone with practical experience and information on the subject.

Of course, I received many answers to my questions from different people, many of which contradicted each other. Then I had to do more research to figure out which answers were worthwhile and which were garbage.

Every time I had a question that I didn't know the answer to, I had to repeat the same process. By and large, this is due to the fact that I had a limited budget and wanted to take the best that my money could buy. This is the same situation for many people who create a homemade CNC milling machine.

Kits and kits for assembling CNC routers with your own hands

Yes, there are machine kits available for hand assembly, but I have yet to see one that can be customized to specific needs.

There is also no possibility to make changes to the design and type of machine, but there are many of them, and how do you know which one is right for you? No matter how good the instructions are, if the design is poorly thought out, then the final machine will be poor.

That's why you need to be aware of what you're building and understand the role each piece plays!

Management

This guide aims to prevent you from making the same mistakes that I wasted my precious time and money on.

We'll look at all the components down to the bolts, looking at the advantages and disadvantages of each type of each part. I will talk about every aspect of design and show you how to create a CNC milling machine with your own hands. I'll take you through the mechanics to the software and everything in between.

Keep in mind that homemade CNC machine plans offer few solutions to some problems. This often results in sloppy design or poor machine performance. That's why I suggest you read this guide first.

LET'S START

STEP 1: Key design decisions

First of all, the following questions need to be considered:

Determining a suitable design specifically for you (for example, if you make a woodworking machine with your own hands).
Required processing area.
Availability of work space.
Materials.
Tolerances.
Design methods.
Available tools.
Budget.

STEP 2: Base and X-Axis

The following questions are addressed here:

Design and build the main base or X-axis base.
Rigidly fixed parts.
Partially fixed parts, etc.

STEP 3: Design the Gantry Y Axis

Design and construction of the portal Y axis.
Breakdown of various structures into elements.
Forces and moments on the portal, etc.

STEP 4: Z Axis Assembly Diagram

The following questions are addressed here:

Design and assembly of Z axis assembly.
Forces and moments on the Z axis.
Linear rails/guides and bearing spacing.
Selecting a cable channel.

STEP 5: Linear Motion System

This paragraph addresses the following issues:

A detailed study of linear motion systems.
Choice correct system specifically for your machine.
Design and construction of your own guides on a low budget.
Linear shaft and bushings or rails and blocks?

STEP 6: Mechanical Drive Components

This paragraph covers the following aspects:

Detailed overview of drive parts.
Selecting the right components for your machine type.
Stepper or servo motors.
Screws and ball screws.
Drive nuts.
Radial and thrust bearings.
Engine coupling and mount.
Direct drive or gearbox.
Racks and gears.
Calibration of propellers relative to engines.

STEP 7: Selecting Motors

In this step you need to consider:

Detailed review of CNC motors.
Types of CNC motors.
How stepper motors work.
Types of stepper motors.
How do servomotors work?
Types of servo motors.
NEMA standards.
Choice the right type engine for your project.
Measuring motor parameters.

STEP 8: Cutting table design

Design and build your own tables on a low budget.
Perforated cutting layer.
Vacuum table.
Review of cutting table designs.
The table can be cut using a CNC wood router.

STEP 9: Spindle Parameters

This step addresses the following issues:

Review of CNC spindles.
Types and functions.
Pricing and costs.
Mounting and cooling options.
Cooling systems.
Creating your own spindle.
Calculation of chip load and cutting force.
Finding the optimal feed rate.

STEP 10: Electronics

This paragraph addresses the following issues:

Control Panel.
Electrical wiring and fuses.
Buttons and switches.
MPG and Jog circles.
Power supplies.

STEP 11: Program Controller Parameters

This step addresses the following issues:

Overview of the CNC controller.
Controller selection.
Available options.
Closed-loop and open-loop systems.
Controllers at an affordable price.
Creating your own controller from scratch.

STEP 12: Select Software

This paragraph addresses the following issues:

Review of CNC related software.
Selection of software.
CAM software.
CAD software.
NC Controller software.

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Step-by-step instructions for creating a CNC machine with your own hands easily and quickly, without extra costs.

DIY CNC machine from a printer

You will also need ordinary tools, such as drill, drill bits, screwdriver and others.

Step 1: Find an Old Printer or Scanner

To make a homemade CNC machine from a printer, you first need to stock up on the necessary materials. This stage is the most enjoyable in the process of assembling a machine, since it represents attempts to find the junk that people want to get rid of. You can use your own materials or buy them. But if you want to reduce machine costs as much as possible, the best option would be a CNC from an old printer. Here are the items you need to find:

Flatbed scanner
Old printer

After completing the above procedure, push the pieces of plastic placed on the rods (2 pieces on each rod) to the desired locations and align them, then place the sheets on top. Then turn the structure over and glue them.

Repeat the procedure for each axis.

For the Y axis.

Now is the time to drill the holes necessary to fix the workpieces during processing on the planned CNC from the printer.

Step 5: installing the electric motor

Depending on which electric motor you have, you will need different mounts to install it, since they are all different from each other.

It is advisable to use stepper motors from printers due to their ease of installation, but motors from scanners will also work well.

In step three you should have drilled the holes to install the motor and now all you have to do is secure it.

Choice suitable type The coupling that connects the stepper motor to the threaded rod depends on the type of motor you have.

In this case, an elongated nut was used as a connector, but you can make it from plastic - the main thing is that it is of sufficient size.

All you have to do is drill a hole in the center of the rod on the motor side that matches the diameter of the stepper motor shaft, then drill an 8mm hole for the threaded rod on the other side.

After this, cut a thread on the side on which there is a hole with a diameter of 8 mm and glue the parts together.

Step 6: Making the carving

Once you've installed the nut, it's time to secure the threaded rod and glue the nut to one of the 38x44x12mm rectangular plates.

Make sure that the center of the nut is threaded connection coincides with the center of the threaded rod.

After completing this procedure, you should have a knot similar to the one shown below.

Necessary materials:

Repeat the above procedure for each axis.

Step 7: Time to Glue

You should now have all three axles ready, so it's time to line them up and glue them together.

The material used was a piece of white plexiglass measuring 508x304x6 mm, which can be purchased at a plastic goods store.

You can use a smaller piece, but this is not advisable.

Once you have the base and the homemade CNC printer machine is starting to come into its own, glue the X axis to it, and then glue the Y axis to the plastic base of the top of the X axis. You should end up with a knot similar to the one shown below.

To perform this procedure, use acrylic glue.

By the way, it is also suitable for gluing foamed PVC.

After this, glue the “Z” axis to a piece of plexiglass measuring 203x101x6 mm.

Necessary materials:

Step 8: Where is the Z axis?

Don't worry - they haven't forgotten about her either. Go ahead.

Now we need to make a mount for a multi-tool on a sheet of plexiglass located on the “Z” axis.

To do this, use a pipe clip and a clamp - you can purchase them at any hardware store at a very low price.

It is necessary to make a small lip to secure the multitool to the plexiglass sheet because the clip will deform when you insert the multitool into it.

Place the clamp on the plexiglass sheet at the top of the protrusion and glue it in place.

Necessary materials:

Step 9: Heavenly Thing

Now that the Z-axis multi-tool mount is installed, it's time to install the posts and the sheet of plexiglass holding them together.

To do this you need to do square hole Center a 10" x 16" x 5/16" sheet of plexiglass to thread the "Z" axis through.

After this, a thick piece of plexiglass should be installed to support the “Z” axis.

Now glue the "Z" axis to the piece of plexiglass and make sure it extends at least 1/16" above the top edge to ensure there is a flat edge.

Necessary materials:

Step 10: What high racks!

Now it's time to glue the 1 1/2" x 16" x 1" posts to the top of the plexiglass "Z" axis, then glue them to the bottom base.

Necessary materials:

Step 11: Are we done yet?!

The answer to this question is “no,” but in terms of the mechanical part of the structure, it is true. You also need to work on the electronic part of the machine, and you will find out how to do this in the second part of the article, which will be published in the near future.

Such work takes quite a lot of time, although at first glance it may seem quite the opposite, so by the time you complete all the procedures described above, the instructions for manufacturing the electronic part of the machine will be ready.

All the plastic you need can be found in the plastic bin, and the rest was purchased at the store building materials and a local metal crafts specialty store.

At first, a CNC machine from a printer can be powered by a stepper motor from the printer, and it will do its job well, but it will be better if you decide to get a more powerful motor.

Ready! You made a CNC from a printer with your own hands, almost (or completely) for free.

And so, as part of this instructional article, I want you, together with the author of the project, a 21-year-old mechanic and designer, to make your own. The narration will be conducted in the first person, but know that, to my great regret, I am not sharing my experience, but only freely retelling the author of this project.

There will be quite a lot of drawings in this article., the notes to them are made in English, but I am sure that a real techie will understand everything without further ado. For ease of understanding, I will break the story into “steps”.

Preface from the author

Already at the age of 12, I dreamed of building a machine that would be capable of creating various things. A machine that will give me the ability to make any household item. Two years later I came across the phrase CNC or to be more precise, the phrase "CNC milling machine". After I found out that there are people who can make such a machine on their own for their own needs, in their own garage, I realized that I could do it too. I must do it! For three months I tried to collect suitable parts, but did not budge. So my obsession gradually faded.

In August 2013, the idea of building a CNC milling machine captured me again. I had just graduated from a bachelor's degree in industrial design at university, so I was quite confident in my abilities. Now I clearly understood the difference between me today and me five years ago. I learned how to work with metal, mastered techniques for working with manual metalworking machines, but most importantly, I learned how to use development tools. I hope this tutorial inspires you to build your own CNC machine!

Step 1: Design and CAD model

It all starts with thoughtful design. I made several sketches to get a better feel for the size and shape of the future machine. After that I created a CAD model using SolidWorks. After I modeled all the parts and components of the machine, I prepared technical drawings. I used these drawings to make parts on manual metalworking machines: and.

I confess honestly, I love good convenient tools. That is why I tried to make sure that the operations maintenance and adjustment of the machine were carried out as simply as possible. I placed the bearings in special blocks in order to be able to quickly replace them. The guides are accessible for maintenance, so my car will always be clean when the work is completed.

Files for downloading “Step 1”

dimensions

Step 2: Bed

The bed provides the machine with the necessary rigidity. A movable portal, stepper motors, a Z axis and a spindle, and later a working surface will be installed on it. To create the supporting frame I used two aluminum profiles Maytec with a cross section of 40x80 mm and two end plates made of aluminum 10 mm thick. I connected all the elements together using aluminum corners. To strengthen the structure inside the main frame, I made an additional square frame from profiles of a smaller section.

In order to avoid dust getting on the guides in the future, I installed protective aluminum corners. The angle is mounted using T-nuts, which are installed in one of the profile grooves.

Both end plates have bearing blocks for mounting the drive screw.

Support frame assembly

Corners for protecting guides

Files for downloading “Step 2”

Drawings of the main elements of the frame

Step 3: Portal

Mobile portal - executive agency of your machine, it moves along the X axis and carries the milling spindle and Z axis support. The higher the gantry, the thicker the workpiece you can machine. However, a high portal is less resistant to the loads that arise during processing. The high side posts of the portal act as levers relative to the linear rolling bearings.

The main task that I planned to solve on my CNC milling machine is processing aluminum parts. Since the maximum thickness of aluminum blanks suitable for me is 60 mm, I decided to make the portal clearance (the distance from the working surface to the upper cross beam) equal to 125 mm. I converted all my measurements into a model and technical drawings in SolidWorks. Due to the complexity of the parts, I processed them on an industrial CNC machining center; this additionally allowed me to process chamfers, which would be very difficult to do on a manual metal milling machine.

Files for downloading “Step 3”

Step 4: Z Axis Caliper

For the Z-axis design, I used a front panel that attaches to the Y-axis motion bearings, two plates to reinforce the assembly, a plate to mount the stepper motor, and a panel to mount the milling spindle. On the front panel I installed two profile guides along which the spindle will move along the Z axis. Please note that the Z axis screw does not have a counter support at the bottom.

Downloads “Step 4”

Step 5: Guides

Guides provide the ability to move in all directions, ensuring smooth and precise movements. Any play in one direction can cause inaccuracy in the processing of your products. I chose the most expensive option - profiled hardened steel rails. This will allow the structure to withstand high loads and provide the positioning accuracy I need. To ensure the guides were parallel, I used a special indicator while installing them. The maximum deviation relative to each other was no more than 0.01 mm.

Step 6: Screws and Pulleys

Screws convert rotary motion from stepper motors into linear motion. When designing your machine, you can choose several options for this unit: a screw-nut pair or a ball screw pair (ball screw). The screw-nut, as a rule, is subjected to more frictional forces during operation, and is also less accurate relative to the ball screw. If you need increased accuracy, then you definitely need to opt for a ball screw. But you should know that ball screws are quite expensive.

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