Making a CNC machine with your own hands. Independent production of cnc machine

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

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

1 What is a CNC machine?

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

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

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

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

The signal received from the program carrier through the controller gives a command to the automatic, semi-automatic or copying machine. If it is necessary to change a sheet of plywood or foam for cutting, then the cams or copiers are replaced by 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 the necessary information. With the use of Arduino boards, the entire process of cutting plywood, foam or other material is fully automated, one hundred and minimizes labor costs.

It is worth noting that assembling a CNC machine for cutting plywood or foam 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 release a large number of universal equipment and, at the same time, increase labor productivity. The main advantages of do-it-yourself Arduino-based machines are expressed in:

• high (compared to manual machines) performance;
• the flexibility of versatile 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 time for the manufacture of new parts;
• the ability to make a machine with your own hands.

1.1 The process of the CNC milling machine (video)

1.2 Varieties of CNC machines

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

• technological possibilities;
• the principle of tool change;
• workpiece change method.

Any class of such equipment can be made by hand, and Arduino electronics provide maximum automation of the workflow. Along with classes, machines can be:

• turning;
• drilling and boring;
• milling;
• grinding;
• machines of the electrophysical series;
• multipurpose.

Turning units based on "Arduino" can process the outer and inner surfaces of various parts.

The rotation of workpieces can be carried out both in rectilinear and curvilinear contours. The device is also designed for cutting outer and internal thread. Milling units based on "Arduino" 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 by hand, can be used for finishing details.

Depending on the type of treated surfaces, the aggregates can be:

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

Multi-purpose units can be used for cutting plywood or foam, to 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 also divided according to the method of changing the tool. Replacement can be made:

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

If the electronics (controller) can provide automatic change blanks using special drives, the machine can long time work without operator intervention.

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

In it, the working body is replaced by a 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. Further, electronics are connected to the structure, the key element of which is the controller and the Arduino boards.

The assembly scheme 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 be able to perform more complex types work, you need not only a controller, but also a stepper motor.

It should have high power performance - at least 40-50 watts. It is recommended to use a conventional electric motor, since with its use there will be no need to create a screw gear, and the controller will provide timely delivery of commands.

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

The basis of the future unit can serve as a rectangular beam, which must be firmly fixed on the rails. The frame should 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 operation of the machine. The fastening elements are destroyed in this case, which will lead to a failure of the settings, and the controller will not work correctly.

2.1 About stepper motor calipers and rails

The CNC unit assembled by yourself must be equipped with stepper motors. As mentioned above, it is best to use engines from old dot matrix printers to assemble the unit.

For efficient operation of the device will need three separate motors step type. It is recommended to use motors with five separate control wires. This will increase the functionality of a home-made device several times.

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

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 stud. The bed 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 fastened with self-tapping screws, and when using wood, elements can be fastened with PVA glue. The guides are steel bars with a cross section of 12 mm and a length of 20 mm. There are 2 rods for each axle.

The support is made of textolite, its dimensions should be 30 × 100x40 cm. Stepper motors are installed using fasteners.

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

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With good equipment, complex technological processes become available. Specialized equipment with electric drive greatly simplifies the processing of wood blanks. But its acquisition is associated with significant investments. To solve this problem successfully, you should carefully study the materials of this article. Here is how to create functional woodworking machines for your home workshop.

Some samples of home-made equipment in terms of their consumer characteristics are no worse than factory products

Before proceeding directly to technical equipment, a few general remarks should be made about the relevant specialized room:

• It is convenient when the workshop is located in a separate building. This implies sufficient space, the absence of unnecessary worries, the possibility of full equipment and other engineering systems.
• If the room is located in, or the basement, it must be well isolated from the living area.
• The area of ​​a standard workshop should not be less than 6-7 sq.m. Height - sufficient for free passage and the maximum level of the raised tool (from 2.5 m and more).
• High-quality systems of ventilation, heating, lighting will be useful here. Every engineering system should be considered separately to avoid excessive costs during the operation period.
• Make sure that there is enough electrical power for all woodworking machines for the home workshop.

For your information! If the equipment has electronic components, special circuit breakers will come in handy to prevent damage by voltage surges, protective earth. It is necessary to ensure that the network parameters correspond to the characteristics of power units (220 V, one phase; 380 V, three phases).

The use of such a source will reduce fatigue and help maintain good vision. It is preferable to install an LED fixture. It does not heat up the surrounding space like a conventional incandescent lamp. Unlike the gas-discharge analogue, it is difficult to damage it by mechanical action.

Woodworking machines for the home workshop and special fixtures: basic definitions, manufacturing techniques

• Each machine is designed to perform a limited set of work operations with workpieces of certain sizes.
• As a rule, specialized equipment is more convenient to work with compared to universal models.
• It will be easier to make a woodworking machine with your own hands if you first make an exact list of requirements for its characteristics. Excessive power is not required. The required torque can be provided using a gearbox.
• Similarly, by setting the appropriate transmission mechanism, change the speed of rotation of the working shaft. For more precise processing, smooth adjustment of this parameter in a wide range is useful.
• To reduce costs, you can use an electric motor drill with a broken body in the design, and other working parts of failed equipment.
• The most complex mechanical and electronic components will have to be purchased separately. The costs of reproducing some technologies at home exceed the cost of finished products.
• The service life of electrically driven equipment will be increased if it is protected from excessive loads. In particular, it is useful to equip with automatic equipment that turns off the power when the engine overheats.

Important! Safety issues should not be neglected. Drive pulleys are covered with casings. Sheets of transparent plastic are installed in front of working tools.

For rational use free space, wall and ceiling shelves, racks, hooks and special holders will come in handy. The exact installation site of the respective ones is chosen taking into account the peculiarities of technological processes, the placement of machines and workbenches.

Related article:

Our review will help you choose and make home-made machines and fixtures for your home workshop, as well as understand the technology of their manufacture.

Creating a wood lathe for a home workshop

The technical data of the respective products, together with descriptions, can be found on the Internet.

The main part is the frame (1). Other parts of the product are attached to it. It provides not only the integrity of the power frame, but also good stability on the surface. The carpentry machine is designed for processing relatively light workpieces, so this part can be made from hardwood.

In the central part there is a caliper with a stand for hand cutter(2). Instead, a holder for rigid fixation of the instrument can be installed. The workpiece is fixed between the front (3) and rear (4) headstock. It is rotated by an electric motor (6). To change the torque on the axis in this design, a belt drive and a pulley (5) are used. The caliper and tailstock move horizontally along a special shaft (7), which is installed inside the frame.

Important! These drawings can be used to manufacture an existing machine. Please note that all dimensions here are in inches.

This project can be used to make a do-it-yourself wood lathe. It is only necessary to supplement it with a special device, which is designed to consistently create identical products.

To fix it in the right place, you need to make a special stand. V this example 10 mm plywood was used, from which a platform with dimensions of 480 × 180 mm was cut. The given dimensions can be changed, taking into account the actual parameters. Holes in plywood are cut out so that fixing bolts and tools pass through them. For rigid fixation along the contour of the site, wooden bars are fixed with screws.

This design attracts with simplicity, accessibility constituent parts, reasonable cost. But there are some disadvantages to be noted:

• You will have to use two hands to move the cutter. This is necessary to generate sufficient force and prevent jamming.
• The minimum radius along which the bends of parts will be created is limited by the diameter of the tool (cutter).
• To process workpieces from different types of wood, it is necessary to precisely adjust the speed of rotation of the shaft, and in this example this possibility is not provided.

This example explains that even a design that has been tested by time and practical experience, with a careful study of the equipment and technological process can be improved.

Do-it-yourself homemade wood lathe: video with instructions and comments from the author of the project

How to make an inexpensive homemade wood lathe with your own hands

With the help of this DIY woodworking kit, it will not be difficult to make it. Such a bed can be fixed on a wooden or metal base. The exact parameters of the headstock are selected taking into account the dimensions and seats of the engine mounts. More than enough will be the power parameters of the electric motor from. For carpentry equipment of this type, power from 250-300 kW is enough, if it is transferred to the shaft using a gearbox (pulley).

The last example needs to be studied in more detail. By choosing the right tool with an electric drive, you can get the necessary power, rotation speed. A standard chuck is useful for reliable and fast clamping of the workpiece. In modern technology of this type, protection against overheating, dust ingress into the case is provided. High-quality switches, effective isolation are installed here. This drawing alone is enough to understand how to make a lathe yourself.

Making cutters for a wood lathe from improvised materials

Suitable files, saws, spanners, other products created from tool steel. It is easier to process square-shaped workpieces (in section). You should make sure that there are no cracks or other defects that reduce strength. For rigid fixation of through cutters, the machine must be equipped with a special holder.

Important components for a DIY stationary circular saw

In this equipment, the table performs the most important functions, so its parameters should be studied with special attention. It is installed with drive mechanisms, elements of the power and control circuit. It must be sized for the weight of the built-in components and wood pieces. We must not forget that during operation there will be static and dynamic loads, vibrations.

When specifying the parameters of the machine, the following factors should be taken into account:

• For this equipment, the power of the power unit must be at least 0.85 kW.
• When calculating the design, it is necessary to check the height of the protruding edge of the disk. It will determine the maximum depth of cut.
• The minimum speed of rotation of the working shaft is limited to 1.5 thousand revolutions per minute. It is desirable to increase it so that during the execution of work operations the color of the wooden blank does not change.

Description of an inexpensive circular saw from a grinder with your own hands

As in the previous example, when creating such a machine, you can simplify the solution of the problem using standard power tools.

The drive with the cutting disc is fixed on the rotary rocker. To facilitate physical effort - install a spring, or counterweight. Tool movement is only allowed in the vertical direction along an arc. This design is mobile. It can be installed indoors and outdoors on a suitable base. If necessary, the grinder can be dismantled. It is fixed with screw connecting elements on a damping wooden (rubber) gasket.

Do-it-yourself bed for an angle grinder: drawings, videos, an algorithm for manufacturing individual parts and assembly:

Advantages and process of creating a simple wood milling machine for a home workshop

This equipment is used for cutting grooves according to given dimensions and accurate drilling at different angles. With it, you can quickly remove a quarter, create a recess in a workpiece of a certain shape. Even without a detailed explanation, it is clear that such opportunities will be useful to the owner of a private house. It remains to figure out how to make a homemade milling machine for wood. Will such a solution be economically viable, or is it more profitable to purchase factory-made equipment?

The answers to the questions raised can be given after a detailed study of the relevant structures.

In the central part of the table, a power unit is installed that rotates the cutter. With the help of clamps and other devices, the workpiece is fixed in the desired position and moved along a given trajectory. Such a workplace is equipped with an operational dust removal system.

To eliminate errors during the implementation of the project, pay attention to the individual parameters of the structural elements:

• A table for performing work operations is created in a stationary version. Its dimensions and load capacity will be determined taking into account the characteristics of the processed samples.
• Experts recommend installing screw regulators in the lower parts of the supports. With their help, you can establish the exact horizontal position of the structure, even on uneven surfaces.
• The power frame can be assembled from steel pipes (rectangular profiles). For the manufacture of countertops, a high-quality and fairly thick chipboard is suitable. A thin sheet of metal will vibrate, which will degrade the processing accuracy.
• If you choose a motor with a power of 500-900 W, the capabilities of the cutter will only be enough to remove thin layers, creating relatively small depressions.
• When installing a 900-1900 W power unit, more complex operations are permissible. However, some difficulties are acceptable when processing hardwood blanks.
• In powerful machines (more than 2000 W), you can install cutters of any type. Such equipment belongs to the professional level. It is designed for long-term operation without overheating the motor.
• For the manufacture of a mounting plate through which the engine is attached to the tabletop, you can use a sheet of fiberglass, metal.
• To ensure good visibility in working area, a backlight is mounted above the table.

The following table provides information on how much a manual wood milling machine costs in the domestic market.

Brand/model, photo	Power, W	Maxi- low spindle speed rpm	Price, rub.	Notes
PROMA/ SF-40	1500	24000	17500-18900	It is intended for creation of grooves, folding, milling.
Encore/ Corvette-82	1500	2400	14200-15900	Distinctive design elements: an angle stop with a scale that simplifies processing at a certain angle; side supports for holding large workpieces.
Proxxon/ MT 400	100	25000	14200-15700	Compact lightweight model with low power motor. Designed for processing small pieces of soft wood.
PROMA/TFS-120	5500	9000	175000-183000	Professional level equipment. Connects to three-phase network 380 V. Suitable for equipping specialized woodworking enterprises.
X-CUT/ XC-3040	800	24000	188000-196000	Compact machine with numerical control (CNC). For convenience of management it is equipped with the portable panel. Downloading new programs from a computer is permissible using a "flash drive".

The feasibility of implementing a do-it-yourself CNC milling machine project

The use of program control allows you to create large series of parts with high accuracy, to perform unique and especially careful processing. To start a new technological process, it is enough to download a new program and click the “Start” button. Simple and complex tasks will be performed by the wood milling machine automatically, without user intervention and control. This technique eliminates operator errors and ensures the highest quality.

The advantages of this class of equipment are obvious. It remains to find out whether it is possible to create a CNC machine for wood with your own hands. Below are the features of this class of equipment:

• It will be necessary to ensure the possibility of moving the cutter horizontally in all directions. This will require not only the appropriate design of the mounts, but also additional electric motors.
• Accurate positioning of the tool is provided with the help of sensors, stepper motors.
• It will take software, which will control the movement of the cutter, perform control functions.

Important! Even with a detailed description and drawings, it will be very difficult to make a CNC wood router with your own hands.

How to make your own cutters for woodworking machines

To create silent products, you will need blanks made of durable, resistant to high temperature and strong mechanical influences of tool steel. Damaged drills, fittings, rods will do. The required shape can be created using a diamond disc, which is installed in grinder. Edge sharpening is performed at an angle of 7 to 10 degrees. Too narrow a working part will quickly be damaged even when processing soft wood.

Drawings and recommendations for creating a do-it-yourself thicknessing machine

High-quality reproduction of this type of processing requires considerable effort. Therefore, it is recommended to use a three-phase electric motor with a power of 5 kW or more with maximum speed rotor rotation from 4.5 thousand rpm.

The shaft (1) with one or more knives is rotated by an electric motor (4), two pulleys and a belt. To press and move the workpiece, rollers (2, 3) and a manual drive with a chain mechanism are installed here. The design is assembled on a solid frame made of steel corners.

Taking into account personal preferences, it is not difficult to prepare do-it-yourself thicknesser drawings. For correction specifications take into account the scope of future work, the parameters of the blanks, the size of the room.

Making a functional thickness gauge from an electric planer with your own hands

You can quickly and inexpensively make a machine based on a standard electrically driven tool.

The picture shows that the power tool is fixed above the workpiece in a special frame. They provide the possibility of moving it in the longitudinal and transverse directions with strict preservation of the angle of 90° between them. A modern planer is equipped with a special outlet for connecting a vacuum cleaner. Therefore, there will be no problems with waste disposal.

The technology of creating a grinding machine for wood with your own hands

This equipment performs its functions using rigid shafts and flexible cloths with abrasive applied to the surface, brushes and other special tools.

For the manufacture of household-level equipment, it is recommended to choose a relatively simple one. It can be created independently after determining the required length, taking into account the exact location of the supporting rollers. The following algorithm is applied:

• The width of the tape is set from 15 to 25 cm.
• Strips are cut from a suitable grit of sandpaper.
• They are glued to a flexible base of dense material end-to-end, without large seams.
• Prevent slippage of the belt by increasing the diameter of the support rollers in the central part by a few millimeters. It is also useful to install a layer of rubber on them.

Article

For the manufacture of a three-dimensional pattern on a wooden surface, factory ones are used. It is difficult to make a similar mini-model with your own hands at home, but it is possible with a detailed study of the design. To do this, you need to understand the specifics, choose the right components and configure them.

The principle of operation of the milling machine

Modern woodworking equipment with a numerical control unit is designed to form a complex pattern on wood. The design must contain a mechanical electronic part. In combination, they will automate the work process as much as possible.

To make a desktop mini wood router with your own hands, you should familiarize yourself with the main components. The cutting element is a cutter, which is installed in a spindle located on the motor shaft. This design is attached to the bed. It can move along two coordinate axes - x; y. To fix the workpiece, it is necessary to make a support table.

The electronic control unit is connected to the stepper motors. They provide displacement of the carriage relative to the part. Using this technology, you can make 3D drawings on a wooden surface.

The sequence of operation of mini-equipment with CNC, which you can make yourself.

1. Writing a program according to which the sequence of movements of the cutting part will be performed. To do this, it is best to use special software systems designed for adaptation in home-made models.
2. Setting the workpiece on the table.
3. Program output to the CNC.
4. Turning on equipment, monitoring the implementation of automatic actions.

To achieve maximum automation of work in 3D mode, you will need to correctly draw up a diagram and select the appropriate components. Experts recommend studying factory models before making a mini.

To create complex patterns and patterns on a wooden surface, you will need several types of cutters. Some of them you can do yourself, but for fine workmanship should be purchased from the factory.

Scheme of a homemade milling machine with numerical control

The most difficult stage is the choice of the optimal manufacturing scheme. It depends on the dimensions of the workpiece and the degree of its processing. For home use it is desirable to make a do-it-yourself desktop mini CNC milling machine that will have the optimal number of functions.

The best option is the manufacture of two carriages that will move along the x coordinate axes; y. It is best to use ground steel bars as a base. Carriages will be mounted on them. To create a transmission, stepper motors and screws with rolling bearings are needed.

For maximum automation of the process in a do-it-yourself wood construction, it is necessary to think over the electronic part in detail. Conventionally, it consists of the following components:

• power unit. It is necessary to supply electricity to stepper motors and the controller chip. Often use the model 12v 3A;
• controller. It is designed to give commands to electric motors. For the operation of a do-it-yourself mini CNC milling machine, a simple circuit is enough to control the functioning of three motors;
• driver. It is also an element of regulation of the operation of the moving part of the structure.

The advantage of this complex is the ability to import executable files of the most common formats. Using a special application, you can create a three-dimensional drawing of the part for preliminary analysis. Stepper motors will run at a certain stroke rate. But for this, technical parameters must be entered into the control program.

Choice of accessories for CNC milling machine

The next step is to select components for assembling homemade equipment. The best option is to use improvised means. As a basis for desktop models of a 3D machine, you can use wood, aluminum or plexiglass.

For correct operation of the entire complex, it is necessary to develop the design of calipers. During their movement, there should be no vibrations, this can lead to inaccurate milling. Therefore, before assembly, all components are checked for compatibility with each other.

• guides. Polished steel bars with a diameter of 12 mm are used. The length for the x-axis is 200mm, for the y-axis it is 90mm;
• caliper. Textolite is the best option. The usual size of the platform is 25*100*45 mm;
• stepper motors. Experts recommend using models from a 24v, 5A printer. Unlike disk drives, they have more power;
• cutter block. It can also be made from textolite. The configuration directly depends on the available tool.

The power supply is best assembled from the factory. At self-manufacturing errors are possible, which subsequently affect the operation of all equipment.

The procedure for manufacturing a CNC milling machine

After selecting all the components, you can make a desktop mini milling machine yourself with your own hands. All elements are preliminarily checked again, their dimensions and quality are checked.

To fix the elements of the equipment, it is necessary to use special fasteners. Their configuration and shape depend on the chosen scheme.

The procedure for assembling desktop mini CNC equipment for wood with a 3D processing function.

1. Installation of caliper guides, their fixation on the side parts of the structure. These blocks are not installed on the base yet.
2. Lapping of calipers. They must be moved along the guides until a smooth ride is obtained.
3. Tightening the bolts to fix the calipers.
4. Attaching components to the base of the equipment.
5. Installation of lead screws together with couplings.
6. Installation of drive motors. They are attached to the coupling screws.

The electronic part is located in a separate block. This helps to reduce the likelihood of malfunction during the operation of the router. Also important point is the choice of work surface for the installation of equipment. It must be level, since the level adjustment bolts are not provided in the design.

After that, you can start trial tests. It is recommended to set up a simple wood milling program first. During operation, it is necessary to check each cutter pass - the depth and width of processing, especially in the 3D mode.

The video shows an example of how to assemble a large do-it-yourself CNC milling machine:

Examples of drawings and homemade designs