Home Built CNC Machine

[mayday0017]

I have wanted a small CNC for some time now but never took the time to get serious into researching what all is involved in building one. My question is who on here has done the research and built a CNC? I know there are some great forums out there that cover everything but before I go to deep into research I would like to talk with someone who has been down this road before.

If anyone knows of a thread that covers this in great detail please post it up as well. I'm not trying to avoid reading, just not really sure where to begin...

 

[Hafen_Kafer]

you can begin by specifying what kind of toll machine do you want to make. Lathe, mill?

 

[zkling]

O boy, you're in for the long haul.

I have built a few routers and converted a toasted CNC mill to a new controller (PC based running Mac3 and then Linux CNC) with 4 axis capability.

As Hafen said, what type of machine do you want to convert mill, lathe, router/plasma table?

Go over to CNCzone.com to read up about home built or converted machines. Generally the fewer the axises the easier it will be. There are many a ways to do it from $ to $$$$. Stepper or servo drive? Accuracy, precision and thus resolution needed? Don't forget to account for backlash if you are trying to convert a basic acme screw machine. Ball screws, while $$$ are really the way to go.

 

[mayday0017]

zkling, you sound like just the person I need to talk to if you don't mind...

I guess I could of narrowed it down but really I'm interested in all of the above. I'm not sure how affordable it is, so to start I need training wheels info. Later I will more detailed questions just looking for general info is all.

 

[rsanter]

you need to ask what you will be machining and what size
if you want a good little starter system for small stuff you can but a MAX-NC mill for reasonable. anything bigger than that will likly cost less to make or convert yourself unless you get a deal on something used

bob

 

[justanengineer]

I would ask what your machining background is? If youre not comfortable running a manual mill, personally Id suggest starting there. If youre comfortable, my suggestion would be to find a professional cnc machine that uses standard servos so that you simply retrofit or replace the drive, or to simply buy a functioning machine. Hobbyist machines are nice, but for the investment you might as well get something nice. I know several folks who have <$5k in a pro-quality machine, and quite a few who have nearly that or more in a tiny hobbyist toy.

If youre dead set on DIY, its possible if youve worked in/around a machine shop and are familiar with cncs......David De Caussin is former president/one of the founders of FADAL. Hes one of the best minds in the cnc world IMHO and his youtube is definitely interesting. Im especially a fan of his VMC-10, which is completely scratch-built aside from the aftermarket control. Not sure how much each control costs him, but Id bet its several thousand by itself.

 

[tehfade]

What are you looking to build? A wood cutting router table? A mill or lathe of some kind? A plasma table?

You've got a long road here. CNCZone is a decent resource if you put in the time to read all the old threads, but don't expect much help. I was on there a year or so ago and it was completely dead. There's a site called CNCCookbook that has a whole bunch of good articles, but they are more geared towards heavy machinery.

Anyway, I looked into building a CNC router table a while ago, and if that's what you're looking to do, I'd advise you to buy a kit based around aluminum extrusions. I've had my eye on the kits from cncrouterparts.com for a while. There are plans out there that you can follow, but they're more involved than you think, and you don't save all that much when you consider all the hardware and materials you need.

 

[A_Pmech]

Why must it be "CNC"?

So many people not in the trade think that a "CNC" is the key to automagically making anything the heart desires.

It doesn't work quite like that...

 

[zkling]

Why must it be "CNC"?

Well, duh John, you just think up a part, hit a few buttons and then go. The part just magically pops out and produces itself, right? No worries about speeds, feeds, or proper cutting tool, it is CNC after all.

 

[NitroShark]

true, when I show people to billet cylinder heads I made on a manual Bridgeport mill they just don't get it sometimes...

Shawn

 

[Regnar]

Well if you are looking to do a CNC router I would highly suggest the MechMate Plans. I was able to produce a production machine that has paid itself many times over the last 2 years. Your first big run will almost pay it off.

 

[laser3kw]

Well, duh John, you just think up a part, hit a few buttons and then go. The part just magically pops out and produces itself, right?

Star Trek replicator .....thinking ....yes

 

[justanengineer]

Star Trek replicator .....thinking ....yes

Haha...just dont mention RP machines bc theyre similarly "magical."

 

[cnc-me]

CNC the silver bullet for everything. (If it was only that easy)
Somehow getting that perfect program always takes longer than expected.
Have rebuilt two CNC routers with PC controls one of them for another local shop. Also have revamped a small CNC Lathe and a Bridgeport mill.
I would get up to speed on the CAD & CAM part of the equation while you are researching the parts you need for machine.
Here is some shots of a small AXYZ CNC Router that I converted to PC control.
Most of what you see here is new and did not exsist on the original machine.
Some of the wiring in this shot is temporary for testing only.


NEMA 12 cabinet from E-Bay had to hunt a while to get the required shape and size


The guys over on the CAD CAM DRO board on Yahoo groups help me out a lot.
This was around 1999, don't think that board is as popular now as there are a lot of other sites out there now.

 

[4EyedTurd]

Bump!!

I had a similar question about CNC routers. I'm looking at cutting 1/2" aluminum plate, would a CNC router be up to the task?