Simple CNC Machine
Intro: Simple CNC Machine
What I'm going to try and show you in this instructable is how to build a simple CNC machine.
Now when I say Simple I mean you only require basic tools & materials to build the machine.
The machine is made out of Sawn Timber, drawer sliders, nema 17 Stepper motors, a TB6560 Driver Controller Board and a Dremel Trio as the milling/cutting tool
I started about year ago trying to build a CNC machine, I tried a few different designs but i struggled to get the building of them right. This was mainly down to the complexity of some of the designs and the lack of equipment I needed to build them and the money that they cost. So I went back to the drawing board and tried to build a machine that was easy to make and used readily available parts to keep the price down. The machine that i've produce seems a little ruff around the edges but the results of the stuff made have been ok
The Video Gives a quick overview of the Machine
Now when I say Simple I mean you only require basic tools & materials to build the machine.
The machine is made out of Sawn Timber, drawer sliders, nema 17 Stepper motors, a TB6560 Driver Controller Board and a Dremel Trio as the milling/cutting tool
I started about year ago trying to build a CNC machine, I tried a few different designs but i struggled to get the building of them right. This was mainly down to the complexity of some of the designs and the lack of equipment I needed to build them and the money that they cost. So I went back to the drawing board and tried to build a machine that was easy to make and used readily available parts to keep the price down. The machine that i've produce seems a little ruff around the edges but the results of the stuff made have been ok
The Video Gives a quick overview of the Machine
STEP 1: What You Need
CNC Driver and stepper motor kit
Ball Bearing Full Extension Drawer Slide
A computer to run Linux EMC2 software (the computer will need a parallel port)
A copy of Linux EMC2 (which is fully functional CNC control software)
Wood
Threaded Rods
Nuts
Bearings
A routing tool (I've used a Dremel trio)
Pulleys
Polymorph
A miter Saw
A hot glue gun
Drill
Screws and Screw driver
What you need video
Ball Bearing Full Extension Drawer Slide
A computer to run Linux EMC2 software (the computer will need a parallel port)
A copy of Linux EMC2 (which is fully functional CNC control software)
Wood
Threaded Rods
Nuts
Bearings
A routing tool (I've used a Dremel trio)
Pulleys
Polymorph
A miter Saw
A hot glue gun
Drill
Screws and Screw driver
What you need video
STEP 2: X Axis
The X Axis is easy to make if you think of it was square with a Drawer slider on each side and a threaded rod running down the middle.
First we need to cut 2 lengths 400mm long & 2 Lengths of 430mm
In to the 400mm lengths we need to drill a hole for the bearing to sit in. A hole will need to be drilled half way through one length and all the way through the other
The bearings now need to be placed in the holes and attached in to place with a bit of glue
Now the 4 sides need to be assemble in to a squared and screw together, ( I used 1 and half inch screws)
Attach the drawer slides to the to longer sides.
Add the threaded rod & nut in to the hole add a little bit of glue on either side of bearing to stop the threaded rod from coming in and out.
cut a sheet of mdf to go top of the A-Axis and attach it to the drawer slides.
Once done you need to cut to lumps of wood to clamp the nut from moving. These can be attached to the MDF Sheet
Once this is done you need to screw the A-axis to the base sheet.
You can at this point attach the motor but I found it easier to wait until all the axis where finished before doing so
The video give an overview of how the A-Axis was build
First we need to cut 2 lengths 400mm long & 2 Lengths of 430mm
In to the 400mm lengths we need to drill a hole for the bearing to sit in. A hole will need to be drilled half way through one length and all the way through the other
The bearings now need to be placed in the holes and attached in to place with a bit of glue
Now the 4 sides need to be assemble in to a squared and screw together, ( I used 1 and half inch screws)
Attach the drawer slides to the to longer sides.
Add the threaded rod & nut in to the hole add a little bit of glue on either side of bearing to stop the threaded rod from coming in and out.
cut a sheet of mdf to go top of the A-Axis and attach it to the drawer slides.
Once done you need to cut to lumps of wood to clamp the nut from moving. These can be attached to the MDF Sheet
Once this is done you need to screw the A-axis to the base sheet.
You can at this point attach the motor but I found it easier to wait until all the axis where finished before doing so
The video give an overview of how the A-Axis was build
STEP 3: Y Axis
First we need to cut some lengths of wood
2 x 400mm
1 x 500mm
4 x 300mm
The 2 lengths of 400mm long need holes drilling 100mm from the top for bearings (like the A-Axis)
The Drawer Sliders now need attaching to the 500mm length
After this is done the 2 400mm lengths need screwing to the 500mm length
Attach 2 of the 300mm lengths to one side of the drawer sliders and the other 2 lengths of 300mm on the other side of the drawer sliders.
Add the threaded rod & 2 nuts. Add a little bit of glue on either side of the bearing to stop the threaded rod from coming in and out.
Cut 4 lengths of wood to go on the top and bottom of the nut attach these to the 300mm lengths which are attached to the drawer sliders. Glue the nut into place
Cut 2 more lengths to join the bottom of the 300mm lengths to each other
This is a quick video of overview of the Y-Axis Build
2 x 400mm
1 x 500mm
4 x 300mm
The 2 lengths of 400mm long need holes drilling 100mm from the top for bearings (like the A-Axis)
The Drawer Sliders now need attaching to the 500mm length
After this is done the 2 400mm lengths need screwing to the 500mm length
Attach 2 of the 300mm lengths to one side of the drawer sliders and the other 2 lengths of 300mm on the other side of the drawer sliders.
Add the threaded rod & 2 nuts. Add a little bit of glue on either side of the bearing to stop the threaded rod from coming in and out.
Cut 4 lengths of wood to go on the top and bottom of the nut attach these to the 300mm lengths which are attached to the drawer sliders. Glue the nut into place
Cut 2 more lengths to join the bottom of the 300mm lengths to each other
This is a quick video of overview of the Y-Axis Build
STEP 4: Z Axis & Tool
The drawer sliders need to be attached to the 300mm lengths of the Y-Axis
Cut one lump of wood to go In-between the 2 300mm lengths at the top in to this a hole needs to be cut for the bearing this hole needs to go all the way through the lump of wood.
A Length of wood needs cutting to add to the bottom of 300mm lengths of the Y-Axis. A hole needs to be cut halfway through for the bearing.
Now add the threaded rod threw the 2 bearings. Its important to make sure the Threaded Rod & the Drawer Sliders are all level.
measure and cut a small sheet of MDF to fix the tool to. Once the tool is fixed in to place attach the MFD Sheet and tool to the drawer sliders.
I've used Polymorph to make a mounts for the mill tools
You now need a length of wood to go in between the 2 drawer sliders at the top you also need 2 lumps of wood to sandwich the nut.
Attach the Y-Axis & Z-Axis to the base sheet. Next cut some lengths of wood to act has support struts it is important to make the Y-Axis level both vertically and horizontally
An overview of the finished Z-Axis
Cut one lump of wood to go In-between the 2 300mm lengths at the top in to this a hole needs to be cut for the bearing this hole needs to go all the way through the lump of wood.
A Length of wood needs cutting to add to the bottom of 300mm lengths of the Y-Axis. A hole needs to be cut halfway through for the bearing.
Now add the threaded rod threw the 2 bearings. Its important to make sure the Threaded Rod & the Drawer Sliders are all level.
measure and cut a small sheet of MDF to fix the tool to. Once the tool is fixed in to place attach the MFD Sheet and tool to the drawer sliders.
I've used Polymorph to make a mounts for the mill tools
You now need a length of wood to go in between the 2 drawer sliders at the top you also need 2 lumps of wood to sandwich the nut.
Attach the Y-Axis & Z-Axis to the base sheet. Next cut some lengths of wood to act has support struts it is important to make the Y-Axis level both vertically and horizontally
An overview of the finished Z-Axis
STEP 5: Motors & Wire Up
The motors now need attaching to the machine. I've used Polymorph to make motor clips to keep the motors in place.
The pulleys need placing on to the threaded rods & the motors and then they need glueing in to place.
Once the motors are in place add extra wire so that the machine can move without the wire getting caught
The pulleys need placing on to the threaded rods & the motors and then they need glueing in to place.
Once the motors are in place add extra wire so that the machine can move without the wire getting caught
STEP 6: EMC2 & Google Setchup to G-gode
This is a quick intro on what software to use to make the CNC machine do something.
The software used to produce the DXF and g-code works on Windows Linux Or Mac.
The Software used to operate the stepper motors is EMC2 which, is a turnkey linux distro with EMC2 CNC application set up and ready to go.
You will need to read the getting started guide for EMC2 to help you with setting up the software.
EMC2 reads G-code which is then used to control the machine. To produce G-code, first you need to draw what you want to cut out in a package like Google SketchUp or AutoCad 123.
The program needs to be able to export a file type called DXF, If you are using google SketchUp then you'll need to install a this plugin
Once you have done the drawing (make sure you make it the right size) export it to DXF (select lines)
Now that its been exported you need to turn in in to g-code, this can be done using a program called "dxf2gcode"
All you need to do is open the DXF file in dxf2gcode and export it to g-code. The file that has been produced can now be opened on EMC2
The software used to produce the DXF and g-code works on Windows Linux Or Mac.
The Software used to operate the stepper motors is EMC2 which, is a turnkey linux distro with EMC2 CNC application set up and ready to go.
You will need to read the getting started guide for EMC2 to help you with setting up the software.
EMC2 reads G-code which is then used to control the machine. To produce G-code, first you need to draw what you want to cut out in a package like Google SketchUp or AutoCad 123.
The program needs to be able to export a file type called DXF, If you are using google SketchUp then you'll need to install a this plugin
Once you have done the drawing (make sure you make it the right size) export it to DXF (select lines)
Now that its been exported you need to turn in in to g-code, this can be done using a program called "dxf2gcode"
All you need to do is open the DXF file in dxf2gcode and export it to g-code. The file that has been produced can now be opened on EMC2
STEP 7: Test It Use It
Well that's it.
I won't pretend that once its build every thing will go smoothly all the time but it will let you try & build you cnc skills.
I think that the machine build is just the start of the learning experience
I won't pretend that once its build every thing will go smoothly all the time but it will let you try & build you cnc skills.
I think that the machine build is just the start of the learning experience
41 Comments
hrdbearing1 2 years ago
Divljina 8 years ago
Hi friend, your project is good :)
Can you tell me, do you know where I can find electrical scheme of driver Toshiba tb6506 ? Thank you in advance
SebastjanS 9 years ago
Hello I am a beginner, if you can be with you help I have stuck to trapezoidal Data do not know. Thank you.
BarryDoors 9 years ago
Really Cool, thanks
pjethy 9 years ago
great job. I am new and interested to make one. I want to know what software to use and how to learn that one.
pjethy 9 years ago
great job. I am new and interested to make one. I want to know what software to use and how to learn that one.
pjethy 9 years ago
great job. I am new and interested to make one. I want to know what software to use and how to learn that one.
pjethy 9 years ago
great job. I am new and interested to make one. I want to know what software to use and how to learn that one.
pjethy 9 years ago
great job. I am new and interested to make one. I want to know what software to use and how to learn that one.
pjethy 9 years ago
great job. I am new and interested to make one. I want to know what software to use and how to learn that one.
pjethy 9 years ago
great job. I am new and interested to make one. I want to know what software to use and how to learn that one.
pjethy 9 years ago
great job. I am new and interested to make one. I want to know what software to use and how to learn that one.
Plasanator 10 years ago
johnparker 10 years ago
Thanks a lot!.
dtransgn 11 years ago
I'm very interested in your super simple CNC ^^, can you post a guide on how to use Linux EMC2 with this driver?
thank you so much
karkarkar1 11 years ago
What's diameter of pulleys?
PTAIYAT 11 years ago
gomibakou 11 years ago
Something similar is used in roller skeaters (even you could use some kind of special washers used in them).
In this way the rod won't move and the bearing will be what turns more efficiently helping and smoothing the movement in the rod.
I suppose the coupling nuts you use have some backslash, i mean the free space between the rot threads and the nut threads. You could improbe the efficiency of these making your own "nuts". Use a kitchen plastic cutting table (i don't remember the name of the plastic, it something like DPEM, or PEDM or.. dunno, well all are made of the same material), cut 2 pieces and join them in a sandwich (the size is what you need for your nut). make a hole in the center few milimeters smaller then your rod diameter. Now comes he fun part: apply heat -a hot air gun is nice-, until the plastic melts, then attach the 2 sides around your rod and wait it to cool.
Don't forget you need to join the 2 parts, so make your "nut" wider to have space for some screws (i prefer it rather gluing the plastic).
The process basicly is making a mold in the plastic that cast with it's threaded shape. These kitchen cutting tables are common, cheap and the plastic melts easily under heat and soldifies when cooled.
I also suggest using aluminum. Not all, but maybe in the critical parts as the frame and the "bed". It's "cheap", easy to find and more easy to mechanize at least for our purposes :)
So you would avoid the wood dilatations and contractions (it's a live material), and strenghten the structure...
I think these tiny changes would improbe your performance without increasing the price (the aluminium is the most expensive).
So, you got a "nut" that almost hasn't backlash.
temper 11 years ago
ummm no, aluminium suitable for this project is hard to obtain and very expensive - it would double the cost of this build easily. Buying online is out of the question because of shipping costs
gomibakou 11 years ago
For smaller nuts i usually apply heat using an iron solder (30w used in electronics). I place the nut on the plastic, then place the iron solder tip in the middle of the nut.... in seconds the heated nut melts the plastic casting it around it. I suppose (because i never did it with such big nuts) you need a higher wattage iron solder (or whatever you can use to heat the nut xD).
Yes i love to see metal things melting plastics xDDD