The article describes a homemade CNC machine. The main advantage of this version of the machine is a simple method of connecting stepper motors to a computer via the LPT port.
Mechanical part
Bed The bed of our machine is made of plastic with a thickness of 11-12mm. The material is not critical, you can use aluminum, organic glass, plywood and any other available material. The main parts of the frame are attached with self-tapping screws, if you wish, you can additionally arrange the attachment points with glue, if you use wood, then you can use PVA glue.
Calipers and guides Steel rods with a diameter of 12mm, length 200mm (90mm per Z axis), two pieces per axle are used as guides. The calipers are made of PCB with dimensions 25X100X45. The textolite has three through holes, two of them for the guides and one for the nut. The guide parts are fixed with M6 screws. The X and Y calipers in the upper part have 4 threaded holes for fixing the table and the Z-axis assembly.
Caliper Z The guides of the Z axis are attached to the caliper X through a steel plate, which is a transition plate, plate dimensions 45x100x4.
The stepper motors are mounted on fasteners that can be made from sheet steel with a thickness of 2-3mm. The screw must be connected to the axis of the stepper motor using a flexible shaft, which can be a rubber hose. When using a rigid shaft, the system will not work accurately. The nut is made of brass, which is glued into the caliper.
Assembly Assembling a homemade CNC machine is carried out in the following sequence:
- First, you need to install all the guide components in the caliper and screw them to the sidewalls, which were not initially installed on the base.
- We move the caliper along the guides until we achieve a smooth ride.
- We tighten the bolts, fixing the guide parts.
- We attach the support, the guide assembly and the sidewall to the base; we use self-tapping screws for fastening.
- We assemble the Z node and, together with the adapter plate, attach it to the X support.
- Next, we install the lead screws together with the couplings.
- We install stepper motors by connecting the rotor of the motor and the screw with a coupling. We pay strict attention to the fact that the lead screws rotate smoothly.
Recommendations for the assembly of the machine: Nuts can also be made of cast iron, you should not use other materials, screws can be bought at any hardware store and cut to fit your needs. When using screws with M6x1 thread, the length of the nut will be 10 mm.
Machine drawings.rar
We turn to the second part of assembling a CNC machine tool with our own hands, namely to electronics.
Electronics
Power supply unit A 12V 3A unit was used as a power source. The unit is designed to power stepper motors. Another voltage source of 5V and with a current of 0.3A was used to power the controller microcircuits. The power supply depends on the power of the stepper motors.
Here is the calculation of the power supply. The calculation is simple - 3x2x1 = 6A, where 3 is the number of stepper motors used, 2 is the number of energized windings, 1 is the current in Amperes.
Control controller The control controller was assembled on only 3 microcircuits of the 555TM7 series. The controller does not require firmware and has a fairly simple schematic diagram, thanks to this, this CNC machine can be made by a person who is not particularly versed in electronics with his own hands.
Description and purpose of the LPT port connector pins.
| Conclusion. | Name | Direction | Description |
| 1 | STROBE | input and output | Set to PC after completion of each data transfer |
| 2..9 | DO-D7 | output | Output |
| 10 | ASK | input | Set to "0" by an external device after receiving a byte |
| 11 | BUSY | input | The device indicates that it is busy by setting this line to "1" |
| 12 | Paper out | input | For printers |
| 13 | Select | input | The device indicates that it is ready by setting on this line "1" |
| 14 | Autofeed | ||
| 15 | Error | input | Indicates an error |
| 16 | Initialize | input and output | |
| 17 | Select In | input and output | |
| 18..25 | Ground GND | GND | Common wire |
For the experiment, a stepper motor from an old 5.25-inch was used. 7 bits are not used in the circuit. applied 3 engines. You can hang the key to turn on the main engine (cutter or drill) on it.
Driver for stepper motors A driver is used to control a stepper motor, which is an amplifier with 4 channels. The design is implemented only on 4 transistors of the KT917 type.
You can also use serial microcircuits, for example - ULN 2004 (9 keys) with a current of 0.5-0.6A.
The vri-cnc program is used for control. A detailed description and instructions for using the program are on the official website.
Having assembled this CNC machine with your own hands, you will become the owner of a machine capable of performing mechanical processing (drilling, milling) of plastics. Steel engraving. Also, a homemade CNC machine can be used as a plotter, you can draw and drill printed circuit boards on it.
Based on materials from the site: vri-cnc.ru
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DIY CNC drawings
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: it is possible to make such equipment on your own, but for this you need to have not only its detailed drawing, but also a set of necessary tools and appropriate 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 a high degree of 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 accompanied by detailed instructions for manufacturing and assembly indicating the materials and components used, exact "patterns" of machine parts and approximate costs. The only drawback is the instruction in English, 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 choose a schematic diagram according to which such mini-equipment will work.
Diagram of a CNC milling machine
As a basis for CNC milling equipment, you can take an old drilling machine, in which the working head with a 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 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 it to the last slight modification.
The use of a stepper motor in your milling machine will make it possible to avoid the use of a screw drive, and the functionality and characteristics of homemade equipment will not deteriorate 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, but timing 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, it is better not to use welded joints when installing it, and all the elements need to be connected only with screws.
Fastening unit of machine frame parts by means of a bolt connection
This requirement is explained by the fact that the welded seams do not tolerate vibration loads very poorly, 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 to ensure 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 part of the milling machine is its vertical axis, which can be made from an aluminum plate for a home-made device. It is very important that the dimensions of this axis are precisely adjusted 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. This process begins with the installation of two stepper motors, which are attached to the equipment case behind its vertical axis. One of these electric motors will be responsible for the movement of the milling head in the horizontal plane, and the second for the movement of 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 home-made CNC equipment should be transmitted only through belt drives. Before connecting a 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 an 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. In order to make such simple structural elements, you 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.
In a homemade CNC machine, 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 this will determine the accuracy of the technological operations that will be performed 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 coordinate boring group, but also a number of other types. Such equipment can be used 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.
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DIY CNC machine / Do it yourself / Collective blog
Today the CNC machine has a wide range of applications. Among the main operations performed on it, one can note the manufacture of furniture, stone processing, repair, construction work, etc.
A CNC machine made in an industrial environment is a rather expensive pleasure. But it turns out that the mechanism, which is complex at first glance, is very simple and affordable to make in a domestic environment with your own hands.
For the first experience, it is best to opt for a machine with a moving portal. This is due to the fact that it perfectly combines simplicity and functionality.
For the manufacture of the main parts of the machine, we take MDF plates. This material represents fine dispersed fractions, which are pressed under high pressure and temperature into one plate. The main characteristics of MDF are high density. Therefore, they are great for making DIY CNC machines. On equipment made of MDF, it is possible to process plastic, wood, engrave, but it is impossible to process metal parts with high precision. This is due to the low resistance of this material to loads.
To begin with, we will print the drawing of our machine on a printer. Then the resulting templates can be glued onto the MDF. This makes it much easier and more convenient to cut out the details of the future machine.
The fittings that will be used in the assembly can be purchased at any hardware store or hardware store.
In addition to accessories for the manufacture of the machine, you will need the following tools: a drill, a screwdriver and a hacksaw. If you have a jigsaw, then it is better to use it. This will greatly simplify the process of cutting out parts.
We start making the machine. To do this, we glue the drawings of the parts printed on the printer on the MDF board using a glue stick for paper. Choosing it in the store, opt for the thickest one. This will significantly speed up the process of gluing templates.
Now you can start cutting out the blanks directly. In this model, all parts have almost straight lines and the simplest contours.
After all the templates have been cut out, we proceed to drilling the holes. It should be noted that many of them have a large diameter. Therefore, to keep the surface of these holes neat and smooth, it is better to use crowns or grinding attachments. Thus, you will be able to accurately bore holes to the desired diameter.
Now you can start assembling the CNC machine according to the drawings we have.
Since we are planning to use the machine at home, it is imperative to install a fence. This will prevent dust and dirt from flying away from the workpieces.
For these purposes, you can use foam, fiberglass, thin plywood, etc. Do not forget to make a small hole in the fence.
Through it it will be possible to connect the hood from the old vacuum cleaner. This will ensure maximum dust and swarf collection. The opposite effect of using such a "dirt trap" is loud noise.
The next important step in assembling a CNC machine with your own hands is electronics. After all, it is important, tk. with its help, the control process takes place.
In this case, you can use two solutions. The first of them is to assemble the necessary controller circuit yourself by purchasing all the necessary parts.
The second way is easier - to buy a ready-made controller in a store or on the radio market. Which of the proposed paths to choose is up to you. If you are not very versed in radio engineering and decide to buy a finished part, then it is recommended to opt for TV6560.
The choice of this element is evidenced by its ability to select the required power supply depending on the stepper motors used, the presence of protection against overload and overheating, the use of a variety of software, etc.
If you are going to make the controller yourself, an old scanner or MFP is perfect. From it the ULN2003 chip, steel rods and stepper motor are selected. In addition, you will need a DV-25 connector with a wire, a socket for powering the controller itself. If you want to have computer control of your machine, then you will need a computer to which you connect the equipment you received.
To create a controller, we take any board we have. Gently solder the ULN2003 microcircuit onto it with a soldering iron. When doing this, do not forget about the polarity.
The diagram shows that there are two power rails. Therefore, we solder the output of the microcircuit with a negative sign to one, and with a positive one - to the other. After that, connect pin 2 of the parallel port connector to pin 1 of the ULN2003. To pin 2 of the ULN2003 we connect pin 3 of the connector. Accordingly, we connect the output of the circuit ULN2003 4 to the 5th pin of the connector, etc. But we solder the zero pin with pin 25 of the parallel port to the negative bus.
The next step is to solder the stepper motor to the control device. It can be done correctly only by trial and error. most often, there is no documentation for the output of an electric motor you have. Therefore, it is recommended to equip the motor wires with crocodile clips. Thus, the process will go faster and easier.
Our next step is to connect the wires with pins 13,14,15,16 of the ULN2003 microcircuit. Now we will solder the wires to the power bus with a plus sign. Finally, we install the power socket.
Our controller is almost ready. Now we install it on steel rods and fix it in the previously prepared sockets. In order to prevent the wires from breaking off during operation, it is better to fix them with hot melt glue.
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Drawing of a homemade CNC machine
You can download a drawing of a homemade CNC machine using the links at the end of the article.
The archive offered for download contains a drawing of a CNC machine for do-it-yourself assembly.
This is a fairly common type of CNC machine with a moving portal.
This drawing differs primarily in the fact that not only detailing is given - when each part of the machine is drawn separately and has the stated dimensions, but also assembly drawings of each of the units are given.
A CNC machine according to such a drawing can be made from almost any material. It can be duralumin plates and multi-layer plywood. You can also use durable plastic or plexiglass in the construction of a homemade CNC machine.
Drawings are in vector DXF format and can be scaled to any size.
In the simplest case, you can take motors from dot matrix printers such as Epson FX1000 A3 format, from the same printer you can take steel guides along with a sliding unit.
As a lead screw in a budget version of a home-made CNC machine, a stud with an M6 or M8 thread is used. It is better to order the running nuts by a turner and carve them out of bronze. A bronze nut can "walk" for 5-7 years with daily use of the CNC machine for 8-10 hours.
Lead screws are a consumable, and lead nuts may serve more than one home-made machine.
However, I have read more than once about how they used running nuts made of plastic or getinax.
A homemade CNC machine made from available tools will allow you to process wood, plastics and non-ferrous metals.
For the processing of metals and steel, such a machine becomes of little use due to the weak rigidity of the structure.
However, it can be used for engraving or as a CNC drilling machine for metals.
But how milling is unlikely. When milling metals, shock loads occur - for example, when milling one groove, another groove is encountered and then a mechanical shock occurs, which is transmitted to the structure of the machine and the lead screw.
For household chores, such as milling balsa aircraft model kits, this machine can easily justify the cost of making it!
You can download drawings of a homemade CNC machine here: Depositfiles or from our website
Homemade CNC machine
Nowadays, the production of small parts made of wood for certain structures is becoming more and more frequent. Also in stores you can find a variety of beautiful volumetric paintings made on wood linen. Such operations are performed using numerically controlled milling machines. The accuracy of parts or pictures made of wood is achieved through control from a computer, a specialized program.
The numerically controlled wood milling machine is a highly professional machine with the latest technology.
All work consists in processing with a special cutter for wood, which can be used to cut out small parts from wood material, create beautiful patterns. The work is carried out by sending signals to stepper motors, which, in turn, move the router along three axes.
Due to this, high-precision processing takes place. As a rule, such works cannot be done manually with such high quality. Therefore, CNC wood milling machines are a great boon for joiners.
Purpose
For a long time, milling was intended for planing work with wood. But the engine of progress is moving strictly forward and in our time, numerical control has been created for such machines. At this stage, the milling machine can perform a variety of actions that relate to wood processing:
- Cutting out various parts from solid wood.
- Cutting off excess parts of the workpiece.
- Possibility to make grooves and holes of various diameters.
- Drawing complex ornaments using a cutter.
- 3D Three-dimensional images on a solid wood.
- Full-fledged furniture production and much more.
Whatever the task is, it will be performed with high precision and accuracy.
Tip: While working on homemade CNC equipment, you need to smoothly remove the thickness of the wood, otherwise your part will be damaged or burned by the cutter!
Variety
In the modern technological world, the following types of numerically controlled wood milling machines are distinguished:
Stationary
These machines are used in production facilities, as they are of enormous size and weight. But such equipment is capable of manufacturing products in large volumes.
Manual
These are home-made devices or devices from ready-made sets. These machines can be safely installed in your garage or your own workshop. These include the following subspecies:
Gantry-assisted numerically controlled equipment
Directly the milling cutter itself is able to move along two Cartesian axes X and Z. This type of machine has high rigidity when processing bends. The design of the gantry milling machine with numerical control is quite simple in its design. Many carpenters begin their knowledge of CNC machines with this subtype. However, in this case, the size of the blank will be limited by the size of the portal itself.
Numerically controlled and movable gantry
The construction of this subtype is slightly complicated.
Mobile portal
It is this type that moves the router along all three Cartesian axes, along X, Z and Y. In this case, it will be necessary to use a solid guide for the X axis, since all the heavy load will be directed to it.
With a movable gantry, it is very convenient for creating printed circuit boards. On the Y axis, it is possible to machine long parts.
The cutter moves along the Z-axis.
A machine on which a milling part can move in a vertical direction
This subtype is usually used when revising production samples or when converting drilling equipment into an engraving-milling one.
The working field, that is, the tabletop itself, has dimensions of 15x15 centimeters, which makes it impossible to process large parts.
This type is not very easy to use.
Portless numerically controlled
This type of machine is very complex in its design, but it is the most productive and convenient.
Workpieces can be machined up to five meters long, even if the X-axis is 20 centimeters long.
This subtype is extremely unsuitable for the first experience, since it requires skills on this equipment.
Below we will consider the design of a hand-held CNC wood milling machine, we will analyze the principles of its operation. Find out how to do this brainchild and how such equipment is being adjusted.
Device and principle of operation
The main parts of the milling device are the following parts:
Stanina
Directly the construction of the machine itself, on which all other parts are located.
Calipers
An assembly that is a mount to support the movement of an automatic tool.
Desktop
The area in which all the necessary work is done.
Spindle shaft or router
A tool that performs milling work.
Woodworking milling cutter
A tool, or rather a device for a router, of various sizes and shapes, with which wood is processed.
CNC
Let's just say the brain and heart of the whole structure. The software performs precise control of the entire work.
The job is programmed. A specialized program is installed on the computer, it is she who converts the circuits loaded into it into special codes, which the program distributes to the controller, and then to the stepper motors. Stepper motors, in turn, move the router along the Z, Y, X coordinate axes, due to which the wooden workpiece is processed.
Choice of components
The main stage in the invention homemade milling machine is the selection of accessories. After choosing bad material, something can go wrong in
An example of an assembly from an aluminum frame.
the work itself. Usually simple materials are used, such as: aluminum, wood (solid wood, MDF), plexiglass. For the correct and accurate operation of the entire structure, it is important to develop the entire design of the calipers.
Tip: Before assembly do it yourself, it is necessary to check all already prepared parts for compatibility.
Check if there is a snag anywhere that will interfere. And most importantly, to prevent various kinds of vibrations, as this will directly lead to poor-quality milling.
There are some assignments for the selection of work items that will help in the creation, namely:
Guides
Scheme of cnc guides for a milling cutter.
For them, rods with a diameter of 12 millimeters are used. For the X-axis, the length of the rod is 200 millimeters, and for the Y-axis, the length is 90 millimeters.
The use of guides will allow highly accurate placement of moving parts
Calipers
Support for CNC milling machine.
Caliper assembly.
For these components, you can use textolite material. Quite durable material of its kind. As a rule, the size of the textolite platform is 25x100x45 milli
Router fixing unit
An example of a frame for fixing a router.
You can also use a textolite frame. The dimensions directly depend on the tool you have.
Stepper motors or servo motors
Power Supply
Controller
An electronic board that distributes electricity to stepper motors in order to move them along axes.
Tip: When soldering the board, it is necessary to use capacitors and resistors in special SMD cases (aluminum, ceramics, and plastic are used for the manufacture of cases of such parts). This will reduce the size of the board, and the internal space in the structure will be optimized.
Assembly
Diagram of a homemade machine with numerical control
The assembly will not take you too long. The only thing is that the customization process will be the longest in the entire manufacturing process.
To start
It is necessary to develop a diagram and drawings of the future numerically controlled machine.
If you do not want to do this, then you can download the drawings from the Internet. For all size prepare all the necessary details.
Make all the necessary holes
Designed for bearings and guides. The main thing is to observe all the necessary dimensions, otherwise the work of the machine will be disrupted. A diagram with a description of the arrangement of mechanisms is presented. It will give you a general idea, especially if you are assembling it for the first time.
When you have all the elements and parts of the mechanism ready, you can safely start assembling. The first step is to assemble the equipment bed.
Frame
Must be assembled geometrically correctly. All corners must be even and equal. When the frame is ready, you can mount the guide axes, work table, calipers. When these elements are installed, you can install a router or a spindle.
The last step remains - electronics. The installation of the electronics is a major step in the assembly. A controller is connected to the stepper motors installed on the machine, which will be responsible for their operation.
Next, the controller is connected to a computer on which a special control program must already be installed. The trade mark is widely used Arduino which manufactures and supplies hardware.
With everything connected and ready, it's time to start a test piece. For this, any wood that will not go beyond the desktop is suitable. If your workpiece has been processed and everything is in order, then you can proceed to the full production of one or another milling product.
Safety engineering
Safety with milling equipment is the cornerstone. If you do not take care of yourself, you can end up in the hospital with serious injuries. All safety rules are the same, but the most basic ones will be listed below:
- Your equipment must be grounded to avoid electric shock.
- Keep children away from the machine.
- Neither eat nor drink on the desktop.
- Appropriate clothing should be chosen.
- Do not handle bulky parts that exceed the dimensions of the working table, machine tool equipment.
- Do not drop various tools onto the working area of the machine.
- Do not use material (metal, plastic, etc.).
Video reviews
Video review of parts for the machine and where to get them:
Video review of the work of a milling machine for wood:
Video review of electronics
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 when it comes to high accuracy.
All professional equipment of this type is characterized by a high level of automation and ease of operation. You only need basic skills in specialized computer programs to solve simple problems of material processing.
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. By following these first and simplest rules, you can avoid the most common mistakes.
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 it will not be difficult to manufacture an affordable and effective unit with coordinate positioning of the cutting tool for processing metal or wood.
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.
Preparation
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 operation 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 this:
- 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 of lead screws with couplings;
- fastening to the screws of the stepper motor couplings.
All electronic components should be placed in a separate unit. Thus, the likelihood of failure during operation will be minimized. This type of electronics placement 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.
This is my first self-assembled CNC machine from available materials. The cost of the machine is about $ 170.
I have dreamed of assembling a CNC machine for a long time. Basically I need it for cutting plywood and plastic, cutting out some parts for modeling, homemade products and other machines. Hands itched to assemble the machine for almost two years, during which time I collected parts, electronics and knowledge.
The machine is budgetary, its cost is minimal. Next, I will use words that may seem very scary to an ordinary person and this can scare you away from building a machine tool yourself, but in fact it's all very simple and easy to master in a few days.
Electronics assembled on Arduino + GRBL firmware
The mechanics are the simplest, a frame made of plywood 10mm + screws and bolts 8mm, linear guides from a metal corner 25 * 25 * 3 mm + bearings 8 * 7 * 22 mm. The Z axis moves on the M8 stud, and the X and Y axes on the T2.5 belts.
The spindle for CNC is homemade, assembled from a brushless motor and a collet clamp + toothed belt drive. It should be noted that the spindle motor is powered by a 24 volt main power supply. The technical specifications indicate that the motor is 80 amperes, but in reality it consumes 4 amperes under a serious load. I cannot explain why this is happening, but the motor works perfectly and copes with its task.
Initially, the Z axis was on homemade linear guides from corners and bearings, later I redid it, photos and description below.
The working space is about 45 cm in X and 33 cm in Y, 4 cm in Z. Taking into account the first experience, I will make the next machine with large dimensions and I will put two motors on the X axis, one on each side. This is due to the large shoulder and the load on it, when the work is carried out at the maximum distance along the Y axis. Now there is one motor and this leads to distortion of the details, the circle turns out to be a little ellipse due to the resulting deflection of the carriage along the X.
The native bearings of the motor quickly loosened, because they are not designed for lateral loading, but it is serious here. Therefore, on the top and bottom of the axle, I installed two large bearings with a diameter of 8 mm, this should have been done immediately, now because of this there is vibration.
Here in the photo you can see that the Z axis is already on other linear guides, the description will be below.
The guides themselves have a very simple design, I somehow accidentally found it on Youtube. Then this design seemed to me perfect from all sides, minimum effort, minimum parts, simple assembly. But as practice has shown, these guides do not work for long. The photo shows which groove formed on the Z axis after a week of my test runs of the CNC machine.
I swapped homemade Z-axis guides for furniture ones that cost less than a dollar per two. I shortened them, left a stroke of 8 cm. On the X and Y axes, there are still old guides, I will not change them yet, I plan to cut out parts for a new machine on this machine, then I will simply disassemble this one.
A few words about cutters. I have never worked with CNC and I also have very little experience in milling. I bought several cutters in China, all have 3 and 4 flutes, later I realized that these cutters are good for metal, other cutters are needed for milling plywood. While the new milling cutters cover the distance from China to Belarus, I try to work with what we have.
The photo shows how a 4 mm cutter burned on a 10 mm birch plywood, I still did not understand why, the plywood is clean, and on the cutter there is carbon deposits similar to pine tar.
Further in the photo is a 2 mm four-way cutter after an attempt to milling plastic. This piece of molten plastic was then very difficult to remove, bit off a little bit with nippers. Even at low speeds, the cutter still gets stuck, 4 grooves are clearly for metal :)
The other day my uncle had a birthday, on this occasion I decided to make a gift on my toy :)
As a gift I made a sold-out house made of plywood. First of all, I tried to milling on foam plastic in order to check the program and not to spoil the plywood.
Because of the backlashes and deflections, the horseshoe was cut out only from the seventh time.
In total, this sold-out (in its pure form) was milled for about 5 hours + a lot of time for what was spoiled.
Once I published an article about a housekeeper, below in the photo is the same housekeeper, but already cut out on a CNC machine. Minimum effort, maximum precision. Because of the backlash, the accuracy is certainly not the maximum, but I will make the second machine more rigid.
And on a CNC machine, I cut gears from plywood, it is much more convenient and faster than cutting with a jigsaw with my own hands.
Later I also cut out square gears from plywood, they actually spin :)
The results are positive. Now I will be engaged in the development of a new machine, I will cut out parts already on this machine, manual labor is practically reduced to assembly.
You need to master cutting plastic, because work on a homemade robot vacuum cleaner has started. The robot itself also pushed me to create my own CNC. For the robot, I will cut gears and other parts from plastic.
Update: Now I buy straight cutters with two edges (3.175 * 2.0 * 12 mm), cut without severe scuffing on both sides of the plywood.
For most home craftsmen, the manufacture of such an assembly as a CNC milling machine with their own hands is something at the level of a fantastic plot, because such machines and mechanisms are complex in design, constructive and electronic understanding of the device.
However, having the necessary documentation at hand, as well as the required materials, devices, a mini-milling homemade machine equipped with a CNC, it is quite possible to do it yourself.
This mechanism is distinguished by the accuracy of the processing performed, the simplicity in the management of mechanical and technological processes, as well as excellent indicators of productivity and product quality.
Principle of operation
The innovative computer-controlled block milling machine is designed for complex patterns on semi-finished products. The design must have an electronic component. Together, this will allow you to automate work processes to the maximum.
To model milling mechanisms, you first need to familiarize yourself with the fundamental elements. The milling cutter acts as an actuating element, which is mounted in a spindle located on the shaft of an electric motor. This part is anchored to the base. It is capable of moving in two coordinate axes: X and Y. To fix the workpieces, design and install a support table.
The electric control unit is mated to the electric propulsion motors. They will ensure the movement of the carriage relative to the processed workpieces or semi-finished products. Using a similar technology, 3D graphic images are performed on wooden planes.
The sequence of work due to this CNC mechanism:
- Writing a work program, due to which the movements of the working body will be performed. For this procedure, it is best to use specialized electronic complexes designed to adapt in "handicraft" copies.
- Mounting of semi-finished products on a table.
- Output of software to CNC.
- Launching mechanisms, controlling the passage of automatic equipment manipulations.
To get the maximum level of automation in 3D mode, correctly assemble the circuit and identify certain components. Experts strongly advise to first study production copies before starting to build a milling machine with your own hands.
Scheme and drawing
Diagram of a CNC milling machine
The most critical phase in the manufacture of a home-made analogue is the search for the optimal course of equipment manufacturing. It directly depends on the overall characteristics of the workpieces being processed and the need to achieve a certain quality in processing.
To obtain all the necessary functions of the equipment, the best option is to make a mini-milling machine with your own hands. Thus, you will be confident not only in the assembly and its quality, but also in the technological properties, and you will know in advance how to maintain it.
Transmission components
The most successful option is the design of 2 carriages that move along the perpendicular axes X and Y. As a frame, it is better to use polished metal rods. Movable mobile carriages are "put on" on them. For the correct manufacture of the transmission, prepare stepper motors, as well as a set of screws.
For improved automation of the work processes of CNC milling machines, designed with your own hands, you need to immediately complete the electronic component to the smallest detail. It is divided into the following components:
- It is used to conduct electrical energy to stepper motors and provides power to the controller microcircuit. Modification 12V 3A is considered to be running;
- its purpose is to send commands to the motors. For the correct execution of all the specified operations of a CNC milling machine, it will be enough to use a simple scheme to monitor the performance of 3 motors;
- drivers (software). It is also an adjustment element for the movable mechanism.
Video: do-it-yourself CNC milling machine.
Accessories for a homemade milling machine
The next and crucial step in building milling equipment is a selection of components for building a homemade unit. The best way out of this situation is to use improvised parts and devices. It is possible to take hard wood (beech, hornbeam), aluminum / steel or organic glass as a basis for desktop copies of 3D machines.
For the normal operation of the complex as a whole, the development of the design of the calipers is required. At the moment of their movement, vibrations are not impermissible, this will cause incorrect milling. Therefore, before assembly, the components are checked for reliability.
Practical tips for choosing the components of a CNC milling machine:
- guides - well-ground steel rods Ø12 mm are used. The length of the X axis is about 200 mm, the Y axis is 100 mm;
- support mechanism, optimal material - textolite. The standard dimensions of the platform are 30 × 100 × 50 mm;
- stepper motors - experts in engineering advise using samples from a 24V, 5A printing device. They have a fairly significant power;
- block for fixing the working body, it can also be built using textolite. The configuration directly depends on the existing tool.
The procedure for building CNC milling equipment
After completing the selection of all the necessary components, you can completely freely build an oversized milling mechanism equipped with a CNC with your own hands. Before proceeding with the direct design, we once again check the components, control their parameters and quality of manufacture. This will help in the future to avoid premature failure of the chain of the mechanism.
For reliable fixation of the equipment components, specialized fastening parts are used. Their design and execution directly depend on the future scheme.
Checklist for assembling small CNC equipment to complete the milling process:
- Mounting of the guide axes of the support element, fixing on the extreme parts of the machine.
- Grinding calipers. It is required to move along the guides until a smooth movement is formed.
- Tighten the screws to secure the caliper.
- Fastening of components to the base of the working mechanism.
- Installation of lead screws and couplings.
- Installation of cruising motors. They are attached to the coupling bolts.
Electronic components are located in a self-contained cabinet. This ensures the minimization of malfunctions in the process of carrying out technological operations by the milling cutter. The plane for mounting the working machine must be without drops, because the design does not provide for level adjustment screws.
After completing the above, proceed with the trial test. First you need to install a lightweight milling program. In the process of work, you need to continuously check all the passes of the working body (cutters). Parameters that are subject to constant control: depth and width of processing. This applies especially to 3D processing.
Thus, referring to the information written above, making milling equipment with your own hands gives a whole list of advantages over conventional purchased counterparts. Firstly, this design will be suitable for the expected volumes and types of work, secondly, maintainability is ensured, since it is built from improvised materials and devices, and, thirdly, this type of equipment is inexpensive.
Having experience in the design of such equipment, further repairs will not take much time, downtime will be reduced to a minimum. Such equipment can be useful to your neighbors in the summer cottage to carry out their own repair work. By renting out such equipment, you will help your fellow comrade in work; in the future, count on his help.
Having dealt with the design and functional features of milling machines, as well as the load that will fall on it, you can safely start making it, relying on the practical information given along the way. Design and complete tasks without any problems.
Video: homemade CNC milling machine for wood.
