My simple,low cost,home made CNC router

[94vette]

Hi all,

Like most of the newbies I've been lurking and reading for some time now. And about 2 weeks ago I deciced to due something. So I went to Home Depot and Ace hardware and bought some of the parts to take measurements from, and set off to design a fairly low cost machine. This is based off of many ideas and machines from CNC Zone. (thank you all)

So attached are pictures of the 3D model for you all to review. (I know, another person making a CAD model that will never acutally builad anything) But I've now bought most of the material and have already starting cutting some of the pieces. I'm making a detailed drawing for each piece as I get ready to physically make it. So when I'm done, I should have a nice machine and a complete set of plans.

Some general info:
- motors and controller board from stepper world
- made from MDF
- 15"x11"x3" travel
- machine foot print 27"x17"

Thanks to all at CNC Zone for inspiring me.

-john

[High Seas]

94vette
john - welcome aboard and good luck on your PLUNGE! Everyone will be looking forward to your progress (pictures please! and drawings too!) as you go. There's lots of real good info on the site here - so be sure and research (sounds like you have) and ask as you have questions/ideas you want to bounce off someone.
Jim

[Rance]

Nice drawings (& ideas) John. One question that comes to mind. Do you have a way to adjust your Z rails? You have X and Y covered but I don't see one for the Z.

[94vette]

Rance, the Z will be guided by 3/8" drill rod with bronze bushings. I figured the travel was so short, that if I put the hole work in in at the same time, (1 piece on top of the other) that I wouldn't need to make them adjustable.

But I've already been thinking of plans for the second machine. And that one will have about 7" of Z travel. So it will need to be adjustable.

-john

[Rance]

You're probably right. Happy building, and be sure to post pics.

[tazboi]

Any progress on your CNC machine? I'm looking to make my first and I would like to make something small and simple. So I'm following you and your progress. Let us know what is up.

[94vette]

I haven't made much progress in the last few days. I couldn't spend much time this past weekend due to fathers day and other family stuff. I will send some pictures of some pieces later this week.

Here are a few pictures of some of the simple drawings. It's amazing how many pieces and parts there are to one of these machines.

-john

[tazboi]

I think I need to be able to read prints. Also, it looks like the material for the pipes is called Derlin. Can I get that at a local store? That's that hard, white, plastic-like material, correct?

[94vette]

Derlin is for the pipe adjuster block. In the title block of the drawing, it gives the Material Source; www.mcmaster.com and the part #. So go to the McMaster web site and do a part number search with that number. Hope that helps.

There is a lot of good info in the title block. (i hope anyway)

I plan on giving the material source for all of the drawings that I make. Even for the screw and nuts.

-john

[tazboi]

94vette:
Did you only need to buy one 2" by 12" block of Delrin? Can you cut that with any hole saw? Where did you get your pipe from? Thanks for the info. It's appreciated.

[94vette]

I bought 2 bars of Derlin because there are 3 other pieces made out of it and I wanted to have some extra material in case I messed up on one. But I messed up 2. So I still had enough.

I'm not sure if you can cut Derlin with "any" hole saw. I have access to a manual bridgeport with a rotary table. So that is what I used.

I got the pipe from Home Depot. It's a wonderful place.

[94vette]

OK, how do you guys stay motivated when the weather is so nice? When I get home from work, all I want to do is get done with the basic chores, eat and swim to keep cool.

I have done a little work on building and I'm about 1/4 of the way complete with the detail drawings. But it's tough to get going. Maybe if I got off of the computer right now and started working... naaa, it's time to go to sleep

I'll post some pictures or a few more of the drawings tomorrow. (if I remember)