how to make a simple CNC router?

[Ridwan]

Good Day,

I'm a mechanic who's interested in CNC machines.
I own a small workshop with lathe ,shaping , milling machine ; etc.
All of them are conventional machine.
I would like to learn how to make a small CNC machine for hobies.
For example CNC router or CNC plasma cutting.
I don't have any problems with the machine mechanism but i don't know anything about the electronic components which used to make the CNC machine.

I need help... what is the electronic components I must buy to make a simple 3 axis CNC machine?

I've already seen Xylotex & microkinetics website and they sell 3 axis system kit.
The question is , If ; I buy those kit system , and then I make the construction machine and in connect it to the PC.
Can that machine be operated?
Or , does it still need another components?

[FireMink]

1 - Step Motors, unipolar or bepolar type (3x)
2 - Step Drivers (power electronic plates, can be integrated to controller, 3x)
3 - Step Controller (with LPT or USB or COM interface to PC)
4 - DC Power Source plates (from 1 for all, to 3-x for motors and 1 for Step Controller, you mast calculate maximum power for all devices. Can be from 12 to 80 Volts. Can be integrated to controller. ).
5 - PC + CNC software (Mach3, etc.)
6 - Good book for CNC programming (G-code description)

Possibly (for advanced surfaces):
7 - CAD Software (SolidWorks, Catia, etc...)
8 - CAM Software (MasterCAM, SolidCAM, etc...)

[draughted]

For a good platform to a solid system I'd have to recommend :
gecko drivers
smooth stepper controller
go to keling.com for stepper motors and powerful powersupplies
try the linux based EMC ,before paying for anything, its a good honest software for control
and plan well in advance for a well designed thing

firemink might have forgot the spindle.
a hot topic recently has been the chinese spindles found on ebay

[IQChallenged]

Good Day,
I don't have any problems with the machine mechanism but i don't know anything about the electronic components which used to make the CNC machine.

Prowl around on my site. For one thing you will see a detail wiring diagram. I will answer any questions.

http://projectcnc.wordpress.com/

[MrWild]

Well, I think you are half way there already. If you have a mill, and I'm assuming a used Knee mill, you already have a ridged quill and powerful enough motor to run it. I've been turning over in my mind a quick and simple 2.5D CNC mill. Forget buying ball screws and big motors to convert your mill. Forget buying a X2 or X3. Buy a mill/drill table and install some quality Acme lead screws in it. With an X/Y table CNC'd you can move the quill or knee of your mill for your Z and do 95% of what everyone else is doing with their full court press of X, Y, and Z. Early NC mills often had just two axis CNC’d with a manual Z.

The lathe and mill you have on hand can do a bang up job of CNCing the mill/drill table and except for the lead screws they come with, they are sturdy enough for many operations. You could be into a CNC mill for under $400 if you don’t mind doing your Z axis manually.

$120 mill/drill table
$80 for two stepper motors
$55 for lead screws and nuts
$80 for the drivers
$65 for bearings, couplers etc.
Use EMC2 for a free controller program, and a junk computer to run it on.
For a power supply you can either rewind an old microwave transformer, or gang two computer power supplies. There are stickies in the General Electronics forum on these two low buck options.

I’m sure you have the odds and ends scrap for making motor mounts and lead nut mounts. You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to get your foot in the door. While $400 might seem like a lot to someone testing the waters, it is about the best bang for the buck you can have if you already have a manual knee mill on hand.

[elenpetrova]

here is a video how to make cnc router "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJbhcJqmwtQ"]YouTube- How to build a CNC router
Im not sure but maybe it will be useful for people on forum