tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82542422678737639842024-09-13T19:28:41.933-07:00Building and Using a Desktop CNC RouterUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254242267873763984.post-7745519619168774542009-10-26T21:13:00.000-07:002009-10-26T21:18:43.416-07:00

The Project Schedule sticky post has been updated. Things are more or less on schedule. Assuming the kit arrives in 2 weeks or so the plan to assemble everything during the Thanksgiving holiday week still holds.The update to the System Diagram was to note specifics such as EMC2 and Gecko 540 as the actual components being used.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254242267873763984.post-82447010961123384202009-10-24T18:31:00.001-07:002009-10-24T21:35:01.657-07:00

I mentioned the new components that were purchased and the old parts that would be brought back into service to build the CNC Controller PC here. This morning I assembled everything and was relieved when the system fired up without a hitch. This first boot up was using the original boot drive that has Windows XP installed. Since I transferred the Windows license to my newer system when I built it

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254242267873763984.post-50206083916399589812009-10-21T18:37:00.000-07:002009-10-21T20:20:32.132-07:00

I have spent the past few days gathering the various bits and pieces to connect up the controller electronics. I have mounted the three stepper motors in a test stand built from some left over pieces of Baltic birch plywood. I also cut a piece to mount the power supply and Gecko G540 on. The A/C power chord will connect to the power supply through a fuse and lighted rocker on-off switch. Pictures

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254242267873763984.post-74159377889828224392009-10-18T04:35:00.000-07:002009-10-18T05:05:12.248-07:00

While awaiting the delivery of the CNC Router kit one of the best uses of my time is to get the CNC Controller setup, configured and tested. When working with any type of electronic device it is important to avoid releasing any of the magic smoke hidden within. When the magic smoke is allowed to escape from an electrical component it usually ceases to work, clear evidence of the importance of the

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254242267873763984.post-29860775042736469632009-10-15T22:08:00.001-07:002009-10-17T00:55:21.078-07:00

Arriving home from work today I was pleased to find my CNC Router Parts order had arrived. As mentioned previously this past Sunday I placed an order for the stepper motors, power supply, cables and Gecko G540. Ahren at CRP apparently got the order out right away and made the necessary arrangements for a prompt delivery by a uniformed agent of the Federal government.No excuse now for not making

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254242267873763984.post-48209275785749205202009-10-15T01:56:00.001-07:002009-10-17T00:55:50.239-07:00

One of the pieces of the CNC puzzle is a computer system to function as the CNC Controller. This system does not require blazing speed or the latest and greatest components. I have decided to bring back into use a motherboard, Pentium 4 CPU and 1GB of Ram that I replaced a few years ago. I also found the 60 GB hard drives I used in the older system. The video card from this older system has less

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254242267873763984.post-11311071362155624172009-10-12T20:18:00.000-07:002009-10-12T20:52:40.111-07:00

The past 24 hours has been significant for this project. I made the BIG purchase decisions and pulled the trigger. The Project Cost Sheet has been updated and a big chunk of the budget has been expended.I placed an order with Fine Line Automation for the FLA100-00 Complete 2x3 Router Kit. This kit includes all of the hardware to build the CNC Router described in this post. The kit includes

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254242267873763984.post-71598503218593093972009-10-10T21:52:00.000-07:002009-10-12T20:10:19.789-07:00

This is a 'sticky' post to be updated regularly with CNC project ideas and requests. CNC Controller Box PanelsCable ChainsDust CoverTopography Templates for Classroom Visual AidNorm Abram's Plantation Shutter JigsTele Style Guitar BodyTele Style NeckTele Style Bakelite Pick GuardSignage for Optometry Practice (Dr. Eliza)If you have some suggestions or requests leave a comment.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254242267873763984.post-72696139896193184522009-10-10T06:49:00.000-07:002009-11-02T05:00:00.941-08:00

This is another image of the CNC Router built by Glacial Wanderer which I mentioned previously here. It uses the linear motion hardware from CNC Router Parts. I have also mentioned the plans for the CRP/FLA-100 CNC router are available free of charge in this post.I refer to this as the CRP (CNC Router Parts)/FLA (Fine Line Automation)100-00 because this is the result of a collaboration between

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254242267873763984.post-868916065606394542009-10-09T18:22:00.000-07:002009-10-09T19:51:22.188-07:00

PDJ Inc. offers the Pilot Pro CNC Router. It can be built using 80/20 extrusion, steel square tubing or a combination of these materials as shown in the photo. The standard cutting capacity is 24"x26" but there is the potential to extend the bed length. The system appears suitable for a 690 or smaller router. The machine uses precision rails or rods for the linear motion and ball screws. These

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254242267873763984.post-32975158796147500112009-10-08T21:31:00.000-07:002009-10-08T21:33:02.142-07:00

The project cost sheet sticky post has been updated.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254242267873763984.post-84507717306840992702009-10-08T19:36:00.000-07:002009-10-09T18:21:50.440-07:00

It didn't take long lurking at the cnczone.com forum to notice that Joe's 2006 and Joe's 4x4 Hybrid CNC routers were the topic of many threads. The 4x4 Hybrid is the latest design by Joe.Joe made a significant contribution to the home brew CNC community by developing the the 2006 design and making them available free of charge. They can be found here. Joe offers a partial kit for both the 2006

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254242267873763984.post-76477845330187276292009-10-07T21:34:00.001-07:002009-10-08T06:25:53.808-07:00

Cheaply - Quickly - High Performance, you can choose the two you prefer. Many decisions involve making trade-offs between Cost, Schedule and Capability and this is one of them.Machine Type: The main choice here is a movable X-Y table or movable gantry configuration. I have concluded that movable gantry machines are the dominant configuration, especially for machines with larger cutting capacities

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254242267873763984.post-10578169059111812342009-10-06T21:14:00.000-07:002009-10-06T22:09:08.045-07:00

This is a photo of 'Glacial Wanderer's' CNC Router built from CNC Router Parts components. Every living room should have one! I am not sure if he is the Glacial Wanderer because glaciers are his favorite travel destination or if he moves about somewhat aimlessly at an extremely slow pace. I do know he has built a great looking CNC Router and knows photography. Notice the pleasing composition

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254242267873763984.post-81233838969395194702009-10-05T20:30:00.000-07:002009-10-26T21:08:59.679-07:00

Updated 10/26/2009The first phase of the project will have the following groups of activities:Project Preparation Ordering and DeliveriesCNC Controller PrepCNC Router Build Project Preparation is on the plate for the next week or two. This will include specifying the requirements for the router (complete). Unless I clearly define the key criteria for the machine it would be just a matter of luck

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254242267873763984.post-11012217007630981842009-10-05T17:55:00.000-07:002009-10-26T21:12:42.966-07:00

Updated 10/26/2009This post will be a sticky post since I expect this diagram to change as I learn more about what I am doing. CAD/CAM WorkstationI will be using an existing PC to create 2D and 3D geometry using CAD and other applications. This system will also host any CAM applications used to program tool paths and to generate the G-Code files. The resulting files will be transfered to the CNC

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254242267873763984.post-5865202202067321692009-10-04T20:18:00.000-07:002009-10-04T21:27:30.332-07:00

This image is from a 3D model of the CRP 100 router. It uses a linear motion mechanism that I am really impressed with. This hardware is sold by CNC Router Parts and plans for the CRP 100 are free to download! It is a design that makes excellent use of the characteristics of the materials used. It is likely that we will be looking into these linear motion mechanisms in future posts.Now to

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254242267873763984.post-7635534232769810992009-10-03T22:03:00.000-07:002009-10-04T22:02:03.255-07:00

I need to confess - I began investigating things regarding this project before I started this blog. Sorry, for the time being I am a few weeks ahead of my readers. The good news is that for now I have few, if any, readers - so no harm done. I figure I am pretty much writing posts to myself at this point. Nonetheless the deal described below expired about a week ago.While grousing around the

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254242267873763984.post-71182498091811628402009-10-03T14:47:00.000-07:002009-10-03T16:18:23.861-07:00

It occurs to me that some family and friends looking into this project may not be familiar with what a CNC Router is, and that is very understandable. Not everyone dreams of having a screaming computer controlled routing machine in their garage creating piles of dust.Above is a picture of one of the CNC routers I have been considering for this project. It is a PDJ Pilot Pro router with dual

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254242267873763984.post-67907372436324295522009-10-03T14:19:00.000-07:002009-10-15T22:07:17.156-07:00

CNC Router Project Cost SheetThis Sticky Post documents the costs involved for Ken's CNC Router Project. I plan to update this periodically. CAD SoftwareAlibre Design - $99 CAM Software Controller PCKeyboard and Mouse - $23Video Card - $40DVD ROM - $19Mid-Tower Case - $50 Controller SoftwareController HardwareCNC Router Parts 3-Axis Electronic Kit - $529(3) 380 oz.-in. NEMA 23 Stepper Motors(3)

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254242267873763984.post-25874908103881130982009-10-03T13:28:00.000-07:002009-10-03T14:13:49.286-07:00

This blog will have several posts that I intend to return to and update on an on going basis, like the Project Cost Sheet. I have created a 'Sticky Post' list which you will find with the other blog lists in the right column. This should make it easy to check in on these frequently updated posts.Let me know how this idea is working out for you in the comments!

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254242267873763984.post-11885381979919583242009-10-03T08:38:00.000-07:002009-10-03T11:24:01.097-07:00

It was the early 1980s and I knew something significant was afoot when I began to use the new and highly coveted Apple Laserwriter printer. My department within a large aerospace company had diligently worked to justify the purchase of this printer, which as I recall cost in the neighborhood of $5-6K. Suddenly I was no longer dependent on the department secretary and her IBM Selectric typewriter

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3