This thread inspired me to show my machine I build a few years back.
It was built on a very tight (student) budget. That is why I re-used as much components as possible.
The guides and bronze bushings are from printers. Same with the stepper motors.
The mechanism for the machine was completely built in my dad's garage (he has a mill).
Instead of ball screws I used a normal M10 threaded rod, which isn't ideal, but it worked.
The stepper motors used are bipolar and to control them I built the circuit around L297 and L298N integrated circuits.
First thing to do was a 3D model to make sure that everything works.
The guides from old printers and threaded rods with machined ends for bearings and couplings.
Basic structure put together
Simple power supply with 3 outputs -> 30V for stepper motors, 18V for router and 5V for all the logic.
The first homemade controller, which unfortunately after some minutes blew up...
The second (and final) controller in the making... Homemade circuit boards (one for each axis of course)
I used a dedicated computer for this machine and integrated the stepper motor controllers inside a computer case.
The machine has dual control - one was through the computer with Mach3 software and the other was with a keyboard which was controlled with Motorola 68HC11 microprocessor (green board).
The circuit board on the right (the one with all the ribbon cables) is sort of a motherboard and it serves to connect computer and Motorola microprocessor to the stepper controllers and it also provides optical isolation of PC signals from stepper controller signals.
Mach 3 interface
In action...
I used a Dremel type router, Proxxon brand (18V 50W 5000-20000 revs)
Even though I used a normal threaded rod for movement it gives me enough precision to work with softer materials (plastic, acrylic, wood, etc).
Matt
It was built on a very tight (student) budget. That is why I re-used as much components as possible.
The guides and bronze bushings are from printers. Same with the stepper motors.
The mechanism for the machine was completely built in my dad's garage (he has a mill).
Instead of ball screws I used a normal M10 threaded rod, which isn't ideal, but it worked.
The stepper motors used are bipolar and to control them I built the circuit around L297 and L298N integrated circuits.
First thing to do was a 3D model to make sure that everything works.
The guides from old printers and threaded rods with machined ends for bearings and couplings.
Basic structure put together
Simple power supply with 3 outputs -> 30V for stepper motors, 18V for router and 5V for all the logic.
The first homemade controller, which unfortunately after some minutes blew up...
The second (and final) controller in the making... Homemade circuit boards (one for each axis of course)
I used a dedicated computer for this machine and integrated the stepper motor controllers inside a computer case.
The machine has dual control - one was through the computer with Mach3 software and the other was with a keyboard which was controlled with Motorola 68HC11 microprocessor (green board).
The circuit board on the right (the one with all the ribbon cables) is sort of a motherboard and it serves to connect computer and Motorola microprocessor to the stepper controllers and it also provides optical isolation of PC signals from stepper controller signals.
Mach 3 interface
In action...
I used a Dremel type router, Proxxon brand (18V 50W 5000-20000 revs)
Even though I used a normal threaded rod for movement it gives me enough precision to work with softer materials (plastic, acrylic, wood, etc).
Matt
build looks fun. have a 2x4' cnc router myself