Newb- Can you point me in the right direction

[UserJ]

Hi all, I just joined. I have to admit Im very green to the whole CNC world but Im very much interested in learning and have been learning the last couple weeks what I can wrap my head around. Then I got to the electronics part of things.

I've been looking through instructables and youtube at different systems but there's a few different ones and alot of stuff is going over my head. I understand I can use either unipolar or bipolar stepper motors, I bought a flatbed scanner off eBay to use the motors inside for my 3 axis CNC(havent received scanner yet). I understand I need a power supply and a controller for each motor. Outside those basics Im lost. I dont have a problem searching, I just find it easier to search forums when I know what Im looking for rather than reading over the right info and not even knowing it. If someone can point me in the right direction, Id really appreciate it. I keep reading about the adruino chip, uln2003 chip but dont really know what they are.

Im looking to make a 3axis 24"x18" machine. I'd like to use the simplest yet effective way to do it. I havent ruled out buying part of a kit if the price is reasonable. Any help out there to tie all this random info in my head together? Thanks.

btw, I already found my CAD, CAM, Controller software, so that part of the process is complete.

[awerby]

for a CNC router. Flatbed scanners don't have much resistance to deal with, so they can use fairly small, weak motors. A router has to push a heavy gantry, change directions frequently, and counter strong cutting forces, so they need something pretty powerful. You can gear motors down to get more torque, but then you lose speed, which isn't that good in the first place with steppers.

If you're looking for simple and effective drivers, I doubt that starting with a chip like an Arduino and rolling your own is going to fit the bill. You're much better off getting drivers designed for CNC that are known to work. Of course, if you're an electronics engineer getting into this in order to learn how to design CNC drivers, I'm sure you'll have an interesting learning experience.

If you're building your machine from scratch, then getting the mechanical assembly, with all the slides and screws built first and then shopping for motors and drivers would make sense; you'll have a better idea of the torque required to make it move. Once you've got a working machine, then you can start trying out demos of CAM systems - since they're generally time-limited, you can see what works for you before having to pay.

Andrew Werby
ComputerSculpture.com — Home Page for Discount Hardware & Software

[UserJ]

I only plan on cutting strong foam or something similiar.....

[ger21]

Try HobbyCNC | CNC for the desktop machinist and hobbyist.

[UserJ]

yea I plan on buying the that driver board. Outside the driver board, motors and power supply, is there anything else I'm missing? (I already have the software)

[awerby]

yea I plan on buying the that driver board. Outside the driver board, motors and power supply, is there anything else I'm missing? (I already have the software)

[There is the small matter of the machine itself - all those linear slides, screws, nuts, bearings, tables, gantries and spindles and stuff...]

Andrew Werby
ComputerSculpture.com — Home Page for Discount Hardware & Software

[UserJ]

The construction of the machine is already done. I just want to budget my money for the electrical equipment needed.

[H500]

If you motors are unipolar, hobbycnc is OK. If they're bipolar, a Geckodrive g540 is best if it's withing your budget. Otherwise, one of the $50 tb6560 board might be good but you will need to mod it. Note that many reported problems with it. But the fix appears quite simple.

[James Newton]

If you motors are unipolar, and you like open source, you might check out the Linistepper: PIC Linear Stepper Motor Controller