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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Posts
    0

    desktop size CNC (is there any open source design?)

    Hey guys,

    I'm trying to build a hobby machine for the least amount of money...

    So, I was looking at different options and found the Zen Toolworks Kit....

    I would really like the Zen 12x12 but with the price of the Zen 7x7 :violin:
    [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Toolworks-CNC-Carving-Machine/dp/B002ARTLUG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1292458057&sr=8-1]Amazon.com: Zen Toolworks CNC Carving Machine DIY Kit 7x7: Home Improvement[/ame]

    Then, I kept looking and found this kit
    - 3 PCS Nema 23 Stepper Motors with 270oz-in holding torque,-
    - 1PC 350W,24VDC power Supply,
    - 1 PC 3 Axis Control Board
    - 1 PC Cable
    for $210 on Ebay

    Nema 23 Stepper Motor 270oz-in,3A +3 Axis Board CNC Kit - eBay (item 180604783474 end time Dec-31-10 23:56:57 PST)

    would the specs on those motor be ok?

    I also have dremel (to get me started) and an old computer (should be able to run Ubuntu or XP with no problem)....

    Is there some type of CNC open source design that would work with those Nema 23 Stepper motors?

    Thanks guys!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Posts
    26
    MantisRouter - small size

    McWire Cartesian Bot - small size

    Free CNC plans now available - Commercial plans that became free, but they
    seem to have disappeared? - They were nice, I had a copy of one of his
    plans, at one time, they read like a book and were easy to follow.

    DIYLILCNC - Nice, but uses Laser-cut parts

    Bluumax CNC - Not plans, but a small complete gantry style CNC
    router, all you add is a, Dremel, power supply, and two sheets of
    MDF wood, $415, looks reminiscent of a miniature and simplified
    Jgro design
    .

    Someone did a write-up of the Bluumax CNC router over at the
    Shopsmith forums, The BluumaxCNC Router

    Over at Instructables.com, they have a few CNC machines,

    How to Make a Three Axis CNC Machine (Cheaply and Easily)


    Easy to Build Desk Top 3 Axis CNC Milling Machine

    There are more CNC Machines over at Instructables.com
    just do a search

    Hope this helps.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Posts
    7

    Open Source CNC machine designs

    There is a UK based magaZine called "Model Engineers Workshop" (also available in the US). Over the past few years they have featured various articles on converting bench top manual mills and lathes to CNC and also at least one article on building a benchtop CNC router from scratch. Try their web-site: The home of Model Engineer and Model Engineers' Workshop Magazines and ask the people there for more information. They seem to be a helpful bunch.

  4. #4

    Patience Required

    Well, if you are not in a hurry I have started to document my own design.

    Reinventing CNC

    It will be chain driven, 1NM steppers, palm router/RotoZip spindle. I am working on building 2 simultaneously. One small table top and one that will handle 4'x8' sheet goods.

    The one thing that I am really working on that is different is making the large format machine able to be tilted away so I don't have to dedicate my entire garage workspace to it.

    Mainly geared toward cutting wood or maybe a little aluminum.

    Focus is on cheap, light, and portable.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Posts
    0
    Out of curiousity, what defines "open source" when it comes to hardware and machines?

  6. #6
    That's easy. All the design information and plans are freely available.

    It is not really that scary as far as intellectual property ideas go. Patents and copyrights are only as good as the money you can spend on paying lawyers.

    With open source designs, everything is done out in the open for people to shoot you down and tell you that you are full of it or to base their own machines on your design. The whole idea being that if more people are working on the problem, they feed into each other and everybody wins.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Posts
    247
    Here is an example of an open-source electronics prototyping platform called Arduino. You can build it or buy it pre-assembled. The software is all open-source and based upon the gnu avr/gcc library (also open-source).

    Arduino - HomePage

    ~John

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Posts
    6
    I started my CNC build last month after gathering parts and supplies for a while. I'm documenting the build on my blog, phils-stuff.com/blog. I'll give you an idea of my costs so far, as best I can recall. The design is out of my head from looking at numerous other people's CNC builds. I drew up some basic plans on paper and then in CAD. However, I changed some things right away. I'll get my plans scanned and on my blog at some point just to show what I started with.

    NEMA17 Bi-polar stepper motors - $7 each off ebay. (3 total)
    Stepper Driver board - 4 axis - $80 total, includes shipping, off ebay.
    ----(3 axis driver is around $50-$60)
    1/4" x 36" all thread - $3 (2 total)
    3/8" x 36" all thread - $4
    3/8" I.D. ball bearing - $4.50 each (2 total for lower lead screw)
    1/4" I.D. ball bearing - $2.25 each (4 total for gantry and spindle lead screws)
    Cutting boards - 2 pack - $7.99 (less with coupon) at Harbor freight (3 packs total)
    ----1 at 7/16" thick and 1 at 1/4" thick, roughly 10"x14".
    3/4" x 1/8" x 36" - Aluminum angle $3.50
    Nut and bolt assortment - $4.49 at harbor freight.
    Stove bolt assortment - $2.99 at harbor freight.
    3/8" x 36" Drill Rod (hardened steel) - $5 (3 total)
    3/8" I.D. x 24" Brass tubing - $3 (bushing material)
    3/8" coupling nut - $0.25
    1/4" coupling nut - $0.20 (2 total)

    My math gets me to about $183 total so far. That doesn't include the Dremel that I already own, which will be my spindle motor and the computer.

    In my experience, the hardest part is getting a drawing from CAD to CAM to Machine Control. I'll post more on my software experience once I have a working machine.

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