DIY CNC machine

[DarinSchmidt]

Just wondering if anyone has built one of these. I was thinking about making one to help with the building process of the items i make. There's some opensource CNC software out there im going to have to look into as well. I just hope that its pretty easy to program/use.

I have no idea what to use as far as motors but I'm going to look out there to see if there are any plans made. I want the CNC table to be 4'x8' so i can do whole sheets of acrylic or wood or whatever. I seen where people used a router/dremel/etc, but im thinking i would like to be able to control the speed (if possible) from the CNC software, but not really needed, i dont mind presetting the speed.

[Boonjob]

I've seen a few diy cnc machines, aswell as large diy canvas printers(kinda the same)

You should be able to pull up a few vids on youtube of them...pretty neat.. the canvas printers are super cheap to make. I thought about making one to paint a pic on a wall in one of my homes, but wife thought it was poor taste rofl...

[DarinSchmidt]

ha ha. would be fun to do though

i looked online for a bit on youtube for some vids, but the ones i watched weren't descriptive as to what they used and how they made it. I'm going to investigate it some more this weekend.

[Boonjob]

it was awhile ago when I was looking at them... it was like 05-06ish... good possibility that some of the vids I saw are no longer on there... I will see if i can find some of them...

[cyberwollf]

I guy at my work has built several.  You will be using Stepper motors.  Shoot me a PM with your email and I'll try to get it to him for questions

[SapperChris]

How much do you think it would cost to build something like that? I wouldn't mind having one if it won't bankrupt me.

[DarinSchmidt]

not sure, im going to guess 5-800 depending on what you use to build your table and such out of and what kind of router you use. (hoping closer to 500). One other things that i would like to be able to do is make it wifi accessable so that i could send the instructions from any computer that i want, prob have to build a little PICO system with wifi capabilities to boot up when the CNC is turned on.

I use my grandpa's CNC hand crank but its very time consuming and i'm not good at manually making any rounded edges on it. So a CNC would help out a lot.

Found a website called Linuxcnc.org, seems to be a good program, i only breifly looked at it though so there may be some better ones out there.

[DarinSchmidt]

http://buildyourcnc.com/default.aspx
http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-CNC/
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/01/diy-cnc-machine-just-390/ <= $400 CNC machine

[DarinSchmidt]

well, it look slike for the size of CNC that im wanting to make, its going to cost close to 1k, which to me, isnt all that bad for a CNC

[SapperChris]

No, that is actually very cheap for a CNC machine. It's more than my wife would let me spend on one but maybe if I need any work done I could just pay you to do it. lol

[DarinSchmidt]

lol, yeah, thats always an option. from the looks of it, its going to prob cost as most 1500... now that im looking into all the hardware to do it all. Though i found this: http://www.ecrater.com/p/12583715/3-axis-nema-23-stepper-motor-driver# for $260, which on some websites i been finding single motors to cost that much in the Nema23 range http://www.mcmaster.com/#electric-motors/=fspfo7.... those motors push 175 ounce-torque, but i'm not sure if thats enough. I was wanting to build a table to handle 4x8' sheets of whatever, but that means that the table would have to be something like 9x5' which im not sure if i have room for at the moment, then add on room for the motors and railing..... so i may just build it to do 4x4' sheets.

But still exploring whats needed and such.

[cbenner]

Hey all, I'm new here but thought I might be able to help out. I own a cr onsrude cnc twin table 4x8 10hp. I have a woodworking business in Lebanon. I have built programmed and work on Cnc equipment daily. If you need parts for your Cnc build I can help.
Cheers

Chris