Mini CNC router, complete plans and instructions

The Mini CNC project is a complete set of plans and instructions on how to build a 3 axis CNC machine that is functional and also precise. The Mini CNC is very simple and easy to build and if you have all the materials and parts prepared you should have it ready to work in less than 5 days.

 

I wanted and also needed to build this Mini CNC machine so I can make faster and more precise the parts that I need for my other home projects.

Step 1 Mini CNC specifications

The working area of the machine is X=450mm (approx. 17.5 inch) and Y=250mm (approx. 10 inch) and can mill parts as high as Z=110mm (approx 5 inch).

The maximum milling speed on X an Y axis is 2400mm/min. and on Z axis is 1800mm/min.

The resolution of each axis is 1/50 or two hundredths of an mm and one axis revolution means 4 mm of movement.

The router used for this CNC is a Kress 1050.

The number of parts used for building this Mini CNC machine is 42 excepting screws and nuts.

Comments

[bitbox]

This looks GREAT !

I'm looking for a reliable DIY CNC machine and this one seems to be a winner.
Thank you for sharing this.

Although I have one question: how can I download the related files (schematics?). You said earlier

"You can find all the drawings in .pdf and .dxf file format in steps 13 to 16."

But really couldn't locate them. I registered on the site (free account) but still no luck :-(

Could you please instruct me on how to find those files ?

Thanks a lot.

[krunobalaneskovic]

Hi. Does anyone have complete set of plans for this?

Those files are missing:
y_cross.pdf (185 KB)
shafts_and_threaded_rod.pdf

All others I already have.

Thnx

Kruno

[jbloke]

Hi. Thanks for this great how-to berbefarac. Anyone got the complete set of plans? My mail is jm_weinberg(at)hotmail.com if anyone can help me.
Cheers

[berbefarac]

Hi. I will do an update for this instructable and put again the dxf files and all other files needed for the building of the MiniCNC. Hopefuly I will do the update this month.
Berbefarac.

[soljaboy101]

any news on the plans, am interested in using your design for a project in the uk, especially as your plans are metric. Please put theme up here or send me a link at [e-mail] Thanks for supporting the cnc community.

[krunobalaneskovic]

That will be wery nice. Thanx for your time Berbefarac.

Kruno

[Georg256]

I didn't find the dfx files or plans. Where I can download it?

[lkuziez9680]

how much is the overall cost for this

[yoshio6]

Hey, very very nice work, i was planning to make a some what similar cnc, but mainly just following your z axis "layout". I was wondering if you think that the structure is strong? Or at least strong enough because I was thinking of adapting a forth and fifth axis to the head and liked how yours for the height advantage.
Thanks,
Weverton

[mgimbel]

did you really have to use such big steppers, I mean for a lot less you could have got weaker steppers that are better suited for this task. I dont think you'll ever use their 425 oz. capacity

[thepainkill]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5ULOYQ7CuE

[erick3525]

First of all, nicely done! As for the stepper sizing, they will only really be oversized if the power supply and driver are not capable of meeting their potential or they are capable of damaging the machine. If all of the electronics are well matched and the machine is free of binding and so forth, larger motors will allow much higher feed speeds to be attained reliably, especially while cutting. Materials that the builder is most likely to intend to mill out with this machine will be able to be be cut at high feed rates.

[AD804]

I would like to try to build a machine based on your design. Do you have DXF drawings of the parts?

[alan_cx]

Its a great project, but one thing is a bit annoying:

"For this project you will need to have a set of screwdrivers and a set of hex keys or Allen keys, a drill for some extra holes, metal cutting saw to cut some custom parts, soldering station or soldering gun join the wires so they`ll have a good conductivity , and a multimeter.

You should have knowledge of basic electronics, how to solder and how to use a multimeter"

Then later on, it turns out that a lathe and mill are required. Which rather changes things a bit.

[krunobalaneskovic]

Hi.
Great work on this.

Like to build one myself.

I tried to download plans but there are some things missing:

Can you send complete plans for Mini CNC router in one zipfile, PLEASE.
That would be realy helfull.
I have acces to alu-profiles in company where I work.

Thanx.
Kruno

[krunobalaneskovic]

Almost forgot, here is my mail:
[e-mail]

Thanx.

Greetings from Slovenia

[juli4nteo]

In which step is the dxf file located? Doesn't seem to show up anywhere.

[pra-win]

great instuctable... can u help me for software purpose? i,e. how & which soft ware u used. can i get the microcontroler and servo/ stepper motors prog? pls.......

[akshaya2012]

I WANT TO MAKE BUT SOME PRBLEM IN SHOFTERWARE SIDE , CAN U HELP ME ??

[berbefarac]

How can I help you?

[jereba]

how much it cost to build the cnc??

[kenyer]

Grosav!
I like your project. You are one of the few that explain the software-part. Mach3 is rather expensive though. (546 lei and I'm still counting in old lei so than it is even more expensive :P 5.460.000) Do you know of any free or cheap cnc-software?

[berbefarac]

Thank you.

You could use EMC2, but you must have installed Linux.

[ThePuppeteer]

You can use "EMC2" with "Ubuntu LTS" for free ( http://www.linuxcnc.org ).
Cheers!

[kenyer]

Thanx I will see if I can install Ubuntu on a computer.

[studleylee]

Very Nice!!!! Me want to build one soon!!!

[skukadia]

Dear Berbefarac,
Great Instructables...Congrats for that...
Please guide me other option for alluminium profile...as i am not able to get it in India...

Also guide me for making machine heavy duty...as i want to use this machine for milling on metal plates of MS-mild steel or SS-stainless steel...
Is it possible?
Please guide me for the same....

[skukadia]

Hey I am not able to get Alluminium profile here in India...what can be other option, can i make it from SS-304(Stainless Steel)?
I want to make this machine more heavy for heavy duty milling so that i can use it with milling on metal work of Mild stell/ Stainless Stell, how it can be possible?

[jsosa3]

where can I find the pipes and threaded rods? how would I cut them?

[UOS]

Thanks for this awesome step by step instructions :)

[vmods]

One board does it all?

www.pickit.ro?

Too bad the rest of us can't get this board.

[berbefarac]

You can also find on ebay a good 4 axis stepper motor driver board at 70$-80$

[stringstretcher]

This is not a very good board, I have one and changed it out to a MUCH faster one. Cheap is not good when it comes to the electronics. Don't skimp there!

[Shogmice]

I'm looking for a 4 axis controller and don't like the above Ebay one. What would you suggest or what did you get? I'm looking for something that will work with Mach3, and handles all the E-stop, limits, and possibly a aux-controller. I have unipolar motors but don't mind getting new ones to make sure they work.

I've been considering making one using micro controllers, but I'm just getting into micro controllers. Someone makes a shield for the Arduino Mega but its always sold out or they don't support it anymore.

[stringstretcher]

The controller featured in this instructable has a very good reputation according to the posts on cnczone.com The answer to every question you can think of is there, and experience out the wazoo with cnc stuff. Just ask, lots of friendly folks there!

[LeumasYrrep]

check out hobbycnc.com

[mamodom]

excelent, very inspiring

[Deeder]

Your tag in one of the boxes is 'softvare' when you writing this, im now thinking in russian accent

[mayyur Dandewale]

hi berbefarac good work.
i was searching for this kind of machine
how can i buy it

[ostrich12]

The accuracy of your engraving machine is how much? Carving of the circuit board?