Homemade CNC milling machine. Do-it-yourself CNC wood milling machine Do-it-yourself CNC wood milling machine

From this article you can learn how to make a wood milling machine with your own hands at home to perform basic operations with workpieces. The text outlines a step-by-step technology for creating a tool: an analysis of the design features of the device and all the components necessary for its installation, drawings with dimensions and detailed descriptions that will help create each of these elements and put them together.

Wood milling machines can have various purposes. Some devices are designed to perform only one operation, others are multifunctional. Purchase professional tool- an expensive pleasure, so many craftsmen resort to making a woodworking machine with their own hands. Most often, this router is used in small furniture workshops.

Routers are usually used to process wood along straight or curved contours. The working element in the design is the knife head, which carries out rotational movements. In most cases, this part is located vertically. There are many types of routers, each of which has its own design features.

The most popular types devices:

• standard single-spindle (the spindle is located vertically);
• single-spindle designs, where the spindle or homemade milling table tilts;
• copy milling cutters with a top-mounted spindle;
• copying structures with a horizontal spindle (the tool is designed for processing wooden propellers).

Note! In all of the listed designs, except the last one, the material is fed manually.

Milling machine design: single-spindle designs

The design of a single-spindle machine includes a horizontal table with a pair of tongue-and-groove sockets designed for fixing guide rulers. It is installed on a cast iron frame. Under the table there are slides that move along guides. They have a spindle mounted on a thrust bearing and a pair of bearings. At the top of this element there is another spindle - a plug-in one. It is designed for mounting cutting parts.

The slide with spindle can be raised if necessary. For this purpose, a bevel gear with a handwheel or a screw is used. A belt drive allows the spindle to move. Moreover, a counter drive, a motor or a motor shaft can be used for this.

To make such a wood router with your own hands, you need to take into account some nuances. In some cases, it is impossible to do without additional spindle reinforcement. This need arises if you need to process workpieces high altitude or the part is subject to severe loads. To do this, you need to install and secure the upper stop on the machine table. This element is fixed on the bracket. To control the movement of the workpiece during the milling process, it is advisable to use a guide ring or ruler.

Machines in which the spindle or table tilts allow you to do a wider range of DIY woodworking jobs. In addition to standard operations, such designs allow you to get more high quality processing, obtaining a clean and uniform surface. This result can be achieved by processing wood at an angle, using cutters with a very small diameter. A device with a tilting spindle is much safer and more convenient.

The device of a homemade wood copying machine with an upper spindle placement

These devices are used to perform copying works. It does not require presence high power. Such designs allow milling and drilling to create openwork products.

The copier can replace three tools at once:

1. Fraser.
2. Drilling machine.
3. Jigsaw.

Wood processing is carried out using cutting mills. Spindle develops a large number of revolutions, due to which the treated surface is very clean.

A homemade woodworking machine can be used for various purposes:

• calibration of bosses;
• production of openwork frames;
• working out the walls of the ribs, etc.

The basis for this design is a frame made of cast iron. Its upper part is curved in the shape of a sickle. This area is used for mounting the electric motor.

Note! The bed serves as a connecting link on which all the elements of a homemade wood milling machine are installed. The stronger and more reliable its design, the better.

The engine is mounted on guides. Due to the system of levers, it can move up and down these elements. This section is set in motion by pressing the pedal, which is equipped with a special stopper. The rotor shaft of the engine is connected to the spindle, where the chuck with the tool is secured. This cartridge can be self-centering or American.

In the lower zone of the frame, a table is mounted on a movable bracket. This design can move vertically along the guides using a handwheel. There are other options for making a homemade wood milling machine with your own hands; a drawing of such a design involves vertical movement of the table also during operation by pressing the pedal. In such models, the electric motor and spindle remain stationary.

How to make a wood lathe with your own hands: drawings and technology

The easiest way to make a tool yourself at home is to construct a lathe or milling machine from a drill or electric motor removed from another tool. This process is not that complicated, so every master can handle it. To do this, you will need an electric motor, the power of which does not exceed 500 W, and available materials. A drill can also be used as a drive. Of course, making a lathe will require some skill.

To build the machine, the following elements are required:

• metal frame;
• electric motor;
• handyman;
• tailstock.

It wouldn’t hurt to get a drawing that will help you navigate the dimensions and correctly manufacture all the structural elements for its subsequent assembly.

How to make a homemade drilling machine with your own hands with a motor

First you need to prepare the electric motor shaft. To do this, a faceplate is installed on it; a steel center with a thread is also suitable. Installation of the second center is carried out in the tailstock tube. To make the frame, you will need a pair of corners measuring 5x3 cm, their length is 15 cm. A motor is attached to the frame using a bolted connection.

Note! The central part of the tailstock must coincide with the middle of the electric motor shaft.

On next stage To make a homemade machine with your own hands, you assemble the headstock. This element is formed from a pair of horizontal and a pair of vertical corners. A pipe intended for the spindle is attached to it. You need to insert a bolt into it, the diameter of which is 1.2 cm. First, its head is sharpened at a right angle. Thus, the central part of the spindle is designated. After this, the headstock is installed on the bed. On the top post, which connects to the horizontal corners, it is necessary to secure the tube by welding.

To make a tool rest, you need to take a steel rod with a chamfer. This element must also have a hole that will be used to secure the support ruler. It is necessary to vertically weld the tube with the locking screw to the long angle. Then the tool rest rod is inserted into it.

The motor rotor on which the faceplate is attached will be used as the headstock spindle. You need to make several holes in it. A fork will be inserted in the central part. The holes along the edges are intended for fixing the part with screws.

How to make a wood lathe from a drill with your own hands

Having a workbench with a strong and flat working surface at hand, you can build a lathe without resorting to building a bed. Electric drill in this case it will serve as a rotary drive and headstock. According to the simplest drawing of the machine, it is enough to fix this tool on the surface of the workbench through the neck. Clamps and a clamp are suitable for fixing.

This element is mounted opposite the drill. To create it, you can take two blocks of wood and an adjusting screw, sharpened at one end to a cone. If you intend to use the machine for processing massive wooden blanks, then it is advisable to fix the emphasis on the table using clamps.

To make a tool with your own hands, inexpensive materials are enough. A drill-based lathe can be used to turn various parts:

• door handles;
• structural details of the staircase;
• decorative items, etc.

Note! Machine with wooden clamp Suitable exclusively for processing wood workpieces. It is not allowed to use such a tool for working with metal.

To expand functionality tool, its design can be supplemented with attachments and other devices that can improve the quality of work.

Such improvements include:

• winding on transformers;
• applying a coloring composition over a rotating part to create patterns;
• applying spiral notches to the workpiece, etc.

Installing a special attachment in the form of a copier will allow you to use the machine to create a whole series of identical parts or products according to a template.

How to make a wood milling machine with your own hands: drawings, videos, instructions

1. Decide on the type of design and what tasks the tool will perform.
2. Decide on the materials that will be used for the construction of each element and the methods of fixation.
3. Calculate the technical and operational parameters necessary for full functioning.
4. Select drawings with dimensions of all parts for the CNC wood milling machine you are making yourself.

To work with complex elements, you will need a milling cutter with a high level of power and a large number of revolutions. Experts recommend giving preference to devices that have manual spindle adjustment and automatic stabilization. Features such as quick stop and soft start will be useful. In ideal designs, replacing the electric motor brushes does not require disassembling the body of the tool.

Related article:

Instructions for use. Accessories. Recommendations for choosing designs and a review of the best models.

The design of the milling cutter consists of the following elements:

• countertops;
• beds;
• spindle;
• rip fence;
• feed skid;
• vacuum cleaner.

Helpful advice! The recommended motor power for the machine is 2 kW or more. A tool with lower performance will not be able to process hardwood workpieces.

Selection of materials for making a woodworking machine with your own hands

In order for the frame to withstand high dynamic loads, it is advisable to use metal as the material for its manufacture. The most suitable option is a pipe with a square or rectangular cross-section. It is allowed to use a massive metal corner.

The choice of such materials allows you to create a structure without using welding machine. All elements are connected using bolts. The design is collapsible, which makes it easier to carry and transport. In addition, using the corresponding drawing milling table, you can create with your own hands adjustable legs. Movable supports allow you to adjust the machine horizontally.

The following materials are suitable for making countertops:

• multilayer plywood sheets;
• planed board;
• MDF, OSB or chipboard.

The tabletop must have smooth surface. Any irregularities will affect the quality of work. In addition, it is necessary to eliminate all factors that could cause scratches during processing of workpieces.

When making a table for a router with your own hands, a flat surface can be achieved in several ways:

• finishing with plastic;
• careful fitting and sanding of planed boards;
• metal finishing.

To make a router with your own hands, you can use an asynchronous or commutator motor. The first option is quite unpretentious in operation and does not impose restrictions on the size of the cutters used. Among the disadvantages are high level noise. A brushed motor is more affordable, but its brushes wear out faster.

How to make accessories for a router with your own hands

Homemade wood cutters can effectively process wood, but when in contact with hard materials cutting elements quickly become dull. Therefore, the range of applications of such parts is significantly limited.

To make a wood cutter with your own hands, you need to take a cylindrical workpiece and cut off half of its diameter in the area where the cutting zone will be located. After this, it is necessary to smooth out the resulting transition. You need to remove another 1/4 of the diameter from the cut part of the workpiece and perform a similar operation. Then you should give the treated area of ​​the cutter rectangular shape. To do this you need to cut off its lower part. Received thickness working area should be 2-5 mm.

Helpful advice! To cut a metal workpiece for a cutter, you can use a drill or grinder, adapting this tool to perform this task. cutting edge can be made using a sharpening machine.

1. It is advisable to sharpen the cutting part at an angle of 7-10°. A sharper edge will cut much worse and will quickly lose its edge.
2. By using grinder angular type, equipped with metal discs, you can give the cutting part of the cutter the required configuration. Diamond-coated needle files are also suitable for these purposes.
3. If the cutter has a complex configuration, you can flatten or bend it.

How to make a milling machine with your own hands

The simplest milling machine can be made according to the same principle as the turning tool described earlier. There are several ways to design the leading center of the structure.

In the first case, a steel tube with thin walls is mounted on the shaft. This method is considered the simplest, but it is not without its drawbacks. The operator will not be able to process workpieces whose diameter is smaller than the internal cross-section of the pipe. In addition, such a structure cannot be quickly dismantled if the need arises.

In the second case, the workpiece will be attached to the faceplate. To do this, you can use screws, for which you first need to make holes. This method also has disadvantages. The diameter of the workpieces being processed is limited by the size of the faceplate. To simplify this process, a special cartridge can be made, although in this case some restrictions cannot be avoided.

The back center, which will be used to secure long workpieces, must be installed on the tailstock. The electric motor is mounted on the frame. In general, the simplest designs of turning and milling tools are very similar. If you want to get a more functional device, you can make a CNC milling machine with your own hands, but this will require additional technical knowledge.

DIY table manufacturing technology for a router with drawings

There are several designs that can be used to mount a desktop CNC router. Tables can be stationary or portable. In addition, there is also an aggregate variety. This design allows you to expand the table surface for using a router.

Most often, masters give preference stationary structures having metal carcass. As a material for countertops will fit Dutch plywood.

Note! Making a table for hand router with your own hands, you must take into account the height of the person who will work behind it.

List necessary tools and materials includes:

• metal parts for the frame (pipe or corner);
• aluminum guides;
• axes for fixing the router;
• putty, as well as priming and painting compounds;
• self-tapping screws;
• furniture bolts (60x6 mm);
• hexagonal adjusting bolts with nuts (4 pcs.);
• Finnish laminated plywood with moisture-resistant properties (sheet thickness 1.8 cm);
• material for making a parallel stop (plywood or boards);
• drill and set of drills;
• screwdriver and electric jigsaw;
• welding machine;
• auxiliary devices (brushes, rags, spatula).

Having everything you need, you can easily make the design of a milling table with your own hands; video reviews of the technology, of which there are many on the Internet, will help you visually familiarize yourself with this process.

Do-it-yourself CNC machine manufacturing technology: drawings and assembly

A CNC router differs from a conventional tool in that it has a program that controls its operation. In many videos, homemade machines are made on the basis of a beam with a rectangular cross-section, which is mounted on guides. A CNC router is no exception. During installation load-bearing structure It is advisable not to use welded joints; it is better to fix them using bolts.

The fact is that welds are vulnerable to vibration, which is why over time the frame will be subject to gradual destruction. As a result of changing geometric dimensions, the equipment will lose its accuracy and processing quality. It is desirable that the table design includes the ability to move the tool vertically. A screw drive is suitable for these purposes. The rotational movement will be transmitted using a timing belt.

The vertical axis is the most important element designs. To make it, you can use an aluminum plate. In this case, it is very important that the dimensional parameters of the axis correspond to the dimensions of the future machine.

Helpful advice! Using a muffle furnace, a vertical axis can be cast from aluminum according to the dimensions specified in the drawing.

The assembly of the machine should begin with the installation of two stepper-type electric motors. They are installed behind the vertical axis directly on the body. One motor will control the movements milling head horizontally, the other vertically. Then you need to move on to installing the remaining components of the structure.

The rotational motion will be transmitted to the key elements of the tool using belt drives. Before connecting software control to a finished router, you must check its functionality and, if there are any shortcomings, eliminate them. Many craftsmen use video reviews to assemble a machine with their own hands, where this process is discussed in detail.

Equipment for creating a CNC milling machine for wood with your own hands

To create a CNC milling machine at home, be sure to use stepper motors. They provide the ability to move the tool in 3 planes. To create a homemade machine, the electric motors present in a dot matrix printer are ideal. It is necessary to ensure that the motors have sufficient power. In addition to the motors, steel rods will be required.

A dot matrix printer only has a couple of motors, but to create a router you will need three. Therefore, you will need several old printing devices. It is desirable that the motors have 5 control wires. Thanks to this, the functionality of the tool increases.

Other engine parameters are also important:

• degree of rotation per step;
• winding resistance;
• voltage level.

To assemble the drive you will need a stud and a nut. The size of these parts is selected taking into account the drawing. To secure the motor shaft and pin, you can use a thick rubber winding from electric cable. A nylon bushing is suitable as a retainer and a screw should be inserted into it. As auxiliary tool You can use a drill and file.

The tool will be controlled software. Required element machine - LPT port, providing connection of the control system to the milling cutter via electric motors. The quality of the components used to assemble the machine determines its service life and the quality of the technological operations performed. Therefore, the selection of parts should be approached carefully. When all the electronic components of the machine are installed and connected, all that remains is to download the drivers and software.

How much will it cost to buy a CNC milling machine: tool prices

If almost any craftsman can handle the manufacture of a manual milling cutter and a stationary table, then assembling a CNC machine will seem like an impossible task for many. Moreover homemade designs do not have the capabilities that a factory-produced tool can offer.

Helpful advice! If you plan to use a router to perform complex work for wood, it is better to give preference to factory-made designs that are precisely calibrated and have many functions.

Prices for them vary depending on functionality, table size, power, manufacturer and other parameters.

Average prices for factory-produced CNC milling machines:

Assembling a machine with software is a rather complex process that requires certain skills and knowledge. This work cannot be done without a suitable drawing and necessary details. Items such as signal cables, stepper motors, and microprocessor boards can be removed from older equipment or purchased online. Many online stores offer ready-made kits for assembling milling machines for home workshops.

Making a wood milling machine with your own hands: video instructions

The question of how to make a CNC machine can be answered briefly. Knowing that a homemade CNC milling machine, in general, is a complex device with a complex structure, it is advisable for the designer to:

• acquire drawings;
• purchase reliable components and fasteners;
• prepare a good tool;
• Have a CNC lathe and drilling machine on hand to produce quickly.

It wouldn’t hurt to watch the video – a kind of instructional guide on where to start. I’ll start with preparation, buy everything I need, figure out the drawing - here correct solution novice designer. That's why preparatory stage, preceding assembly, is very important.

Preparatory stage work

To do homemade CNC for milling, there are two options:

1. You take a ready-made running set of parts (specially selected components), from which we assemble the equipment yourself.
2. Find (make) all the components and start assembling a CNC machine with your own hands that would meet all the requirements.

It is important to decide on the purpose, size and design (how to do without a drawing of a homemade CNC machine), find diagrams for its manufacture, purchase or manufacture some parts that are needed for this, and acquire lead screws.

If you decide to create a CNC machine with your own hands and do without ready-made sets of components and mechanisms, fasteners, you need a diagram assembled according to which the machine will work.

Usually, having found schematic diagram devices, they first model all the machine parts, prepare technical drawings, and then use them to produce components from plywood or aluminum on lathes and milling machines (sometimes it is necessary to use a drilling machine). Most often, working surfaces (also called a work table) are plywood with a thickness of 18 mm.

Assembly of some important machine components

In the machine that you started assembling with your own hands, you need to provide a number of critical components that ensure the vertical movement of the working tool. In this list:

• helical gear – rotation is transmitted using a toothed belt. It is good because the pulleys do not slip, evenly transferring forces to the shaft of the milling equipment;
• if you use a stepper motor (SM) for a mini-machine, it is advisable to take a carriage from a larger printer model - more powerful; old dot matrix printers had fairly powerful electric motors;

• for a three-coordinate device, you will need three SDs. It’s good if there are 5 control wires in each, the functionality of the mini-machine will increase. It is worth assessing the magnitude of the parameters: supply voltage, winding resistance and motor rotation angle in one step. To connect each stepper motor you need a separate controller;
• using screws, rotational movement from SD is converted to linear. To achieve high accuracy, many consider it necessary to have ball screws (ball screws), but this component is not cheap. When selecting a set of nuts and mounting screws for mounting blocks, choose them with plastic inserts, this reduces friction and eliminates backlash;

• instead of a stepper motor, you can take a regular electric motor, after a little modification;
• a vertical axis that allows the tool to move in 3D, covering the entire coordinate table. It is made from aluminum plate. It is important that the dimensions of the axis are adjusted to the dimensions of the device. If you have a muffle furnace, the axle can be cast according to the dimensions of the drawings.

Below is a drawing made in three projections: side view, rear view, and top view.

Maximum attention to the bed

The necessary rigidity of the machine is provided by the bed. A movable portal, a rail guide system, a motor, a working surface, a Z axis and a spindle are installed on it.

For example, one of the creators of a homemade CNC machine made the supporting frame from aluminum profile Maytec - two parts (section 40x80 mm) and two end plates 10 mm thick from the same material, connecting the elements with aluminum corners. The structure is reinforced; inside the frame there is a frame made of smaller profiles in the shape of a square.

The frame is mounted without the use of welded connections ( welds poorly able to withstand vibration loads). It is better to use T-nuts as fastenings. The end plates provide for the installation of a bearing block for mounting the lead screw. You will need a plain bearing and a spindle bearing.

The craftsman determined that the main task of the self-made CNC machine was the production of aluminum parts. Since workpieces with a maximum thickness of 60 mm were suitable for him, he made the portal clearance 125 mm (this is the distance from the top cross beam to work surface).

This difficult installation process

It is better to assemble homemade CNC machines, after preparing the components, strictly according to the drawing so that they work. The assembly process using lead screws should be performed in the following sequence:

• a knowledgeable craftsman begins by attaching the first two motors to the body - behind the vertical axis of the equipment. One is responsible for the horizontal movement of the milling head (rail guides), and the second is responsible for movement in the vertical plane;
• a movable portal moving along the X axis carries the milling spindle and support (z axis). The higher the portal is, the larger the workpiece can be processed. But at a high portal, during processing, the resistance to emerging loads decreases;

• For fastening the Z-axis motor and linear guides, front, rear, upper, middle and lower plates are used. Make a cradle for the milling spindle there;
• The drive is assembled from carefully selected nuts and studs. To fix the motor shaft and attach it to the stud, use a rubber winding of a thick electric cable. The fixation may be screws inserted into a nylon sleeve.

Then the assembly of the remaining components and assemblies of the homemade product begins.

We install the electronic filling of the machine

To make a CNC machine with your own hands and control it, you need to operate with a correctly selected numerical program controlled, high-quality printed circuit boards and electronic components (especially if they are Chinese), which will allow you to implement all the functionality on a CNC machine, processing a part with a complex configuration.

In order to avoid management problems, homemade CNC machines have the following components among the components:

• stepper motors, some stopped for example Nema;
• LPT port, through which the CNC control unit can be connected to the machine;
• drivers for controllers, they are installed on a mini-milling machine, connecting in accordance with the diagram;

• switching boards (controllers);
• 36V power supply unit with a step-down transformer that converts to 5V to power the control circuit;
• laptop or PC;
• button responsible for emergency stop.

Only after this are CNC machines tested (and the craftsman will do it trial run, having loaded all programs), existing deficiencies are identified and eliminated.

Instead of a conclusion

As you can see, it is possible to make a CNC that is not inferior to Chinese models. Having made a set of spare parts with the right size, having high-quality bearings and enough fasteners for assembly, this task is within the power of those who are interested in software technology. You won’t have to look for an example for long.

The photo below shows some examples of numerically controlled machines, which were made by the same craftsmen, not professionals. Not a single part was made hastily, with an arbitrary size, but fitted to the block with great precision, with careful alignment of the axes, and the use of high-quality lead screws and with reliable bearings. The statement is true: as you assemble, so will you work.

A duralumin blank is processed using CNC. With such a machine, which was assembled by a craftsman, you can perform a lot of milling work.

It is difficult to manufacture; in addition to the technical components, it has an electronic device that only a specialist can install. Contrary to this opinion, the opportunity to assemble a CNC machine with your own hands is great if you prepare the necessary drawings, diagrams and component materials in advance.

Carrying out preparatory work

When designing a CNC with your own hands at home, you need to decide according to what scheme it will work.

Often a used one is used as the basis for a future device.

The drilling machine can be used as a basis for a CNC machine

It will require replacing the working head with a milling head.

The greatest difficulty when designing a CNC machine with your own hands is the creation of a device with which the working tool moves in three planes.

Carriages taken from a conventional printer will help partially solve the problem. The tool will be able to move in both planes. It is better to choose carriages for a CNC machine from a printer that has large dimensions.

Such a scheme allows you to later connect control to the machine. The downside is that the CNC router only works with wood, plastic products, thin metal products. This is due to the fact that the printer carriages do not have the required rigidity.

Attention must be paid to the engine of the future unit. Its role is reduced to moving the working tool. The quality of work and the ability to perform milling operations depend on this.

A good option for a homemade CNC router is a stepper motor.

An alternative to such an engine is an electric motor, previously improved and adjusted to the standards of the device.

Anyone using a stepper motor allows not to use a screw drive; this does not in any way affect the capabilities of such a CNC machine for wood. It is recommended to use toothed belts for milling on such a unit. Unlike standard belts, they do not slip on the pulleys.

It is necessary to correctly design the milling cutter of the future machine; for this you will need detailed drawings.

Materials and tools required for assembly

The general set of materials for a CNC machine includes:

• cable 14–19 m long;
• , wood processing;
• chuck for cutter;
• frequency converter having the same power as the spindle;
• bearings;
• control board;
• water pump;
• cooling hose;
• three stepper motors for three axes of structure movement;
• bolts;
• protective cable;
• screws;
• plywood, chipboard, wood board or metal structure to choose from as the body of a future device;
• soft type coupling.

When making your own, it is recommended to use a spindle with coolant. This will allow you not to turn it off every 10 minutes to cool down. For work homemade will do CNC machine, its power is not less than 1.2 kW. The best option will become a 2 kW device.

The set of tools required for the manufacture of the unit includes:

• hammers;
• electrical tape;
• assembly keys;
• glue;
• screwdriver;
• soldering iron, sealant;
• grinder, it is often replaced with a hacksaw;
• pliers, welding unit, scissors, pliers.

Simple DIY CNC machine

Procedure for assembling the machine

A homemade CNC milling machine is assembled according to the following diagram:

• production of drawings and device diagrams indicating the electrical equipment system;
• purchase of materials containing a future homemade CNC machine;
• installation of the frame, on which the engines, working surface, portal, spindle will be mounted;
• portal installation;
• setting the Z axis;
• fixing the working surface;
• spindle installation;
• installation of a water cooling system;
• installation of electrical system;
• connecting the board, with its help the device is controlled;
• software configuration;
• starting start of the unit.

The base for the frame is a material made of aluminum.

The frame needs to be made from aluminum

Profiles made from this metal are selected with a cross-section of 41*81 mm with a plate thickness of 11 mm. The frame body itself is connected using aluminum corners.

The installation of the portal will determine how thick the product can be processed by the CNC machine. Especially if it is made by yourself. The higher the portal, the thicker the product it can process. It is important not to install it too high, as this design will be less durable and reliable. The portal moves along the X axis and carries the spindle.

An aluminum profile is used as the material for the working surface of the unit. Often they take a profile that has T-slots. For home use it is accepted; its thickness is at least 17 mm.

After the frame of the device is ready, begin installing the spindle. It is important to install it vertically, since it will need to be adjusted in the future; this is done to fix the required angle.

To install the electrical system, the following components must be present:

• power unit;
• computer;
• stepper motor;
• pay;
• stop button;
• motor drivers.

The system requires an LPT port to operate. In addition, it is installed work manager device and allows you to answer the question of how to perform this or that operation. The control is connected via motors to the milling machine itself.

After the electronics are installed on the machine, you will need to download drivers and programs necessary for operation.

Common assembly errors

A common mistake when assembling a numerically controlled machine is the lack of a drawing, but assembly is carried out according to it. As a result, omissions arise in the design and installation of apparatus structures.

Often, incorrect operation of the machine is associated with an incorrectly selected frequency converter and spindle.

For correct operation of the machine, it is necessary to select the correct spindle

In many cases, stepper motors do not receive proper power, so a special separate power supply must be selected for them.

It is necessary to take into account that a correctly installed electrical circuit and software allows you to perform numerous operations of varying levels of complexity on the device. A mid-level craftsman can make a CNC machine with his own hands; the design of the unit has a number of features, but with the help of drawings it is not difficult to assemble the parts.

It’s easy to work with a CNC built by yourself; you need to study the information base, carry out a series of training works and analyze the condition of the unit and parts. Do not rush, jerk moving parts or open the CNC.

Knowing that a CNC milling machine is considered complicated technical and electronic equipment, many craftsmen think that it simply cannot be done with their own hands.

However, this opinion does not correspond to reality: you can make such a device with your own hands, but for this you need to have not only its complete drawing, but also a set of certain tools and suitable components.

DIY CNC machine (drawings)

Having decided to create a homemade special machine with CNC, remember that this can take a long time. In addition, you will need a lot of money.

To make a milling machine that is equipped with a CNC system, you can use 2 methods: purchase a ready-made set of specially selected parts from which such equipment is assembled, or find all the components and independently assemble a device that fully meets all your requirements.

Preparing for work

If you planned to make a CNC machine yourself, without using a ready-made kit, then the first thing you will need to do is stop at special scheme, according to which such a mini-device will work.

Equipment assembly

The base of the assembled milling equipment can be a rectangular beam, which must be firmly fixed on the guides.

The supporting structure of the equipment must have great rigidity. When installing it, it is better not to use welded joints, but to connect all parts only with screws.

In milling equipment that you will assemble yourself, there must be a mechanism that will ensure the movement of the working device in the vertical direction. It is best to take a screw gear for it, the rotation of which will be transmitted using a toothed belt.

Main part of the machine

An important part of such a machine is its vertical axis, which homemade device can be made from aluminum plate. Remember to the dimensions of such an axis were precisely matched to the dimensions of the device being created.

Machine tools equipped with numerical control (CNC) software are presented in the form modern equipment for cutting, turning, drilling or grinding metal, plywood, wood, foam and other materials.

Built-in electronics based printed circuit boards Arduino provides maximum automation of work.

1 What is a CNC machine?

CNC machines based on Arduino printed circuit boards are capable of automatically continuously changing the spindle speed, as well as the feed speed of supports, tables and other mechanisms. Auxiliary elements CNC machine automatically takes the desired position, and can be used to cut plywood or aluminum profiles.

In devices based on Arduino printed circuit boards cutting tool(preset) also changes automatically.

In CNC devices based on Arduino printed circuit boards, all commands are sent through the controller.

The controller receives signals from the software. For such plywood cutting equipment, metal profiles or foam, the program carriers are cams, stops or copiers.

The signal received from the program carrier through the controller sends a command to the machine, semi-automatic or copying machine. If it is necessary to change a sheet of plywood or foam plastic for cutting, then the cams or copiers are replaced with other elements.

Units with program control based on Arduino boards use punched tapes, punched cards or magnetic tapes as a program carrier, which contain all necessary information. With the use of Arduino boards, the entire process of cutting plywood, foam plastic or other material is fully automated, minimizing labor costs.

It is worth noting that building a CNC machine for cutting plywood or foam plastic based on Arduino boards you can do it yourself without much difficulty. Control in CNC units based on Arduino is carried out by a controller that transmits both technological and dimensional information.

Using CNC plasma cutters based on Arduino boards, you can free up a large number of universal equipment and along with this increase labor productivity. The main advantages of Arduino-based machines assembled by yourself are expressed in:

• high (compared to manual machines) productivity;
• flexibility of universal equipment combined with precision;
• reducing the need to attract qualified specialists to work;
• the possibility of manufacturing interchangeable parts according to one program;
• reduced preparation times for the manufacture of new parts;
• the opportunity to make a machine with your own hands.

1.1 Process of operation of a CNC milling machine (video)

1.2 Types of CNC machines

The presented units for cutting plywood or foam plastic, using Arduino boards for operation, are divided into classes according to:

• technological capabilities;
• the principle of tool change;
• method of changing the workpiece.

Any class of such equipment can be made with your own hands, and the Arduino electronics will provide maximum automation of the work process. Along with classes, machines can be:

• turning;
• drilling and boring;
• milling;
• grinding;
• electrophysical machines;
• multi-purpose.

Arduino-based turning units can process the external and internal surfaces of all kinds of parts.

Rotation of workpieces can be carried out in both straight and curved contours. The device is also designed for cutting external and internal thread. Arduino-based milling units are designed for milling simple and complex body-type parts.

In addition, they can perform drilling and boring. Grinding machines, which can also be made with your own hands, can be used for finishing details.

Depending on the type of surfaces being processed, units can be:

• surface grinding;
• internal grinding;
• spline grinding.

Multi-purpose units can be used for cutting plywood or foam plastic, perform drilling, milling, boring and turning parts. Before you make a CNC machine with your own hands, it is important to consider that the equipment is divided according to the method of changing tools. Replacement can be made:

• manually;
• automatically in the turret;
• automatically in the store.

If the electronics (controller) can provide automatic change of workpieces using special drives, then the device can long time work without operator participation.

In order to make the presented unit for cutting plywood or foam plastic with your own hands, you need to prepare the initial equipment. A used one may be suitable for this.

In it, the working element is replaced with a milling cutter. In addition, you can make a mechanism with your own hands from the carriages of an old printer.

This will allow the working cutter to move in the direction of two planes. Next, electronics are connected to the structure, key element which is the controller and the Arduino board.

The assembly diagram allows you to do it yourself homemade unit CNC automatic. Such equipment may be designed for cutting plastic, foam, plywood or thin metal. In order for the device to perform more complex species work, you need not only a controller, but also a stepper motor.

It must have high power indicators - at least 40-50 watts. It is recommended to use a conventional electric motor, since its use will eliminate the need to create a screw drive, and the controller will ensure timely delivery of commands.

The required force on the transmission shaft in a homemade device must be transmitted via timing belts. If to move the working cutter homemade machine CNC will use carriages from printers, then for this purpose it is necessary to select parts from large printers.

The basis of the future unit can be a rectangular beam, which must be firmly fixed to the guides. The frame must have a high degree of rigidity, but welding is not recommended. It is better to use a bolted connection.

Welding seams will be subject to deformation due to constant loads during machine operation. In this case, the fastening elements are destroyed, which will lead to settings failure, and the controller will not work correctly.

2.1 About stepper motors, supports and guides

A self-assembled CNC unit must be equipped with stepper motors. As mentioned above, it is best to use motors from old dot matrix printers to assemble the unit.

For efficient operation of the device you will need three separate engines stepper type. It is recommended to use motors with five separate control wires. This will increase functionality homemade apparatus several times.

When selecting motors for a future machine, you need to know the number of degrees per step, the operating voltage and the winding resistance. Subsequently, this will help to configure the entire software correctly.

The ball motor shaft is fastened using a rubber cable covered with a thick winding. In addition, using such a cable you can connect the motor to the running pin. The frame can be made of plastic with a thickness of 10-12 mm.

Along with plastic, it is possible to use aluminum or organic glass.

The leading parts of the frame are attached using self-tapping screws, and when using wood, the elements can be attached with PVA glue. The guides are steel rods with a cross-section of 12 mm and a length of 20 mm. There are 2 rods for each axis.

The support is made of textolite, its dimensions should be 30x100x40 cm. The guide parts of the textolite are fastened with M6 screws, and the supports “X” and “Y” at the top must have 4 threaded holes to secure the frame. Stepper motors are installed using fasteners.

Fastenings can be made using steel leaf type. The sheet thickness should be 2-3 mm. Next, the screw is connected to the axle stepper motor via a flexible shaft. For this purpose, you can use a regular rubber hose.

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