Nowadays, production is becoming more and more frequent small parts made of wood, for certain structures. Also in stores you can find a variety of beautiful volumetric paintings, made on wood. Such operations are performed using milling machines with numerical control. The accuracy of parts or pictures made of wood is achieved through control from a computer, a specialized program.

Milling machine wood processing machine with numerical control is a highly professional machine created with the latest technology.

All work consists of processing with a special wood cutter, which can be used to cut out small parts from wood material, creating beautiful drawings. The work is carried out by sending signals to stepper motors, which, in turn, move the router along three axes.

Due to this, high-precision processing occurs. As a rule, it is impossible to do such work manually with such high quality. Therefore, CNC wood milling machines are a great find for woodworkers.

Purpose

Since ancient times, milling was intended for planing work with wood. But the engine of progress moves strictly forward and in our time, numerical program control has been created for such machines. At this stage, the milling machine can perform a variety of actions that relate to wood processing:

1. Cutting various parts from solid wood.
2. Cutting off excess parts of the workpiece.
3. Possibility to make grooves and holes of various diameters.
4. Drawing complex patterns using a cutter.
5. 3D Three-dimensional images on solid wood.
6. Full furniture production and much more.

Whatever the task, it will be completed with high precision and accuracy.

Tip: When working on homemade CNC equipment, you must smoothly remove the thickness of the wood, otherwise your part will be damaged or burned by the cutter!

Variety

In the modern technological world, the following types of numerically controlled wood milling machines are distinguished:

Stationary

These machines are used in production facilities, as they are huge in size and weight. But such equipment is capable of producing products in large volumes.

Manual

These are homemade devices or devices from ready-made kits. These machines can be safely installed in your garage or your own workshop. These include the following subspecies:

Equipment using gantry, numerically controlled

The milling cutter itself is capable of moving along two Cartesian axes X and Z. This type of machine has high rigidity when processing bends. The design of a portal milling machine with numerical control is quite simple in its implementation. Many carpenters begin their knowledge of CNC machines with this subtype. However, in this case, the size of the workpiece will be limited by the size of the portal itself.

With numerical control and mobile portal

The design of this subtype is a little more complicated.

Mobile portal

It is this type that moves the router along all three Cartesian axes, X, Z and Y. In this case, it will be necessary to use a strong guide for the X axis, since all the large load will be directed to it.

With a mobile portal it is very convenient to create printed circuit boards. Along the Y axis it is possible to process long parts.

The cutter moves along the Z axis.

A machine on which the milling part is capable of moving in a vertical direction

This subtype is usually used when refining production samples or when converting drilling equipment into engraving and milling equipment.

The working field, that is, the tabletop itself, has dimensions of 15x15 centimeters, which makes it impossible to process large parts.

This type is not very convenient to use.

Gantryless with numerical control

This type of machine is very complex in its design, but it is the most productive and convenient.

Workpieces up to five meters long can be processed, even if the X axis is 20 centimeters.

This subtype is extremely unsuitable for the first experience, as it requires skills on this equipment.

Below we will look at the design of a hand-made CNC wood milling machine and analyze the principles of its operation. Let's find out how to do this brainchild and how such equipment is set up.

Design and principle of operation

The main parts of the milling device are the following parts:

bed

The actual design of the machine itself, on which all other parts are located.

Calipers

A unit that is a mount for supporting the movement of an automatic tool.

Desk

The area where all necessary work is done.

Spindle shaft or router

A tool that performs milling work.

Wood milling cutter

A tool, or rather a device for a router, of various sizes and shapes, with the help of which wood is processed.

CNC

Let's just say the brain and heart of the whole structure. The software performs precise control of all work.

The work involves software control. A specialized program is installed on the computer; it is this program that converts the circuits loaded into it into special codes, which the program distributes to the controller and then to the stepper motors. Stepper motors, in turn, move the router along the coordinate axes Z, Y, X, due to which the wood workpiece is processed.

Selection of components

The main step in the invention homemade milling machine is the choice of components. After all, if you choose bad material, something can go wrong

An example of an aluminum frame assembly.

the work itself. Usually used simple materials, such as: aluminum, wood (solid wood, MDF), plexiglass. For the correct and accurate operation of the entire structure, it is important to develop the entire design of the calipers.

Tip: Before assembly with your own hands, it is necessary to check all already prepared parts for compatibility.

Check if there are any snags that will interfere. And most importantly, to prevent various types of vibrations, as this will directly lead to poor-quality milling.

There are some purposes for selecting work items that will help in creation, namely:

Guides

Scheme of CNC guides for a router.

For them, rods with a diameter of 12 millimeters are used. For the X axis, the length of the rod is 200 millimeters, and for the Y axis, the length is 90 millimeters.

The use of guides will allow for high-precision installation of moving parts

Calipers

CNC milling machine support.

The caliper is assembled.

Textolite material can be used for these components. Quite durable material of its kind. As a rule, the dimensions of the textolite pad are 25x100x45 millimeter

Router fixation block

An example of a frame for fixing a router.

You can also use a textolite frame. The dimensions directly depend on the tool you have.

Stepper motors or servo motors

power unit

Controller

An electronic board that distributes electricity to stepper motors to move them along their axes.

Tip: When soldering the board, you must use capacitors and resistors in special SMD cases (aluminum, ceramics, and plastic are used to make cases for such parts). This will reduce the dimensions of the board, and the internal space in the design will be optimized.

Assembly

Diagram of a homemade machine with numerical control

Assembly will not take you too much time. The only thing is that the setup process will be the longest in the entire manufacturing process.

To begin with

It is necessary to develop a diagram and drawings of a future numerically controlled machine.

If you don’t want to do this, you can download the drawings from the Internet. By all sizes prepare all the necessary details.

Make all the necessary holes

Designed for bearings and guides. The main thing is to observe all the required dimensions, otherwise the operation of the machine will be disrupted. A diagram describing the location of the mechanisms is presented. She'll let you get general idea, especially if you are collecting it for the first time.

When all the elements and parts of the mechanism are ready, you can safely begin assembly. The first step is to assemble the equipment frame.

Frame

Must be geometrically correctly assembled. All angles must be even and equal. When the frame is ready, you can mount the axle guides, work table, and supports. When these elements are installed, you can install the router or spindle.

The last step remains - electronics. Installing the electronics is the main step in the assembly. A controller is connected to the stepper motors installed on the machine, which will be responsible for their operation.

Next, the controller is connected to a computer on which a special control program should already be installed. Widely applied trademark Arduino, which manufactures and supplies hardware equipment.

Once everything is connected and ready, it's time to run a test piece. Any wood that will not extend beyond the desktop is suitable for this. If your workpiece has been processed and everything is in order, then you can begin the full production of this or that milling product.

Safety precautions

Safety with milling equipment is fundamental. If you don't take care of yourself, you can end up in the hospital with serious injuries. All safety rules are the same, but the most basic ones are listed below:

1. It is necessary to ground your equipment to avoid electric shock.
2. Keep children away from the machine.
3. Do not eat or drink at your desk.
4. Clothing should be selected appropriately.
5. Do not process bulky parts that exceed the size of the work table or machine equipment.
6. Don't quit various instruments to the working area of ​​the machine.
7. Do not use material (metal, plastic, etc.).

Video reviews

Video review of parts for the machine and where to get them:

Video review of the operation of a wood milling machine:

Video review of electronics

Machine tools equipped with numerical control (CNC) software are presented in the form modern equipment for cutting, turning, drilling or grinding metal, plywood, wood, foam and other materials.

Built-in electronics based on Arduino printed circuit boards ensure maximum automation of work.

1 What is a CNC machine?

CNC machines based on Arduino printed circuit boards are capable of automatically continuously changing the spindle speed, as well as the feed speed of supports, tables and other mechanisms. Auxiliary elements of a CNC machine automatically takes the desired position, and can be used to cut plywood or aluminum profiles.

In devices based on Arduino printed circuit boards, the cutting tool (pre-configured) also changes automatically.

In CNC devices based on Arduino printed circuit boards, all commands are sent through the controller.

The controller receives signals from the software. For such plywood cutting equipment, metal profiles or foam, the program carriers are cams, stops or copiers.

The signal received from the program carrier through the controller sends a command to the machine, semi-automatic or copying machine. If it is necessary to change a sheet of plywood or foam plastic for cutting, then the cams or copiers are replaced with other elements.

Units with program control based on Arduino boards use punched tapes, punched cards or magnetic tapes as a program carrier, which contain all necessary information. With the use of Arduino boards, the entire process of cutting plywood, foam plastic or other material is fully automated, minimizing labor costs.

It is worth noting that building a CNC machine for cutting plywood or foam plastic based on Arduino boards you can do it yourself without much difficulty. Control in CNC units based on Arduino is carried out by a controller that transmits both technological and dimensional information.

Using CNC plasma cutters based on Arduino boards, you can free large number universal equipment and at the same time increase labor productivity. The main advantages of Arduino-based machines assembled by yourself are expressed in:

• high (compared to manual machines) productivity;
• flexibility of universal equipment combined with precision;
• reducing the need to attract qualified specialists to work;
• the possibility of manufacturing interchangeable parts according to one program;
• reduced preparation times for the manufacture of new parts;
• the opportunity to make a machine with your own hands.

1.1 Process of operation of a CNC milling machine (video)

1.2 Types of CNC machines

The presented units for cutting plywood or foam plastic, using Arduino boards for operation, are divided into classes according to:

• technological capabilities;
• the principle of tool change;
• method of changing the workpiece.

Any class of such equipment can be made with your own hands, and the Arduino electronics will provide maximum automation of the work process. Along with classes, machines can be:

• turning;
• drilling and boring;
• milling;
• grinding;
• electrophysical machines;
• multi-purpose.

Arduino-based turning units can process external and internal surfaces all kinds of details.

Rotation of workpieces can be carried out in both straight and curved contours. The device is also designed for cutting external and internal threads. Arduino-based milling units are designed for milling simple and complex body-type parts.

In addition, they can perform drilling and boring. Grinding machines, which can also be made with your own hands, can be used for finishing details.

Depending on the type of surfaces being processed, units can be:

• surface grinding;
• internal grinding;
• spline grinding.

Multi-purpose units can be used for cutting plywood or foam plastic, perform drilling, milling, boring and turning parts. Before you make a CNC machine with your own hands, it is important to consider that the equipment is divided according to the method of changing tools. Replacement can be made:

• manually;
• automatically in the turret;
• automatically in the store.

If the electronics (controller) can ensure automatic change of workpieces using special drives, then the device can operate for a long time without operator intervention.

In order to make the presented unit for cutting plywood or foam plastic with your own hands, you need to prepare the initial equipment. A used one may be suitable for this.

In it, the working element is replaced with a milling cutter. In addition, you can make a mechanism with your own hands from the carriages of an old printer.

This will allow the working cutter to move in the direction of two planes. Next, electronics are connected to the structure, key element which is the controller and the Arduino board.

The assembly diagram allows you to do it yourself homemade unit CNC automatic. Such equipment may be designed for cutting plastic, foam, plywood or thin metal. In order for the device to perform more complex species work, you need not only a controller, but also a stepper motor.

It must have high power indicators - at least 40-50 watts. It is recommended to use a conventional electric motor, since its use will eliminate the need to create a screw drive, and the controller will ensure timely delivery of commands.

The required force on the transmission shaft in a homemade device must be transmitted via timing belts. If a homemade CNC machine will use carriages from printers to move the working cutter, then for this purpose it is necessary to select parts from large-sized printers.

The basis of the future unit can be a rectangular beam, which must be firmly fixed to the guides. The frame must have a high degree of rigidity, but welding is not recommended. It is better to use a bolted connection.

Welding seams will be subject to deformation due to constant loads during machine operation. In this case, the fastening elements are destroyed, which will lead to settings failure, and the controller will not work correctly.

2.1 About stepper motors, supports and guides

A self-assembled CNC unit must be equipped with stepper motors. As mentioned above, it is best to use motors from old dot matrix printers to assemble the unit.

For effective functioning devices you will need three separate engines stepper type. It is recommended to use motors with five separate wires management. This will increase functionality homemade apparatus several times.

When selecting motors for a future machine, you need to know the number of degrees per step, the operating voltage and the winding resistance. Subsequently, this will help to configure the entire software correctly.

The ball motor shaft is fastened using a rubber cable covered with a thick winding. In addition, using such a cable you can connect the motor to the running pin. The frame can be made of plastic with a thickness of 10-12 mm.

Along with plastic, it is possible to use aluminum or organic glass.

The leading parts of the frame are attached using self-tapping screws, and when using wood, the elements can be attached with PVA glue. The guides are steel rods with a cross-section of 12 mm and a length of 20 mm. There are 2 rods for each axis.

The support is made of textolite, its dimensions should be 30x100x40 cm. The guide parts of the textolite are fastened with M6 screws, and the supports “X” and “Y” at the top must have 4 threaded holes to secure the frame. Stepper motors are installed using fasteners.

Fastenings can be made using steel leaf type. The sheet thickness should be 2-3 mm. Next, the screw is connected to the axis of the stepper motor via a flexible shaft. For this purpose, you can use a regular rubber hose.

And so, as part of this instructional article, I want you, together with the author of the project, a 21-year-old mechanic and designer, to make your own. The narration will be conducted in the first person, but know that, to my great regret, I am not sharing my experience, but only freely retelling the author of this project.

There will be quite a lot of drawings in this article., notes to them are made on English, but I’m sure that a real techie will understand everything without further ado. For ease of understanding, I will break the story into “steps”.

Preface from the author

Already at the age of 12, I dreamed of building a machine that would be capable of creating various things. A machine that will give me the ability to make any household item. Two years later I came across the phrase CNC or to be more precise, the phrase "CNC milling machine". After I found out that there are people capable of making such a machine independently for their needs, in their own garage, I realized that I could do this too. I have to do this! For three months I tried to collect suitable parts, but did not budge. So my obsession gradually faded.

In August 2013, the idea of ​​​​building a CNC milling machine captured me again. I had just graduated from a bachelor's degree in industrial design at university, so I was quite confident in my abilities. Now I clearly understood the difference between me today and me five years ago. I learned how to work with metal, mastered techniques for working with manual metalworking machines, but most importantly, I learned how to use development tools. I hope this tutorial inspires you to build your own CNC machine!

Step 1: Design and CAD model

It all starts with thoughtful design. I made several sketches to get a better feel for the size and shape of the future machine. After that I created a CAD model using SolidWorks. After I modeled all the parts and components of the machine, I prepared technical drawings. I used these drawings to make parts on manual metalworking machines: and.

I confess honestly, I love good convenient tools. That is why I tried to make sure that the operations maintenance and adjustment of the machine were carried out as simply as possible. I placed the bearings in special blocks in order to be able to quickly replace them. The guides are accessible for maintenance, so my car will always be clean when the work is completed.

Files for downloading “Step 1”

Dimensions

Step 2: Bed

The bed provides the machine with the necessary rigidity. A movable portal, stepper motors, a Z axis and a spindle, and later a working surface will be installed on it. To create the supporting frame I used two aluminum profiles Maytec with a cross section of 40x80 mm and two end plates made of aluminum 10 mm thick. I connected all the elements together using aluminum corners. To strengthen the structure inside the main frame, I made an additional square frame from profiles of a smaller section.

In order to avoid dust getting on the guides in the future, I installed protective aluminum corners. The angle is mounted using T-nuts, which are installed in one of the profile grooves.

Both end plates have bearing blocks for mounting the drive screw.

Support frame assembly

Corners to protect guides

Files for downloading “Step 2”

Drawings of the main elements of the frame

Step 3: Portal

Mobile portal - executive body of your machine, it moves along the X axis and carries the milling spindle and Z axis support. The higher the gantry, the thicker the workpiece you can machine. However, a high portal is less resistant to the loads that arise during processing. The high side posts of the portal act as levers relative to the linear rolling bearings.

The main task that I planned to solve on my CNC milling machine was the processing of aluminum parts. Since the maximum thickness of aluminum blanks suitable for me is 60 mm, I decided to make the portal clearance (distance from work surface to the upper transverse beam) equal to 125 mm. I converted all my measurements into a model and technical drawings in SolidWorks. Due to the complexity of the parts, I processed them on an industrial CNC machining center; this additionally allowed me to process chamfers, which would be very difficult to do on a manual metal milling machine.

Files for downloading “Step 3”

Step 4: Z Axis Caliper

For the Z axis design, I used a front panel that attaches to the Y axis motion bearings, two plates to reinforce the assembly, a plate to mount the stepper motor, and a mounting panel milling spindle. On the front panel I installed two profile guides along which the spindle will move along the Z axis. Please note that the Z axis screw does not have a counter support at the bottom.

Downloads “Step 4”

Step 5: Guides

Guides provide the ability to move in all directions, ensuring smooth and precise movements. Any play in one direction can cause inaccuracy in the processing of your products. I chose the most expensive option - profiled hardened steel rails. This will allow the structure to withstand high loads and provide the positioning accuracy I need. To ensure the guides were parallel, I used a special indicator while installing them. The maximum deviation relative to each other was no more than 0.01 mm.

Step 6: Screws and Pulleys

Screws convert rotary motion from stepper motors into linear motion. When designing your machine, you can choose several options for this unit: a screw-nut pair or a ball screw pair (ball screw). The screw-nut, as a rule, is subjected to more frictional forces during operation, and is also less accurate relative to the ball screw. If you need increased accuracy, then you definitely need to opt for a ball screw. But you should know that ball screws are quite expensive.

Nowadays, handicraft people can increasingly find new machines that are controlled not by hands, as we are all used to, but by computer software and computerized equipment. This innovation is called CNC (computer numerical control).

This technology is used in many institutions, large industries, as well as in private workshops. An automated control system allows you to save a lot of time and also improve the quality of the products produced.

The automated system is controlled by a computer program. This system includes asynchronous motors with vector control, having three axes of movement of the electric engraver: X, Z, Y. Below we will look at what machines with automatic control and calculations.

Typically, all CNC machines use electric engraver, or a router on which you can change attachments. A numerically controlled machine is used to add decorative elements to certain materials and more. CNC machines, due to advances in the computer world, must have many functions. These functions include:

Milling

A mechanical process of processing a material, during which a cutting element (an attachment in the form of a milling cutter) produces rotational movements on the surface of the workpiece.

Engraving

It consists of applying one or another image to the surface of the workpiece. To do this, use either cutters or a graver (a steel rod with one end pointed at an angle).

Drilling

Mechanical processing of material by cutting, using a drill, which creates holes different diameters and holes having many faces of different sections and depths.

Laser cutting

The method of cutting and cutting material, in which there is no mechanical impact, is retained high precision workpieces, as well as deformations made by this method, have minimal deformations.

Plotter

High-precision drawing is produced the most complex schemes, drawings, geographical maps. Drawing is done using a writing block, using a specialized pen.

PCB drawing and drilling

Manufacturing of circuit boards, as well as drawing electrically conductive circuits on the surface of a dielectric plate. Also drilling small holes for radio components.

What functions your future computer-controlled machine will perform is up to you to decide. Next, let’s look at the design of a CNC machine.

Type of CNC machines

Technological features and capabilities of these machines are equivalent to universal machines. However, in modern world, there are three types of CNC machines:

Turning

The purpose of such machines is to create parts according to the type of bodies of revolution, which consists of processing the surface of the workpiece. Also production of internal and external threads.

Milling

The automated operation of these machines consists of processing the planes and spaces of various body blanks. They carry out flat, contour and stepped milling, at various angles, as well as from several sides. They drill holes, cut threads, ream and boring workpieces.

Drilling - boring

They perform reaming, hole drilling, boring and reaming, countersinking, milling, threading and much more.

As we can see, CNC machines have a wide range of functionality that they perform. Therefore, they are equated to universal machines. All of them are very expensive and it is simply impossible to buy any of the above installations due to financial insufficiency. And you might think that you will have to perform all these actions manually throughout your life.

You don't have to be upset. Skillful hands countries, from the first appearance of factory CNC machines, began to create home-made prototypes that work no worse than professional ones.

All components for CNC machines can be ordered on the Internet, where they are freely available and are quite inexpensive. By the way, the body of an automated machine can be made with your own hands, and correct sizes you can go online.

Tip: Before choosing a CNC machine, decide what material you will be processing. This choice will be of major importance when constructing the machine, since it directly depends on the size of the equipment, as well as its costs.

The design of the CNC machine depends entirely on your choice. You can purchase a ready-made standard set of all the necessary parts and simply assemble it in your garage or workshop. Or order all equipment separately.

Consider a standard set of parts in the photo:

1. Directly work area, which is made from plywood - this is the tabletop and side frame.
2. Guide elements.
3. Guide holders.
4. Linear bearings and sliding bushings.
5. Support bearings.
6. Lead screws.
7. Stepper motor controller.
8. Controller power supply.
9. Electric engraver or router.
10. A coupling connecting the lead screw shaft to the shaft of stepper motors.
11. Stepper motors.
12. Running nut.

Using this list of parts, you can safely create your own machine with automated operation. Once you have assembled the entire structure, you can safely begin work.

Operating principle

Perhaps the most important element on this machine is the milling cutter, engraver or spindle. It depends on your choice. If you have a spindle, then the tail of the cutter, which has a collet for fastening, will be tightly attached to the collet chuck.

The chuck itself is directly mounted on the spindle shaft. The cutting part of the cutter is selected based on the selected material. An electric motor, which is located on a moving carriage, rotates the spindle with a cutter, which allows processing the surface of the material. Stepper motors are controlled by a controller, to which commands are sent from a computer program.

Electronics The machine runs directly on the computer software that must be supplied with the ordered electronics. The program transmits commands in the form of G-codes to the controller. Thus, these codes are stored in RAM controller.

After selecting a processing program on the machine (finishing, roughing, three-dimensional), commands are distributed to stepper motors, after which the surface of the material is processed.

Advice: Before starting work, you need to test the machine using a specialized program and run a test part to make sure the CNC is working correctly.

Assembly

Machine assembly with your own hands It won't take you too much time. Moreover, on the Internet now you can download a lot of different schemes and drawings. If you bought a set of parts for a homemade machine, then its assembly will be very quick.

So, let's look at one of them drawings the actual hand machine.

Drawing of a homemade CNC machine.

As a rule, the first step is to make a frame from plywood, 10-11 millimeters thick. The tabletop, side walls and movable portal for installing a router or spindle are made only from plywood material. The tabletop is made movable, furniture guides of appropriate sizes are used.

The end result should be a frame like this. After frame construction ready, the drill comes into play and special crowns, with which you can make holes in plywood.

Frame of the future CNC machine.

In the finished frame, it is necessary to prepare all the holes in order to install bearings and guide bolts in them. After this installation, you can install all fastening elements, electrical installations etc.

After the assembly is completed, important stage becomes the setting of the machine software and computer program. When setting up the program, the operation of the machine is checked for correctness given dimensions. If everything is ready, you can begin the long-awaited work.

Tip: Before starting work, you need to check the correct fastening of the workpiece material and the reliability of fastening working attachment. Also make sure that the selected material matches the machine being manufactured.

Equipment setup

The CNC machine is set up directly from the working computer on which the program for working with the machine is installed. It is into the program that the necessary drawings, graphs, and drawings are loaded. Which are converted in sequence by the program into G - codes necessary to control the machine.

When everything is loaded, trial actions are performed regarding the selected material. It is during these actions that all necessary preset dimensions are checked.

Advice: Only after a thorough check of the machine’s functionality can you begin full-fledged work.

Safety precautions

The rules and safety precautions when working with this machine are no different from working on all other machines. Below are the most important ones:

• Before starting work, check that the machine is in good working order.
• Clothes must be tucked in properly so that nothing sticks out anywhere and cannot get caught. work area machine
• You must wear a hat that will hold your hair.
• Near the machine there should be a rubber mat or low wooden sheathing, which will protect against electrical leakage.
• Access to the machine by children must be strictly prohibited.
• Before operating the machine, check all fasteners for their strength.

Advice: You must approach working on the machine with a clear head and understanding that if you do it incorrectly, you can cause irreparable harm to yourself.

You can find complete safety requirements for working with the machine on the World Wide Web, i.e. on the Internet and check them out.

Video reviews

Review of homemade CNC machine assembly

Video review simple machine CNC

Features Overview homemade CNC machine

Stepper Motors Overview

Review video multi-channel driver for stepper motors

Knowing what is complex technical and electronic device, many craftsmen think that it is simply impossible to make it with your own hands. However, this opinion is wrong: you can make such equipment yourself, but to do this you need to have not only detailed drawing, but also a set necessary tools and related components.

Processing a duralumin blank on a homemade desktop milling machine

When deciding to make your own CNC machine, keep in mind that it can take a significant amount of time. In addition, certain financial costs will be required. However, by not being afraid of such difficulties and by correctly approaching all issues, you can become the owner of affordable, efficient and productive equipment that allows you to process workpieces from various materials with a high degree of accuracy.

To make a milling machine equipped with a CNC system, you can use two options: buy a ready-made kit, from which such equipment is assembled from specially selected elements, or find all the components and assemble a device with your own hands that fully meets all your requirements.

Instructions for assembling a homemade CNC milling machine

Below in the photo you can see the made with my own hands, to which is attached detailed instructions on manufacturing and assembly, indicating the materials and components used, exact “patterns” of machine parts and approximate costs. The only negative is the instructions are in English, but it is quite possible to understand the detailed drawings without knowing the language.

Download free instructions for making the machine:

The CNC milling machine is assembled and ready to go. Below are some illustrations from the assembly instructions. of this machine

“Patterns” of machine parts (reduced view) Beginning of machine assembly Intermediate stage Final stage assemblies

Preparatory work

If you decide that you will design a CNC machine with your own hands, without using a ready-made kit, then the first thing you will need to do is choose schematic diagram, according to which such mini-equipment will work.

As a basis milling equipment with CNC you can take the old one drilling machine, in which the working head with the drill is replaced with a milling one. The most difficult thing that will have to be designed in such equipment is the mechanism that ensures the movement of the tool in three independent planes. This mechanism can be assembled using carriages from a non-working printer; it will ensure the movement of the tool in two planes.

It is easy to connect software control to a device assembled according to this concept. However, its main disadvantage is that only workpieces made of plastic, wood and thin materials can be processed on such a CNC machine. sheet metal. This is explained by the fact that the carriages from the old printer, which will provide movement cutting tool, do not have a sufficient degree of rigidity.

In order for your homemade CNC machine to be able to perform full-fledged milling operations with workpieces made of various materials, a sufficiently powerful stepper motor must be responsible for moving the working tool. It is absolutely not necessary to look for a stepper type motor; it can be made from a conventional electric motor, subjecting the latter to minor modifications.

Using a stepper motor in yours will make it possible to avoid using a screw drive, and functionality and characteristics homemade equipment it won't make things any worse. If you still decide to use carriages from a printer for your mini-machine, then it is advisable to select them from a larger model of the printing device. To transfer force to the shaft of milling equipment, it is better to use not ordinary, but toothed belts that will not slip on the pulleys.

One of the most important components of any such machine is the milling mechanism. It is its production that must be given special attention. To properly make such a mechanism, you will need detailed drawings, which will need to be strictly followed.

CNC milling machine drawings

Let's start assembling the equipment

The basis of homemade CNC milling equipment can be a rectangular beam, which must be securely fixed on guides.

The supporting structure of the machine must have high rigidity; when installing it, it is better not to use welded joints, and all elements need to be connected only with screws.

This requirement is explained by the fact that welded seams very poorly withstand vibration loads, to which they will necessarily be subjected load-bearing structure equipment. Such loads will ultimately lead to the machine frame beginning to deteriorate over time, and changes in geometric dimensions will occur in it, which will affect the accuracy of the equipment settings and its performance.

Welds when installing the frame of a homemade milling machine often provoke the development of play in its components, as well as deflection of the guides, which occurs under heavy loads.

The milling machine that you will assemble with your own hands must have a mechanism that ensures the movement of the working tool in the vertical direction. Best to use for this helical gear, rotation to which will be transmitted using a toothed belt.

An important part of a milling machine is its vertical axis, which homemade device can be made from aluminum plate. It is very important that the dimensions of this axis are precisely adjusted to the dimensions of the device being assembled. If you have a muffle furnace at your disposal, then you can make the vertical axis of the machine yourself by casting it from aluminum according to the dimensions indicated in the finished drawing.

Once all the components of your homemade milling machine are prepared, you can begin assembling it. Begins this process from the installation of two stepper motors, which are mounted on the equipment body behind its vertical axis. One of these electric motors will be responsible for moving milling head V horizontal plane, and the second - for moving the head, respectively, in a vertical direction. After this, the remaining components and assemblies of home-made equipment are installed.

Rotation to all components of homemade CNC equipment must be transmitted only through belt drives. Before connecting to assembled machine program control system, you should check its functionality in manual mode and immediately eliminate all identified deficiencies in its work.

You can watch the assembly process in the video, which is easy to find on the Internet.

Stepper motors

The design of any CNC-equipped milling machine necessarily contains stepper motors that ensure the movement of the tool in three planes: 3D. When designing a homemade machine for this purpose, you can use electric motors installed in dot matrix printer. Most older models of dot matrix printing devices were equipped with electric motors with fairly high power. In addition to stepper motors, it is worth taking strong steel rods from an old printer, which can also be used in the design of your homemade machine.

To make your own CNC milling machine, you will need three stepper motor. Since there are only two of them in the dot matrix printer, it will be necessary to find and disassemble another old printing device.

It will be a big plus if the motors you find have five control wires: this will significantly increase the functionality of your future mini-machine. It is also important to find out the following parameters of the stepper motors you have found: how many degrees are rotated in one step, what is the supply voltage, as well as the value of the winding resistance.

The drive design of a homemade CNC milling machine is assembled from a nut and a stud, the dimensions of which should be pre-selected according to the drawing of your equipment. To fix the motor shaft and attach it to the stud, it is convenient to use a thick rubber winding from electric cable. Parts of your CNC machine, such as clamps, can be made in the form of a nylon sleeve into which a screw is inserted. In order to make such simple structural elements, you will need a regular file and a drill.

Electronic equipment

Your DIY CNC machine will be controlled by software, and it needs to be selected correctly. When choosing such software (you can write it yourself), it is important to pay attention to the fact that it is operational and allows the machine to realize all its functionality. Such software must contain drivers for the controllers that will be installed on your mini-milling machine.

IN homemade machine With CNC, an LPT port is required, through which the electronic control system is connected to the machine. It is very important that such connection is made through installed stepper motors.

When choosing electronic components for your homemade machine, it is important to pay attention to their quality, since the accuracy of the technological operations that will be performed on it will depend on this. After installing and connecting all electronic components The CNC system needs to download the necessary software and drivers. Only after this is a test run of the machine, checking the correct operation of it under the control of loaded programs, identifying deficiencies and promptly eliminating them.