Easy to Build Desk Top 3 Axis CNC Milling Machine

Step 9: Engraving

Now that I got the machine back together after making the instructable and I did some engraving and made a PC board.
Cutting plastic is no problem but doing the PC board the bit went a little too deep on the left side of the board and took out all the finer traces. This is when you start tweeking on it. Just take some aluminum foil and put it under the rail of the Y axis. So as the stage travels left to right the height of the bit should stay the same.
Notice I'm just holding the material down with masking tape. What I like about this thing is, it's easy to fix these kinds of problems because it's all made from simple elements.
Here's the new video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcdozYDpzjU

Also check out the follow up instructions on Stepper Motor Control: Easy Mill Stepper Motor Controller

Comments

[jde castro1]

sir tom, were making this as our project, but may i ask if whether the size of the threaded rods will have an effect in its movements? or can it be adjusted on the KCAM? thanks ^^

[rock0412]

This is a real nice piece of equipment I think I will try it very soon

[kunchu]

What should i do once i engrave the pcb? Can I use it right away or should use an etchant again?

[dflam]

You do realize that theoretically you can calibrate by having the machine just mill the baseboard support using some large milling head, thus achieving a perfectly flat base? I guess this depends also on how much the machine changes when you move it from place to place...

[chaitanya.vedak]

This is absolutely Fantabulous. Will try it out. also can you give me an indication as to what software, and electronics you have used here.
I also liked dmlong's idea for using it to make panels for RC planes, (and cars etc).
please do share the Software and Electronics Details please.
Thanks

[dmlong]

Do you know anyone using your CNC to make parts out of balsa wood for model RC airplanes?

[polilies]

Hi! this is really good job, pretty fast to do. may i ask something like "sanzya"; how
thin paths is it drawing on the copper plate? thank you..

[max can build it]

what kind of bitr do u use in the rotary tool?

ps very nice design and instructable

[heroseac]

hi Tom, thanks for posting this amazing project, i ´m gonna start building it , i understood almost everything but, i was wondering , the pipe sizes? so i can start the project ,i hope you can get back to me a soon as possible i just can´t wait to start the project. thanks again.

[daniel.barney]

Do you use a Microcontroler to move the steps motors? Which one? When you turn on the machine, do you send it to cero?
Thank you!

[065]

Hi I'm currently trying to construct your machine but I'm having trouble understanding  how your machine works with out and limit switches?

[TJLaw]

Absolutely genius!!! What do you use for software to make the drawings and to "translate" them to the motor controllers?? I am currently in the middle of my build and any help would be greatly appreciated.

[bluumax]

I use CorelDraw to draw parts & Cut2D for g code.
PCB g code for boards.
Cut2D is $150 US, but worth a ton. It's awesome.

[Davetech]

I intended to make my own controller board but it was too complicated to draw by hand. I tried the toner transfer method with little success. I finally gave up and bought a new, already assembled Univelope driver board off eBay for about what it would have cost me in parts. It works very well. Several people on our forum use the "Hobby CNC" board kit and say it works great too. But to answer your question, now that I have a mill I use the trial versions of Diptrace and K-Cam (I'm poor, donations appreciated ;)

[LaughingCheese]

Speaking of controller boards, would it be possible to use Arduino as a controller board, or is that something else?

I'm a newbie to all this. :P



Thanks

LC

[bluumax]

You might be able to use Arduino. The inputs are just step & dir.
You can use the same type output / transistor setup Tom used too.

I sell drives using PICs & ULN2064 driver
It's just a basic cheap 1.5A $50 drive.

I use Mach3 Ver 2.63 with my boards because they need a longer pulse & the older ver seems to work best.
Also you can use EMC2 for Linux, it's free.

[recon506]

Wut kind of motor are you using? I located a nice Japan Servo KP4M4-029 12VDC Stepper Motor for about 3 bucks, but it's a 5 lead connection. Is your motor a six lead connection? Will the schematic work with a 5 lead? Please write back soon.

[bluumax]

Those are what I use, you will need to run them at 18V - 24V

[Tom McGuire]

Yup...that will work.

[conk_b]

what software did you use i've been trying to find one but cant find it anywhere

[recon506]

Will I need to make some adjustments to the schematic though? It's my first time messing around with CNC's and I want to get this one right the first time, especially since I only have a budget (a.k.a. my life savings) of about 165 dollars.

[jamunda]

OMG THAT IS AWESOME! I'd make it but I see no use in it for me... BUT THAT IS AWESOME! Good work!

[bfman]

This is simply an amazing device. I am very interested in not only doing this project but also in adapting the CNC portion to a lathe. I haven't found any info on interfacing the computer with the stepper driver board. Did I miss it?

[lafeliz]

hey, can i mill mdf wood? for example if i want to make a pc mouse made of foam or wood, this cnc could make it?

[narpas]

what kind of bit are you using to cut the plastic?

[marcwolf]

Thats is truly brilliant I like the way you held the tables on using ball wheels. And also using a piece of rubber to stop vibrations between the table and the motor is good too. Looking forward to more of your examples Dave

[macrumpton]

If you made a little collar that went around the chuck that had a couple of fan blades attached it would blow the debris off the work whenever the chuck was turning. Great project!

[wpflum]

Not a bad idea. I was considering making a clear plexi box with a port for a shop vac that I could cover then entire thing with when I do 'dusty' stuff. Another idea was to add a plywood bottom with latches to attach the upper plexi box to and then put a handle on the top of the plexi box. Make it nice and easy to move around.

[Lebanite]

I like both of those ideas. If you made a case for it you could take tubing and place it near the cutting bit and put a fan on the other side that would suck all the debris into a container of some sort that you could then clean out after making a bunch of cuts, therefor you wouldn't have to have your shop-vac on the entire time.

[phreakincool]

This is a nice tutorial. I was wondering if I could use this for a thin sheet of aluminum, say .125" thick?

[gn0stik]

you have to freeze the cheese before cutting it. Also, you probably have to take some breaks and do it in stages, re-freezing the cheese and letting any friction heat dissipate. The bit probably won't get hot, but the friction will thaw the cheese. So, You CAN make cheese models favorite things from cheese. Or other semi solid materials. A Tofu Cow would be interesting. You could also laser etch things if you combined this with the DVD burning laser maglite mod. Just an afterthought

[sanzya]

hi,i have a question, this drill can make electronic circuits and about the holes of the circuit to insert the components, they can drill the holes??

[cfedde]

fitted with the proper bit it sure could.