How to wire an arduino-based 3-axis CNC machine

Step 6 In conclusion

If everything worked right, you should have three steppers each moving at different speeds back and forth.  There should be a light on each EasyDriver showing that it has power.  If you have a light and no movement, You might not have a good connection to your arduino.

So what next?
Now that you have three motors working through the arduino you can use the serial interface to tell the arduino what you want the steppers to do.  By changing the different motors in the right pattern you can interpret G-CODE and start cutting patterns.  The biggest choice you face is what to cut!

Thanks for reading!
Dan

Comments

[kotten]

If someone made it this far, it means that they now can control the stepper driver with Ardunio but Ardunio doesn't yet know how to interpret G code? If that is correct, then the next step would be to install a GCode Interpreter in the Arduino Library, such as mentioned here: http://reprap.org/wiki/Arduino_GCode_Interpreter.

Are you aware of Grbl http://dank.bengler.no/-/page/show/5470_grbl?ref=mst
or http://www.contraptor.org/arduino-gcode-interpreter. And how do they relate to what you are or have done?

[HeilandStark]

Hi Dan,
thanks a lot for this instructable. I just find out the same Easystepper drivers but I'm not sure I can use with this board I've bought on ebay: afishonaladder.com/docs/5_Axis_Interface_Board_adapter.pdf
I have 3 stepper motors scavanged from an old copier and I'll buyt the same 5V power supply you suggest.
Hope I could work with this board and keep going into the project.

Thanks a lot for your advise.

HS

[aggrav8d]

You can use a higher voltage power supply if that's what's needed for your steppers. Be aware that the higher you go, the more heat will be generated in the chip. I've heard that some people put CPU heat sinks on their chips to keep them from automatically shutting off.

[HeilandStark]

thx but what I'm not sure about is if the board is compatible with the Easystepper drivers.
Thx
HS

[albert71]

Would you please elaborate a bit more about the serial interface, im new at this and i got cofused, i have allwired upalready as you show, but i have noidea how to send G code to teh Arduino and from there to teh controllers
Aby help is greatly appreciated it

[aggrav8d]

It looks like I'm going to have to start an open source project to write arduino gcode stuff because I keep getting so many questions about it.

[mrmartyman7]

This was very informative , I almost went the arduino route with my electronics .
This will be helpful to many others I'm sure.

[aggrav8d]

Thank you! That was very nice of you. :)