MAKE: Blog: HOW TO - Make a three axis CNC machine (cheaply and easily)

HOW TO - Make a three axis CNC machine (cheaply and easily)

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Stuart writes -

The idea behind this Instructable was to fulfill my desire for a desktop sized CNC machine. While it would have been nice to purchase an off the shelf unit the issue of price as well as size proved prohibitive. With this in mind I endeavored to design and build a three axis CNC machine with the following factors in mind:

Use Simple tools (needs only a drill press, band saw, and hand tools)
Low Cost (this kind of got away from me however with everything bought off the shelf the cost for all parts is under $600 (significant savings could be made by skillfully sourcing some pieces))
Small footprint (30" x 25" footprint)
Usable working envelope (10" X-axis, 14" Y-Axis, 4" Z-Axis)
Relativly fast cut rate (60" per minute)
Small part count (fewer than 30 unique parts)
Easy to source parts (all parts available from 4 sources (Home Depot + 3 online sources)
Ability to cut ply-wood (Succesful)

Lets get started...

How to Make a Three Axis CNC Machine (Cheaply and Easily) - [via] Link.

Related:

Comments

Oldest comments listed first.

Posted by: HousePainter on June 29, 2007 at 10:10 AM

There is a swedish Electronic-forum, www.elektronikforumet.com
One of our members is developing a Cnc-mashine thats even better than this.:)

http://elektronikforumet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=18590&start=0

But this was very nice!

Posted by: o-tang on June 29, 2007 at 1:34 PM

...I think the keyword here was "cheaply and easily" not to mention "open source".

Posted by: pftb on July 1, 2007 at 8:50 AM

all good and well see, but the hard par it seems is controling the motors.
Not that im bashing this tut, because it shows how to make a lovely and rather simeple CNC BODY why it comes to the motors, the help it gave was "connect the motors and set them up"

Iv been trying to make a cnc machine for awhile not, granted i havnt been trying very hard, but the part that always stumps me is the motor control
anyone know it well enought to discribe to lamens?

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