[TheMightySpud]

Hi all,


As mentioned in the welcome thread I'm currently designing and building a complete home automation system and in the process of designing I figured out I'd need some parts custom built, so after a fair bit of poking around it worked out that it would be cheaper (and a lot more fun) to build my own Arduino powered CNC Router.


After looking around for quite a while for a design I liked, it became apparent that most were either too expensive, or (and no disrespect meant by this) not very Aesthetically pleasing to my eye. So, I decided to design my own from the ground up.

I'll be making use of an Arduino Uno and GRBL CNC Shield to power the thing, along with the workflow described in the video below to get the drawings over to the machine, the only change being that I will be using Adobe Illustrator to create the original drawings.

Video

I'm taking it slow and designing in sections to make sure I eliminate any 'compounding errors'.


The following series of images show the build up of the base and Y-Axis.




First Stage of the Framework



Second Stage of the Framework



Steel Guide rods, Threaded Rods and Bearings.



Linear Bearings



Armature (x,z axes mount) mounts added to Threaded rods and Linear Bearings



Motors (No mounting system added as yet, but know what I'll be doing )



Flat base to hold material


The size of the machine I would categorise as 'mid-sized' I'm working it out so that it can cut from A3 sized (297mm x 420mm) material


So there is stage one.


Materials are Pine for the frame, mdf for 'extra' bits (As I already have a lot of 'leftovers') and Steel/Threaded rods.


I'm fairly confident in the design, but pointers/tips would be extremely appreciated


Thanks
TheMightySpud

[pippin88]

Do not bother with unsupported rods, they are just not suitable. Supported round rails are cheap.