How to Make a Three Axis CNC Machine (Cheaply and Easily)

Step 5: Printing Pattern

I had some experience Scroll Sawing pieces so I choose to use a glue on pattern method. What is required is to print out the PDF pattern files onto tiled pages, then glue on each pattern, and cutout each piece.

File Name and Material:

Summary: CNC-Cut-Summary.pdf
0.5" MDF (35 8.5"x11" tiled pages): CNC-0.5MDF-CutLayout-(Rev3).pdf
0.75" MDF: CNC-0.75MDF-CutLayout-(Rev2).pdf
0.75" Aluminum Tube: CNC-0.75Alum-CutLayout-(Rev3).pdf
0.5" MDF (1 48"x48" page): CNC-(One 48x48 Page) 05-MDF-CutPattern.pdf


(note: I've added a DXF version of the 0.5" MDF pattern to this step (DXF-05-MDF-SimpleDXF.dxf) I have removed the cross drilled holes and writing from this file to make it a manageable size, if anyone would like any of the drawings in a different format or including different information please just drop me a line and I'll do what I can)

(note: I've included the original CorelDraw format drawings in a zip file (CNC-CorelDrawFormat-CutPatterns(Rev2).zip) for anyone who wishes to do some editing)

(UPDATE: There is now a choice in patterns for the 0.5" MDF layer, you can download one file (CNC-0.5MDF-CutLayout-(Rev3).pdf ) with 35 8.5"x11" pages tiled, or you can download one file (CNC-(One 48x48 Page) 05-MDF-CutPattern.pdf) which has the entire layout on one 48"x48" page to print on a large format printer or tile yourself)

(Step by step)
1.Download the three layout pdf files
2.Open each in Adobe Reader
3.Goto the Print Dialog
4.(IMPORTANT) in the page scaling dialog select "none"
5.Check to make sure the file didn't accidentally get scaled to do this measure the printed ruler on page one of each pattern (make sure it matches up with a ruler you trust) (I didn't do this the first time and accidentally printed out a copy at 90% size more on this later)

Comments

[bijilbaji]

Me and my friend are tiring to build this and we cant find heads or tails of what line of circles are please we are new to this we have printed out real size design. are these engravings?? please help us anybody

[tchronakis]

hi i want to ask if any file (dxf or corel files) have toolpaths?? because a friend of mine had a cnc router for professional use...... sorry for my bad english!!!!!

[outland86]

Hi Everyone

We have a set of pre cut wood parts avaialble for this Router with all the edge boring done and cut professionally on a KOMO CNC..absolutely precise parts.
from MDF. an inexpensive option to ensure you have an accurate machine when you are done...www.makecnc.com

some minor improvments and modifications have been made to the original design.

also for FREE....FREE....FREE

you can download free from our site an extensive and comprehensive set of plans for this machine that includes the DXF files of all parts drawn by a professional draughtman with dogbone fillets added to allow you to cut the parts uisng a CNC router..as well as a set of drawings ready to laser cut.
a parts list and indervidual part drawings including metal parts belts etc to make building this cool little machine a breeze..hindreds of hours of work went into these plans and cut files and they are your for free..no obligations.
www.makecnc.com

[kotten]

Does anyone have the DXF file that includes the holes?

[hightekrednek2396]

do you have the file for autocad dwg or dxf i couldnt get the dxf into autocad

[astronutski]

I am in the middle of constructing this CNC machine and was hoping someone could answer my questions.

It's not clear when cutting the Top Beam and Bottom Beam if the 1/4" holes are to be through holes or are .125" channels like the other 1/4" channels. They are not marked as such.

From the pictures it looks like the top is a through hole channel, but the bottom couldn't be. The bottom says "0.000" where the other channels say ".125", so I don't know if that's a typo, I can't figure it out. I've looked through and printed all of the pdf's and even all the pictures of this thing, but still can't quite see those groves.

Getting very eager to finishing this thing, I can't wait to start cutting things!

Please help!!!

[astronutski]

Anyone? Please?

Are the 1/4" marked holes in the Top Beam and Bottom Beam channels? Through holes? Unnecessary? Why are there all those marked holes, but the note says "0.000"?

[VEnom02]

Hello. I`m living in Lithuania and I can`t get 0.5" (12.7mm) thick MDF, only 12mm thick. So I want to ask if I need to do any changes to layout for cutting MDF that is given? Sorry for my bad English.

[jperi]

Hi you have 3D drawing posted by another member on step one .

have anyone made this in autocad so i can take it to shop and make parts on another cnc.My friend have one and it will be mucg more simple to do it.Thanks

[tony youness]

HY what I mean is a 3D drawing dwg or dxf file so I can take all the measurement easily

[tony youness]

if I can get a 3D drawing for all the machine .
I  think that's will help so much person interested to do this project

[gadgit]

Love to build this cnc but I can't access imperial size mdf in australia. Would it be possible to scale the plans down slightly so that metric size sheets can be used? The closest thickness we have is 12mm mdf which is a 94.5% scale reduction on 1/2 inch  which will also scale the 3/4 inch pieces nicely to 18mm (also commonly available).

Also the paper dimensions are showing in acrobat is 8x10?

[fruttenboel]

I live in Europe mainland. Our MDF and plywoods are rated in millimeters. But only for 'convenience'. If I measure the MDF, the 12 mm is 12,7 mm = 1/2". the 18 mm is 19 mm = 3/4". All sizes are in inches and feet. Full sheets are 122 cm x 244 cm. Not a logical ISO value. Concrete plywood is 125 x 250 cm. Now, THAT is an ISO size!

What it boils down to: 122 cm = 4 feet. 244 cm is 8 feet. MDF is always delivered in imperial units....

[rumplesnitz]

are you saying you cannot get 1/2 inch thick MDF in Austrailia?  Is this some kind of import restriction?  I'll be more than happy to set us up an MDF import business because I can get you all of that you want straight from a local manufacturer near me.

[waynerod]

Do you have a PDF file for A4 sized printing? Please.... This is instead of CNC-05-MDF-CutPattern(Rev3).pdf

Please... this would help me heaps as I don't have access to Letter Page Sizes (incase you don't know the size you have given for is for "Letter")


By the way, it will make a difference if I use A4 and Letter right? Coz this is designed for Letter and if I use A4 it won't be right.....

[bullmoose11]

MDF is very porous and dusty. I'm going to try painting the MDF sheet with "Killz Complete" primer sealer first before gluing the pattern down. The primer drys hard and glossy so the spray glue will stick..  I can have a full 48x 48 pattern printed on a large format plotter at Staples for $4 a sheet. I'm copying the PDF to a USB memory stick to take in. Staples said they could print from that. Then I will cut the 4x8 pattern sheet into smaller more manageable pieces and cut them out on my ShopSmith Scroll saw. It should work well I hope....

[morganrehm]

To anybody attempting this, I strongly recommend you use a plotter to print out the whole 48x48 file. I just finished cutting these pieces using single 8.5x11 pages and it was a big pain. Lining them up is very difficult, also pieces of paper tend to peel off during cutting - then again I was using a spray-on adhesive. Maybe other glues would work better.

[dsmskyline]

With Stuart's permission I can supply a single page 48"x48" sticky back sheet to apply to the MDF or what ever other substrate you are using to make the pieces. Makes it much easier than trying to line up tiled sheets. Thomas

[seashore1]

Are you able to send this to an address in England and what is your price?

[dsmskyline]

I received Stuarts permission. I have compiled the assembly and hardware files into one "booklet" that can be supplied with the cut files as well. Will have a package with all 3 cut files on low tack adhesive vinyl and a 24 page booklet. Cost will depend on how many people are interested. Just the cut files are going to cost ME about $20 each to print, the books are somewhere around $10-15 each depending on the papaer. That is with just doing 1 at a time. If interested, pm me or reply on here with your zip or postal code and I will get you a price with shipping. Thomas

[oletimer]

Hi, I am extremely interested in your offer, I live in Ontario Canada and my postal code is L7G 5L1

Happy New Year...

J.Lewis

[seashore1]

Thomas my UK Post Code is BH21 3TL here in Dorset England. What kind of payment do you accept?

[prasant_katwala]

hi stuart , pls tell me were should i foud the elctronic part of this cnc rourter and what would be thev cost , as well will those parts run with windows product

[krams976]

First of all great job and I love the video of you putting it all together. would you be willing to share your G-code for Mach3 as I cannot get your files to work with rhino, artcam,turbocad. all your circles render incomplete.I currently have access to a cnc running G-code on Mach 3. Or any assistance would be greatly appreciated. p.s. what did you use to make .Tap (G-code) for Mach 3 ??? Thank You Mark

[brian13b]

I have a question, I tried printing out the single page pdf. file...and I ve tried printing it so it take up a whole page and im still getting borders, where ill have to cut it.......just wondering

[pbawesome]

hey stuart i love this instructable because i was going to design each and every part myself currently i'm recreating your parts from printed glued sheets in solid works because i don't have autocad if you have all the parts made in cad could you give them to me so i can import them into solid works, making all the measures is a real pain. i appreciate your time put in this for us i hope i can either cut all my parts before the school year ends or i will have to do it after summer my school has no problem me coming after the school day and using their bandsaw drill press milling machine, all the awesome tools we have, thanks.

[wolf.alex9]

do you think you could creat .stp files of the parts?

[oomlout]

sorry I'm afraid my suite of CAD/CAM software is rather limited however if you have a program which can read .stp files you can probably import the .dxf version of the parts.

[garyc]

Very impressive machine,I am impressed with the time and thought that you have put into it.Would there happen to be a dimensioned drawing?For an old machinist like me,it is more comfortable to work with dimentions rather than cut on the line patterns.Thanks a lot for all your effort,Garyc

[oomlout]

sorry I'm afraid I don't have the skill set to make a dimensioned drawing. However if you print out the full size plan you can measure dimensions directly from that.

[k5dkh]

Stuart, How would I download the DXF file? Great build.

[oomlout]

It's in step four named: DXF-05-MDF-SimpleDXF.dxf

[kwhizr]

Hey I'm sure a lot of you already know this, but for those that don't - if you live near a Kinko's or printing place, you can get large scale drawings printed for pretty cheap. Just take your PDF in on a memory card or disk. I have scaled maps printed this way. Congrats! by the way, awesome Instructables.

[oomlout]

That's a good idea; the gluing together sheet after sheet can get pretty boring.

[AngelT]

How about using a CNC Router to cut all the pieces? I took the drawings in Corel Draw format to a shop with an industrial CNC Router and they cut the pieces for a nominal fee. Had to correct a few hole alignments but it came out just perfect...

[russelljwr]

Awesome design. You out great though into this cnc. I am having trouble with your dxf. I have autocad, and solidwork. Neither of them seem to be able to open your dxf correctly. Do you have the dxf that you can email me? Thanks Jesse

[jovial_cynic]

I dunno -- no matter how or where I print it out, the 8x10 printout doesn't match with the real-world ruler. At 4 inches, it ends up about 1/8" off. I've used two different printers, and even opened up the PDF with both adobe's PDF reader and the FoxIt PDF reader. Same results. Each time, I set the print size to 100% (or "actual size" on FoxIt), and it's always the same thing.

[oomlout]

Hey Jovial; This was a mistake I made (I accidentally drew a 4" ruler which was only 3.8" long) I have re-uploaded the PDF with this problem fixed. If you download the new PDF file (CNC-05-MDF-CutPattern(Rev2).pdf) and print it out the rulers should agree. (sorry for the confusion and if the problem persists please just shoot another comment and I'll see what I can do). Stuart

[jovial_cynic]

Do you need to redo this file as well? CNC-0.75MDF-CutLayout-(8x10).pdf

[oomlout]

nope the other files are unchanged Stuart