How Can I build my own 3 Axis CNC Mill

[MechWerks]

This is an area where a lot of projects fail. No plan. Sometimes the "how can I make this" doesn't get completely fleshed out.
CNC is not really a good 'one off' process and gains benefit in producing a number of parts (not a hobby perspective...so some will disagree).
So it mostly comes down to how many parts and what are they worth? If the parts will pay for the machine, then problem solved....get a loan and make parts. If that route is too expensive, then maybe another route...outsourcing. Make the idea and drawings and let a job shop make the parts..work on the money end of things. Don't discount a local tech school...some like a real time parts project which may be a matter of supplying materials.
Getting job done for cheap (building the machinery) rarely solves a need. Unless the need is to learn how to build machines, learn electricity, learn electronics, learn machine controls, learn CAD/CAM, learn machining, etc....doesn't leave a lot of time to for the end product.
It is all great if the quest is to learn everything about the path to building and running CNC machines but not a good path to a part that part of the real interest.

[guru_florida]

I'm into building my own CNC right now. I feel for you because I am like you and not part of the experts yet. I have the base completed minus the drive screws, (that is, I have a base I can move around in XY but I have yet to buy one ballscrew, and another ballscrew is mounted to the carriage but not secured to the base yet.) I think I am just over the hill of the point of no return (i.e. giving up.)

I would certainly listen to the guys on here, my experience is following what they say. To me, learning all about CNC was like pealing away an onion. I learnt more, only to find out there was more I didnt know or didnt think about. However, I knew enough going into this that I would spend *at least* 1500$ and would still only be the beginning of my CNC journey. But having a CNC mill machine has been a dream for about 15 years so its time I made it come true.

By reading a lot about other CNC machines and different designs I figured out what each design was capable of milling. If you are making motor parts with tight tolerances, you bet, you will pay dearly for the machine to do it...a lot more than just paying a shop 60$/hour or less. (In fact, I know a guy that will do it for 25$/hour in Michigan if you want his contact info. He has the machinery to do what you want.) Being your first time, you will probably not reach your tolerances since you are learning like me.

Finally, definately use CAD to design your machine! I have mine fully modeled and it has been a big timesaver as everything is lining up so well in the real model.

Good luck! Colin

[MrWild]

Guru don't give up. I've been peeling the onion for 2.5 years. In a way it is like pounding your head against a wall, and in a way it's rewarding. I too was going to do it all on the cheap. Was gonna show em it was possible... Got an XY table off of eBay and found it looked nice in the pictures but...

Got some size 34 steppers for free and WOW, 300 oz/in. Then I found out they were 5 amp steppers and almost all cheap drivers only go to 3amp.

The leadscrewson on the XY table were Junk, There were no leadscrew capture bearings, the slop in the leadnuts was laughable, and the ways were coarsly machined. I luckily had a decent manual BP1. After alot of finagling things started to come together, but I found a sweet deal for a CNC BP. God, did that a$$hole seeme coming. I'm deaf and in a wheelchair, so he showed the machine in such a way as to hide all of its flaws. Once i got it home and hooked up, I was out of money, out of my manual mill as i sold it to raise the CNC money, and had a white elephant. The jerk had skipped town and left all his creditors looking for him. I wasn't the only one screwed.

Things are progressing again, Got rid of the white elephant, got something better, got the parts almost all made for the XY table and will sell it once it is finished and set up with motors. Would I do things differently? Oh yeah. I'd not think cheap and save/ steal/ borrow/ beg to raise the bucks to at least start with a decent used mill. I wouldn't buy again as a novice without finding someone that could keep me out of trouble on a first purchase I now think it'd be worth the cost of paying someone just for their experience when I went to look. People take prospective car buys to mechanics don't they?

Hind sight is always 20/20. Can you do it for cheap? Oh sure, yeah. Can you do it as a novice for cheap? Very, very hard even with machine knowledge. Can you do it as a total newbee for cheap and cut soft metals accurately? You won't do it with hand tools. Wood router? Sure,the JGRO comes to mind. Metal? flat out no.

[totallyrocks]

Originally Posted by nbritton Could this be done using a Sieg X1? The X1 fits his budget: Sieg X1 (HF 47158): $319.99 CNCFusion Micro-Mill kit #1: $269 Xylotex 3-Axis Stepper Kit: $345 LMS 1/8, 1/4, 3/8 2MT Collets: $26.85 American Carbide 2 Flute 1/8, 1/4, 3/8 EM: $30.19 Total: $991.03

Hi, I'm a newbie aswell and also looking to convert a SIEG X1. I'm interested to know how far you've got and what parts your using. The problem I face is the fact that I don't know anything about electronics, I'm ok with the mechanics and CAD involved, but home/limit sensors and drivers baffle me.

If you, or indeed anyone has any advice for a novice I'd be very grateful.

P.S. The American Suppliers don't help much as I live in England.

Thanks