What can you cook from squid: quick and tasty

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?

Numerical control machines are widely used not only in industrial production, but also in private workshops. They allow for flat and profiled processing of metal, plastic and wood.

In addition, they are indispensable for 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 board, it is enough 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 it comes about high precision.

All professional equipment of this type is characterized by high level automation and ease of operation. You only need basic skills in specialized computer programs to solve simple material processing tasks.

At the same time, even with CNC control they cope with their goals. With proper tuning and using high-quality units, you can achieve good accuracy, minimum backlash and acceptable operating speed from the device.

DIY CNC machine

Functional diagram of a CNC machine.

So how do you 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 the existing factory models. Following this first and most simple rules, the most common mistakes will be avoided.

It should be noted 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 assembly will require not only a drawing, but also a certain set of tools and parts. For example, you need a stepper motor that you can take from a printer, etc.

You should also take into account the need for certain financial and time costs. If such problems are not terrible, then make 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 for metal and wood is the selection of the optimal equipment scheme. Everything here is determined by the size of the workpiece and the degree of its processing.

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

One of the options could be a structure consisting of two carriages that will move in a plane. Steel sanding rods work well as a base. Carriages are attached to them.

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

Training

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

A drawing of a homemade machine.

It can be divided into several elements:

a power supply unit that supplies electricity to the stepper motor and the controller;
controller;
a driver that regulates the work of the moving parts of the structure.

Then, in order to build the machine yourself, you need to select the assembly parts. It is best to use materials at hand. This will help keep the costs of the tools you need as low as possible.

The base is usually made of wood, plexiglass or metal. It is important that vibrations do not 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 up to 12 mm in diameter are suitable as guides;
the best option for the support would be textolite;
SD is usually taken from printers;
the block for fixing the cutter is also made of PCB.

Assembly instructions

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

First of all, you should check all the components again and make sure they are correct in size.

Diagram of the CNC device.

The assembly sequence looks like the following:

installation of the caliper guides, their fastening to the side surfaces of the structure;
lapping the calipers as a result of their movement until it is possible to achieve a smooth ride;
tightening of bolts;
installation of components on the base of the device;
fastening lead screws with couplings;
fastening to the screws of the stepper motor couplings.

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

Features of work

After the CNC has been assembled by hand, you can start testing.

The software will control the actions of the machine. 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.

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

You should start with simple programs. On first starts, you should monitor each cut of the cutter to make sure the width and depth are correct. It is especially important to check the three-dimensional versions of such devices.

Outcome

Numerically controlled woodworking devices have various electronics in their design. Because of this, at first glance, it may seem that such equipment is very difficult to manufacture on your own.

In fact, do-it-yourself CNC is a feasible task for everyone. It is enough just to believe in yourself and in your strengths, and then you can become the owner of a reliable and efficient milling machine, which will become the pride of any master.

Difficult to manufacture, in addition to technical components, it has an electronic device that can only be installed by a specialist. Contrary to this opinion, the opportunity to assemble a CNC machine with your own hands is great if you prepare the necessary drawings, diagrams and accessories in advance.

Preparatory work

When designing a CNC with your own hands at home, you need to decide on what scheme it will work.

Often, the used one is taken as the basis of the future apparatus.

The drilling machine can be used as the basis for a CNC machine

It will require replacing the working head with a milling head.

The greatest difficulty in designing a CNC machine tool with your own hands is the creation of a device with which the working tool moves in three planes.

Carriages taken from a conventional printer will help to partially solve the problem. The tool will be able to move in both planes. It is better to choose carriages for a CNC machine from a printer that has large dimensions.

A similar scheme allows you to connect control to the machine in the future. The downside is that a CNC milling machine only works with wood, plastic, and thin metal products. This is because the carriages of the printer are not rigid enough.

Attention must be paid to the engine of the future unit. Its role is reduced to the movement of the working tool. The quality of work and the ability to perform milling operations depend on this.

A good option for a homemade CNC router is a stepper motor.

An alternative to such a motor is an electric motor, previously improved and adjusted to the standards of the apparatus.

Anyone using a stepper motor allows not using a screw drive, this does not in any way affect the capabilities of such a CNC woodworking machine. It is recommended to use toothed belts for milling on such a machine. Unlike standard belts, they do not slip on the pulleys.

It is required to correctly design the milling cutter of the future machine; this will require detailed drawings.

Materials and tools required for assembly

The general set of materials for a CNC machine tool includes:

cable 14-19 m long;
processing wood;
cutter chuck;
a frequency converter having the same power as the spindle;
bearings;
control board;
water pump;
cooling hose;
three stepper motors for three axes of movement of the structure;
bolts;
protective cable;
screws;
plywood, chipboard, wood board or metal structure at choice as the body of the future device;
soft type coupling.

It is recommended that you use a spindle with coolant when making your own hands. This will allow you not to turn it off every 10 minutes to cool down. A home-made CNC machine is suitable for work, its power is at least 1.2 kW. The best option will become a 2 kW device.

The set of tools required for the manufacture of the unit includes:

hammers;
electrical tape;
assembly keys;
glue;
screwdriver;
soldering iron, sealant;
grinder, it is often replaced with a hacksaw;
pliers, welding unit, scissors, pliers.

Simple CNC machine with your own hands

Procedure for assembling the machine

Homemade CNC milling machine is assembled according to the following scheme:

production of drawings and diagrams of the device with an indication of the electrical equipment system;
purchase of materials containing a future homemade CNC machine;
installation of the bed, motors, working surface, portal, spindle will be mounted on it;
installation of the portal;
setting the Z axis;
fixation work surface;
spindle installation;
installation of a water-cooling system;
installation of an electrical system;
connection of the board, with its help the device is controlled;
software customization;
starting start-up of the unit.

The bed is based on a material made of aluminum.

The bed must be made from aluminum

Profiles from this metal are chosen with a section of 41 * 81 mm with a plate thickness of 11 mm. The frame body itself is connected using aluminum corners.

The installation of the portal will determine how thick the product can be processed by the CNC machine. Especially if it is made by hand. The higher the portal, the thicker the product it can process. It is important not to set it too high, as such a structure will be less strong and reliable. The portal moves along the X-axis and carries the spindle.

An aluminum profile is used as a material for the working surface of the unit. Often they take a profile that has T-slots. For home use accepted, its thickness is at least 17 mm.

After the frame of the device is ready, proceed to the installation of the spindle. It is important to install it vertically, as it will need to be adjusted in the future, this is done to fix the required angle.

To install the electrical system, the presence of the following components is required:

power unit;
computer;
stepper motor;
pay;
stop button;
motor drivers.

The system requires an LPT port. In addition, it is installed that controls the operation of the device and allows you to answer the question of how to do this or that operation. Control is connected via motors to the milling machine itself.

After the electronics are installed on the machine, you will need to download drivers and programs necessary for the operation.

Common Build Errors

A common mistake when assembling a numerical control machine is the absence of a drawing, but the assembly is carried out according to it. This results in omissions in the design and installation of apparatus structures.

Often incorrect operation of the machine is associated with an incorrectly selected frequency converter and spindle.

For the correct operation of the machine, it is necessary to select the correct spindle

In many cases, stepper motors do not receive adequate power, so a dedicated separate power supply must be selected for them.

It should be borne in mind that a properly installed electrical circuit and software allows you to perform numerous operations on the device. different levels difficulties. A do-it-yourself CNC machine can be performed by a middle-level master, the design of the unit has a number of features, but it is not difficult to assemble parts using drawings.

It is easy to work with a CNC, compiled with your own hands, it is necessary to study the informative base, carry out a number of training works and analyze the state of the unit and parts. Take your time, jerk moving parts or open the CNC.

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

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

1. The base is a chipboard box. You can take it ready-made or make it yourself. We immediately take into account that the internal capacity of the box must accommodate all the electronic filling, therefore the board height is calculated from the height of the board with parts, fasteners and stock to the table surface. The assembly of the chipboard base and frame is carried out by means of self-tapping screws. In this case, all parts must be even and fixed at a right angle.

2. It is necessary to fix the machine axes on the base cover. There are three of them - x y z. First we attach the y-axis. For the manufacture of the guide, a furniture runner with ball bearings is used.

It is better to use two guides for two horizontal axes, otherwise the axes will have significant backlash. For the vertical axis, the role of a guide is played by the remnants of the hard drive, the part where the laser was moving.

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

3. The stud is attached to the plane by means of a metal corner.

The motor shaft is connected to the stud through a flexible coupling. All three axles are attached to the base through a chipboard frame. In this design, the router 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 pieces were used.

From each microcircuit, wires go to the driver of each of the three motors. The driver is based on a transistor. In the buildup, KT 315 is used, transistors KT 814, KT 815. From these transistors, an electrical signal is fed to the winding of the electric drive.

At normal operating voltage, the motors can overheat due to the absence of buses in the electronic unit. To prevent this, a computer cooler must be used for each motor.

Video: a simple DIY CNC machine for beginners.

Electronic filling

There are two options:

You arm yourself with a soldering iron, flux, solder, magnifying glass, and understand the microcircuits from the printer. Locate the 12F675 and LV1745 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 with prices. So with a slight click of the mouse we order a cnc from them, because in Russia you cannot buy such a cnc device. The CNC controller 5 Axis CNC Breakout Board allows you to connect 3 inputs of limit motors, a shutdown button, automated control of a dremel and as many as 5 drivers for controlling a stepper motor of a homemade machine.

This CNC is powered by a USB cable. V homemade version cnc to power the control board based on printer microcircuits 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 capacities, the cnc controller runs the risk of burnout.

Remove the power supply from the printer. Wire the power supply, on / off toggle switch, cnc controller, and dremel.

Run a wire from the laptop / PC to the machine control board. Otherwise, how will you load tasks into the machine? Speaking of assignments, download Math4 for sketching. For non-professionals industrial design CorelDraw will do.

You can cut with a homemade cnc machine plywood (up to 15 mm), textolite up to 3 mm, plastic, wood. 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 the owners of poorly working or already faulty office equipment, the question pops up about what can be done from an old printer. Of course, the easiest way to solve this problem is to send a used inkjet or laser printer for disposal. But if you have free time and some desire, then from the printer you can make a CNC machine, i.e. equipment with numerical control, which has found wide application for solving both amateur and professional tasks. You can find out more about this below, but first, let's consider the question of what can be extracted from the old printing device.

Retrieving future spare parts

So, if your printer (whether inkjet or laser) is already out of order or its operating life is coming to an end, then do not rush to throw it away. The fact is that old office equipment is best disassembled into parts that can later be used to repair new printers. Multifunctional devices and devices that use matrix printing technology are best suited for parsing. 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 bolts may turn out to 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 deal with a situation when the necessary nut is not at hand.
One of the most valuable parts in any printing device is the hardened steel rail. This is especially true for older printers, the guides of which are very difficult to bend. But in some 3D printers, they often save on these parts, as a result of which the guides in them can bend even under the pressure of a tensioning belt of a drive type. High-quality and reliable steel guides are great 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. unit head sliding device. In inkjet printers, a similar part is made of plastic, as a result of which it is suitable only for unloaded CNC axes of engravers - be sure to take this into account! As for the old matrix-type devices, there is a bronze bushing in their assembly - a part of this type can be safely used on home-made equipment with numerical control, which will be used for processing plastic and non-ferrous metal.
Another important part that can be used for the manufacture of the machine is the timing belt of the drive. It is worth noting that this kind of part is present in both the old copier and the laser MFP.
Also, be sure to remove the stepper motors that are used to move the head of the machine and move the paper. Dot matrix devices usually have a more powerful stepper motor than other types of printers. From an MFP that uses laser printing, you can pull out a step, which is quite suitable for the production of a numerical control router, which will be used in living conditions.
Do not forget to remove the controller together with the stepper, which controls it.
Limit switches are another great device that can be used as spare parts. 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 devices.

We collect the machine

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

At the first stage, take and cut out of plywood two pieces of square shape 370 × 370 mm for the side walls, one 90 × 340 mm for the front and 340 × 370 mm for the back.
The walls for the future machine must be fastened using self-tapping screws. To do this, make holes in advance with a drill at a distance of 6 mm to the edge.
You should use duralumin 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 the bottom of the machine. It is necessary to screw the corners through the central surface using self-tapping screws.
To make a working surface, use corners with a length of 14 cm.One 608 bearing must be fastened to the bolts from below.
Exit the Y-axis motor about 5 cm from the bottom. Also drill a 7mm hole in the front wall so that the propeller support bearing can be inserted there.
As for the propeller itself, it can be made from a construction-type hairpin. 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 manufacture the X axis, you need to use the steel rails, which can be found in the body of the old printer. From there, pull out the carriages that will be put on the axles.
The base of the Z-axis must be made of a material such as # 6 plywood. Fix the plywood elements to each other with PVA glue. Make another lead nut.
Install a dremel instead of the spindle in the CNC machine, which will have a holder made of a bracket for a board. Make a hole from the bottom, the diameter of which should be 19 mm, so that you can insert the dremel there. This is followed by fixing the bracket on a self-tapping screw to the base of the Z axis.
For the manufacture of supports intended for the Z axis, it is necessary to use plywood with a base of 15 by 9 cm. The upper and lower sides of it should be 5 × 9 cm. Under the guides, you will also need to drill the corresponding outlets.
In the last step, you will need to assemble the Z-axis with the dremel bracket, and also engage in mounting it in the body of a practical finished machine.

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

Still have questions? Ask the professionals. What can be done from old printers. We design a CNC machine Link to the main publication

printeros.ru

Homemade CNC milling machine: do 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 erroneous: you can make such equipment yourself, but for this you need to have not only its detailed drawing, but also a set necessary tools and related components.

Processing duralumin blanks on a homemade desktop milling machine

When deciding to make a homemade CNC milling machine, keep in mind that this can take a significant amount of time. In addition, certain financial costs will be required. However, not being afraid of such difficulties and correctly approaching the solution of all issues, you can become the owner of an 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 set, from specially selected elements of which such equipment is assembled, or find all the components and assemble a device with your own hands that fully meets all your requirements.

Assembly instructions for a homemade CNC milling machine

Below in the photo you can see a self-made CNC milling machine, which is attached detailed instructions for the manufacture and assembly with an indication of the materials and components used, exact "patterns" of machine parts and approximate costs. The only negative is the instruction on English language, but it is quite possible to understand the detailed drawings without knowing the language.

Free download instructions for the manufacture of the machine: Homemade CNC milling machine

The CNC router 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 assembly of the machine 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 set, then the first thing you will need to do is to opt for schematic diagram, according to which such mini-equipment will work.

Diagram of a CNC milling machine

You can take the old one as the basis for CNC milling equipment drilling machine, in which the working head with a drill is replaced by a milling head. 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 on the basis of carriages from an inoperative printer, it will provide movement of the tool in two planes.

It is easy to connect software control to a device assembled according to such a schematic diagram. However, its main disadvantage is that only workpieces made of plastic, wood and thin sheet metal can be processed on such a CNC machine. 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.

Lightweight version of the 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 from various materials, a sufficiently powerful stepper motor must be responsible for moving the working tool. It is not at all necessary to look for a stepper type motor; it can be made from a conventional electric motor, subjecting the latter to a slight modification.

The use of a stepper motor in your milling machine will make it possible to avoid the use of a helical gear, and functionality and the characteristics of homemade equipment will not become worse from this. If you nevertheless decide to use carriages from the printer for your mini-machine, then it is advisable to pick them up from a larger model of the printing device. To transfer force to the shaft of the milling equipment, it is better to use not ordinary belts, 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 router mechanism. It is his manufacture that needs to be given special attention. To correctly 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 the guides.

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

Fastening unit of machine frame parts by means of a bolted connection

This requirement is explained by the fact that the welded seams are very poorly tolerant of vibration loads, to which the supporting structure of the equipment will necessarily be subjected. As a result, such loads will lead to the fact that the machine frame will begin to collapse over time, and changes in geometric dimensions will occur in it, which will affect the accuracy of the equipment setup and its performance.

Welding seams during the installation of the frame of a home-made milling machine often provoke the development of backlash in its nodes, as well as deflection of the guides, which is formed under severe loads.

Installation of uprights

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

An 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 matched to the dimensions of the assembled device. If you have a muffle furnace at your disposal, then you can make the vertical axis of the machine with your own hands, casting it from aluminum according to the dimensions indicated in the finished drawing.

Upper Carriage Assembly Placed on Cross Rails

After all the components of your homemade milling machine are prepared, you can start assembling it. Begins this process with the installation of two stepper motors, which are attached to 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 for moving the head, respectively, in the vertical plane. After that, the rest of the components and assemblies of homemade equipment are mounted.

The final stage of assembly of the machine

Rotation to all nodes of homemade CNC equipment should be transmitted only through belt drives. Before connecting the programmed control system to the assembled machine, you should check its operability in manual mode and immediately eliminate all identified deficiencies in its operation.

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

Stepper motors

In the design of any milling machine equipped with a CNC, stepper motors must be present, which ensure the movement of the tool in three planes: 3D. When designing a homemade machine tool for this purpose, you can use the electric motors installed in a dot matrix printer. Most of the older models of dot matrix printers were equipped with electric motors that were sufficiently powerful. In addition to stepping motors from the old printer, you should take strong steel rods, which can also be used in the construction of your homemade machine.

Attaching the stepper motor to the upper carriage

To make a CNC milling machine with your own hands, you need three stepper motors. Since there are only two of them in a 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 that you have found: how many degrees the rotation is carried out in one step, what is the supply voltage, and also the value of the winding resistance.

You will need a separate controller to connect each stepper motor

The drive structure 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. It is convenient to use a thick rubber winding from the electrical cable to fix the motor shaft and to attach it to the stud. Parts of your CNC machine, such as clips, can be made in the form of a nylon sleeve, into which a screw is inserted. To make such uncomplicated structural elements, you will need a regular file and a drill.

Electronic stuffing of equipment

Your do-it-yourself CNC machine will be controlled by software, and you need to choose the right one. When choosing such software (you can write it yourself), it is important to pay attention to the fact that it is efficient and allows the machine to realize all its functionality. Such software should contain drivers for the controllers that will be installed on your mini milling machine.

V homemade machine with CNC, the LPT port is mandatory, through which the electronic control system is connected to the machine. It is very important that this 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 do-it-yourself machine, it is important to pay attention to their quality, since accuracy will depend on this. technological operations that will be executed on it. After installing and connecting all electronic components of the CNC system, you need to download the necessary software and drivers. Only then follows a trial run of the machine, checking the correctness of its operation under the control of the loaded programs, identifying deficiencies and their prompt elimination.

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

Your desire to assemble such a CNC-controlled machine with your own hands should be supported by the presence of certain skills and detailed drawings. It is highly advisable to also 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 advantages to having a CNC machine. Home machines can mill and cut almost all materials. Whether you are an amateur or a craftsman, it opens up great horizons for creativity. The fact that one of the machines might end up in your workshop is even more seductive.

There are many reasons 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 big. Or you can be like me and have a lot of fun doing your own work and creating something unique. You can just do it for some mechanical engineering experience.

Personal experience

When I first started to develop, think over and make 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 a little 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 kind of motor do I need, and is it better to use a stepper or servo?
Does the body material deform too much when the machine is large?
Etc.

Fortunately, I was able to answer some of the questions thanks to my engineering background from my studies. However, many of the problems I would run into could not be calculated. I just needed someone with practical experience and information on this matter.

Of course, I got many answers to my questions from different people, many of which contradicted each other. Then I had to do more research to find out which answers are worthwhile and which are rubbish.

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

DIY kits and kits for assembling CNC milling cutters

Yes, there are machine kits available for hand-assembled, but I have not yet seen one that could be tailored to specific needs.

Also, there is no way 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 instruction is, if the design is poorly thought out, the final machine will be bad.

This is why you need to be aware of what you are building and understand how each detail plays a role!

Management

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

We'll go over all the components right down to the bolts, looking at the advantages and disadvantages of each type of each part. I will cover every aspect of the design and show you how to create a DIY CNC milling machine. Taking you through the mechanics to the software and everything in between.

Keep in mind that DIY CNC machine drawings offer few ways to solve some problems. This often results in "sloppy" design or poor machine performance. That is why I suggest that you read this guide first.

LET'S START

STEP 1: Key design decisions

The first things to consider are the following:

Determination of a suitable design specifically for you (for example, if you will make a wood machine with your own hands).
Required processing area.
Workspace availability.
Materials.
Tolerances.
Construction methods.
Available tools.
Budget.

STEP 2: Base and X-axis

The following issues are covered here:

Design and build the base or X axis base.
Fixed parts.
Partially fixed parts, etc.

STEP 3: Design the Gantry Y-Axis

Design and construction of the portal Y-axis.
Breakdown various designs to the elements.
Forces and moments on the portal, etc.

STEP 4: Z-axis assembly diagram

The following issues are covered here:

Designing and assembling a Z-axis assembly.
Forces and moments on the Z-axis.
Linear rails / guides and bearing spacing.
Choice of cable channel.

STEP 5: Linear Motion System

This clause addresses the following issues:

Detailed study of linear motion systems.
Choosing the right system for your specific machine.
Design and construction of your own guides with a small budget.
Linear Shaft and Bushings or Rails and Blocks?

STEP 6: Mechanical Drive Components

This clause addresses the following aspects:

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

STEP 7: Selecting Engines

In this step, you need to consider:

Detailed overview of CNC motors.
Types of CNC motors.
How stepper motors work.
Types of stepper motors.
How servomotors work.
Types of servo motors.
NEMA standards.
Choosing the right engine type for your project.
Measurement of motor parameters.

STEP 8: Cutting Table Design

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

STEP 9: Spindle parameters

This step addresses the following issues:

Overview of CNC spindles.
Types and functions.
Pricing and costs.
Mounting and cooling options.
Cooling systems.
Create your own spindle.
Calculation of chip load and cutting force.
Finding optimal speed filing.

STEP 10: Electronics

This clause addresses the following issues:

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

STEP 11: Program Control Controller Parameters

This step addresses the following issues:

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

STEP 12. Choosing software

This clause addresses the following issues:

An overview of software related to CNC.
Selection of software.
CAM software.
CAD software.
NC Controller software.

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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 in the first person, but you should 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 are in English, but I'm sure that real techie will understand everything without further ado. For ease of perception, 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 able to create various things. A machine that will enable me to make any household item. Two years later, I came across the phrase CNC or more precisely, 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 can do it too. I must do it! For three months I tried to put together the right parts, but I didn’t budge. So my obsession gradually faded away.

In August 2013, the idea to build a CNC milling machine captured me again. I had just graduated from an undergraduate degree from the University of Industrial Design, so I was quite confident in my capabilities. Now I clearly understood the difference between me today and me five years ago. I learned how to work with metal, mastered the techniques of working on manual metalworking machines, but most importantly, I learned how to use development tools. I hope this tutorial will inspire you to create your own CNC machine!

Step 1: design and CAD model

It all starts with thoughtful design. I made some 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 assemblies of the machine, I prepared the technical drawings. I used these drawings to make parts on manual metalworking machines: and.

Honestly, I love good usable tools. That is why I tried to make sure that the operations on maintenance and the adjustment of the machine was carried out as easy as possible. I placed the bearings in special blocks in order to be able to quickly change. The rails are serviceable so my machine will always be clean when finished.

Downloads "Step 1"

dimensions

Step 2: bed

The bed provides the machine with the required rigidity. A movable portal, stepper motors, a Z-axis and a spindle, and later a work surface will be installed on it. To create the base frame, I used two 40x80mm Maytec aluminum profiles and two 10mm aluminum end plates. I connected all the elements to each other on aluminum corners. To reinforce the structure inside the main frame, I made an additional square frame from smaller sections.

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

Bearing blocks are mounted on both end plates to accommodate the drive screw.

Carrying frame assembly

Angles to protect the guides

Downloads "Step 2"

Drawings of the main elements of the bed

Step 3: Portal

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

The main task that I planned to solve on my CNC milling machine is the processing of 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 crossbeam) equal to 125 mm. In SolidWorks, I converted all of my measurements to model and technical drawings. 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.

Downloads "Step 3"

Step 4: Z-axis caliper

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

Downloads "Step 4"

Step 5: guides

The guides provide the ability to move in all directions, ensure smooth and precise movements. Any backlash in one of the directions can cause inaccuracies 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 that the guides are parallel, I used a special indicator when installing them. The maximum deviation relative to each other was no more than 0.01 mm.

Step 6: screws and pulleys

The screws convert rotary motion from stepper motors to linear motion. When designing your machine, you can choose several options for this unit: A pair of screw-nut or ball screw (ball screw). A screw nut is generally more exposed to 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 ball screws. But you should know that ball screws are quite expensive.