DIY MDF CNC Machine 36x22

The design I'm gonna present is a DIY CNC machine made with MDF board.
This design has been made by one of my friend and I have built one exactly like his. So we currently have 2 machines like this one.

This is my first instructable so maybe there will be a couple of things missing, please feel free to ask or post comments.

If you are planning to make one like that, please send me picture of the final results so I can add it to this page.

**This machine is a derivative of the machine you can find on**
http://www.buildyourcnc.com/cnckitintro.aspx



*** NEW FILES JUST ARRIVED ***
I've done all the drawing with METRIC measurement and more precise parts identification. I Had some request for metric measurements.
I will probably upgrade the imperial one soon, so you're gonna have the exact same drawings and with more accurate information.

I have postes new pics on step 9 =)

Enjoy

Step 1: Having the Plans

The machine was entirely built on the computer before it has been made, so here's the render of both versions i have

Step 2: Cutting MDF

First, get a sheet of 3/4 inch MDF board, it's enough for all the project, even if you miss a part or 2. You can get it for 35$

After that, print the CAD of all the parts and cut/drill them.
The Drawing.Rar contains all the MDF main parts.

16 Dec 2011 - New Drawings !!!  I had some times this morning and it took me 3 hours to redraw every parts with IMP and METRIC measurements, hope you will enjoy it.

Merry Christmas to all of you

Step 3: Getting Hardware

Get the cross dowels and the 1/4-20 bolts.
I took mine from

www.leevalley.com , i guess you can get them from almost all woodworking shop on the net.

The aluminium angles are 3/4 X 1/8 angles from RONA or any suppliers near your home. You'll need

2X 36" for the X axe
2X 22" for the Y axe
and 2  11" angle for the Z axe

And ONE aluminium angle 1"X1" x 1/8 for the linear bearings.

You'll need 30 bearings  Bearing Size: 8mm x 22mm x 7mm
( I took skateboard bearings from ebay )
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400073167540&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

The lead screws are the length of : 36" , 24" , 9"
I took them from http://myworld.ebay.com/precisiontechmachining/

Step 4: Mechanism

Here I will post picture and drawing of the mechanism. For the moment i only posted a render of the back of the machine ( the Y axis ), it's easy to figure out all the other axis ( it's exactly the same principle )

Step 5: Assembling

Step 6: The Electronic Part

I took an old computer and opened the power supply to solder 3 wire on the primary side of it. I took the wires to a switch so i can turn on or off the second powersupply and the drive.
I added 2 fans because the drive become REALLY hot so if you don't want to kill it, cool it !

Step 7: Adding the T-Slot

I just made a 1/2 mdf part to protect the table and I grooved 2  3/4 slot with the router bench.

I got each t-slot for 11$ ea.

After that, you just have to put a 1/4" hex bolt upside down and make some support for your pieces. I'll add more pics later

Step 8: Total Cost

MDF Board : 35$
Bearings : about 30$
Lead Screw and antibacklash nut : 135$
Power supply : 50
Steppers : 49$ each ( 150$ )
Gecko drive : roughly 250$
Bolt and cross dowel : 50$
Aluminium angles : 55$

Rough total : 755$

Step 9: UPGRADE

Since I had some issues with stability and wobble and I wanted to use my 1/2 carbide end mill. I had to modify the machine to  remove some flex .  I'll show you some pictures, this is optional but REALLY help the machine's stiffness.

Special thanks to my friend Max for the idea.

-- NEW PICTURES