instructables.com - small arduino cnc
TRANSCRIPT
http://www.instructables.com/id/Small-Arduino-CNC/
Food Living Outside Play Technology Workshop
Small Arduino CNCby Make it BIG on September 28, 2014
Table of Contents
Small Arduino CNC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Intro: Small Arduino CNC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Step 1: Take apart your CD-Roms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Step 2: "Hack" the power supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Step 3: Build the structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Step 4: Soldering and wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Step 5: Build the axis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Step 6: Attaching the Easydrivers and the Arduino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Step 7: The spindle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Step 8: The software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Step 9: Milling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
http://www.instructables.com/id/Small-Arduino-CNC/
Author:Make it BIGI just joined Instructables and hope you like my projects!
Intro: Small Arduino CNCThis instructable shows you how to build a cheap and easy, but very small CNC. You can use it to mill small PCB's. Everything you need, can be found in old PC's or canbe bought quite cheap (I paid ~30$). It was inspired by the Pocket laser engraver, but i added a third axis and now I am able to mill small 3D objects and PCB's.
For this project you will need:
3 old CD/DVD-Roms1 Computer power supply1 PC fan1 small DC motor3 Easydriver boards (can be bought on ebay ~2$ each)1 Arduino Uno (can be bought on ebay ~14$)Screws, spacers, soldering iron, cables (old ribbons from PC's also work), some wood, a breadboard, screw terminals and some other supplies.
Image Notes1. You will need 3 CD-Roms2. You will need 3 CD-Roms
http://www.instructables.com/id/Small-Arduino-CNC/
Step 1: Take apart your CD-RomsOpening the CD-Roms isn't really hard. Just find yourself some old CD-Roms and follow the steps shown in the pictures. Even if your CD-Roms look a bit different, youshouldn't have many problems opening them.
Image Notes1. Remove the four screws.
Image Notes1. Put the top part away, it's not used in this project.
Image Notes1. Put a small screwdriver or a paperclip into the upper hole and push until the trayopens.
Image Notes1. Push this part inside and do so on the opposite side, to take of the front.
Image Notes1. Put away this part it's not needed for the project.2. Remove these screws.3. Remove this strip. Note: There is another one on the opposite side.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Small-Arduino-CNC/
Image Notes1. Put this part away, it's not used in this project.
Image Notes1. Remove these screws.
Image Notes1. Put this part away, maybe you want to use the motor for something else.2. The slide with the stepper motor. You will need two more for this project.
Step 2: "Hack" the power supplyBefore hacking the power supply, please make sure it isn't plugged in.
Hacking a power supply is easy. You only have to connect the green cable with a black cable (ground). Make sure not to solder the two, because in case of a short circuityou have to disconnect the two cables and reconnect them in order to reset the fuse in the power supply (It's a good idea to put in a switch).
The power supply will start running, as soon as the green cable is connected to the ground. Now you have a DC power supply!
To use the power supply, strip a red cable (5V) and a black cable (ground). It is also useful to strip a yellow cable (12V) or an orange cable (3,3V) for the milling motorand a cooling fan. Put the stripped cables into a clamp.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Small-Arduino-CNC/
Image Notes1. The reset switch
Step 3: Build the structureThis part isn't really complicated. You just need a platform (mine is 13,5 cm x 17 cm but other sizes are also ok) and two pillars (mine are 24 cm high). I made them fromwood, as it is very easy to cut and i can put screws into it.
After you have your wooden parts, simply screw the pillars onto the platform. (Make sure that your slides fit onto the platform and in between the pillars, as some slidesare a bit taller or smaller).
http://www.instructables.com/id/Small-Arduino-CNC/
Step 4: Soldering and wiringYou have to solder cables onto the stepper motors. It's a bit tricky, as there isn't much space for soldering, so you need patience and a calm hand. You can simplify thisstep, if you solder the cables onto the ribbon cable, which is already attached to the steppers. Just cut in between the tracks, and you can solder the cables to the ribboncable. To avoid short curcuits, insulate the connections.
To make the device look better in the end, i used a stapler and stapled the cables to the wood. It looks nicer and more organised.
Image Notes1. Cables soldered to the ribbon cable.2. Cables attached to the frame.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Small-Arduino-CNC/
Image Notes1. Cables directly connected to the stepper motor.
Step 5: Build the axisSince there isn't the possibility to put screws into your slides, you have to take a good glue (I used a two-component adhesive). Cut a wooden platform for the base axis(the Y-Axis) and glue it to the plastic on the slide.
After that, glue a piece of wood, which is as wide as your Z-Axis slide, to the X-Axis.
When your glue is dry, drill holes into the large piece of wood, which is attached to your X-Axis. The holes have to match the distance of the holes, which are in your Z-Axis slide.
Now that everything is prepared, you can screw the Y-Axis to the ground and the X-Axis onto the two pillars. When this is done, you can attach the Z-Axis to your X-Axis.Note: You will need spacers and washers, because the holes in the slides are too big for most screws. You also have to make sure, that the slides have no contact to theplatforms and can move freely.
If you want you can add a metal platform to your base. You can take the metal from an old CD-Rom housing, and glue it to your platform (It's useful to have a metalplatform, as you can hold your PCB's with magnets instead of duct tape).
Image Notes1. It's a bit hard to see, but i simply put a lot of glue onto the plastic andattached the wooden platform.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Small-Arduino-CNC/
Image Notes1. I glued a small platform onto the X-Axis and attached the bigger platform there.At the end i used screws and wooden spacers, to attach the Z-Axis to the X-Axis.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Small-Arduino-CNC/
Image Notes1. Construction to attach the Z-Axis to the X-Axis.
Image Notes1. Your small CNC should now look like this.
Image Notes1. The metal platform with magnets.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Small-Arduino-CNC/
Step 6: Attaching the Easydrivers and the ArduinoNow that the structure is finished, you have to wire your motors to the Easydrivers and the Arduino. There are two ways of doing it.
The easier and faster way is to put all your Easydrivers into a breadboard and connect them to the Arduino.
The other way is to build a PCB. The disadvantage is, that you have to solder a lot, but you can build the PCB as a shield and directly attach it to your Arduino.
As mentioned in the picture, you should also add a fan to cool the Easydrivers and the Arduino (Espacially if you want to put them into a housing).
Now you only have to find out, which pin of your steppers, has to go to which pin on your Easydrivers. Again it is useful to look at your ribbon cables. Normalwise youhave to attach the cables to your Easydrivers in the same way as they are connected to the stepper.
Image Notes1. Arduino Uno R32. Easydriver
Image Notes1. If your Easydrivers come without soldered connectors, you only have to solderconnectors to the shown holes.
Image Notes1. If your Easydrivers come without soldered connectors, you only have tosolder connectors to the shown holes.
Image Notes1. You can add a cooling fan here (it's senseful, because the easydrivers get hot).The white cable is a signal cable (some fans don't have this so ignore it if your fanhas less than 3 cables) the yellow cable is attached to 12V and the black one toground.2. To power supply (connect red wire to 5V and black wire to ground)3. Pins from left to right: 7,6,5,4,3,24. To X-Axis5. To Y-Axis6. To Z-Axis
http://www.instructables.com/id/Small-Arduino-CNC/
Image Notes1. The Arduino is zip tied to the frame.2. The shield is attached to the arduino and the easydrivers are attached to theshield.3. This socket can be used to attach the fans third pin. (optional)4. These sockets are used for power supply.
Image Notes1. My shield. It isn't really beautiful and i used too many jumpers,but it is working.Note: I placed sockets on the shield, so I can use the easydrivers in otherprojects.
Step 7: The spindleThe spindle consists of a DC motor and two screw terminals. It is important, that the motorshaft has the same size as the cutter, to decrease vibrations and increaseprecision.
Cut the metal parts out of the screw terminals. After you have the metal parts, attach one side of the metal part to the motor and the other one to the cutter. Tighten thescrews and attach the second metal part 180° turned. Put it on top of the first metal part (the second metal part is needed as a counter weight, to minimize vibrations andincrease precision).
When your spindle is finished, attach it to the Z-Axis. I used a metal part lying arond, but many motors also have attachment points on the front which you can use.
Make sure to use a light motor, as your Z-Axis can't lift heavy objects!
http://www.instructables.com/id/Small-Arduino-CNC/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Small-Arduino-CNC/
Image Notes1. The motor is attached with a metal strip and screws.
Step 8: The softwareThe last step is the software. You have to download and install the Arduino software
the Grbl library and the Grbl controller.
After downloading the Grbl library, you have to click sketch --> import library --> add library in the Arduino software and select the zip file you just downloaded. Now sendthe library to your Arduino (your Arduino has to be connected via USB). There is also a more detailed discription on how to install Grbl --> Install Grbl
After you installed Grbl on your Arduino open the Grbl controller and select the port to which your Arduino is connected. Press the open button.
Now a list of options appears in the command screen. You have to change a few of these options, by entering the number of the option (the numbers with a $) = and thenew value (For example $130=35.000). You may need to experiment a bit, but the options shown in my screenshot should work.
If your motors are moving into the wrong direction, go to Tools --> Options --> Axis and click the axis you want to invert.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Small-Arduino-CNC/
Image Notes1. Follow this way to import your Grbl library.
Image Notes1. Don't change this just upload it.2. The upload button.
Image Notes1. The open button.
Image Notes1. These numbers show how far your axis can move. Mine can move 3.5 cm so Ientered 35.000 mm.2. This values show how many steps the steppers have to do, to move the axis byone mm. For my steppers its 53.333 steps per mm.3. Enter your new values here. Do it like this: $130=35.000 and press enter.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Small-Arduino-CNC/
Step 9: MillingAfter you finished the CNC you can start milling. Just produce a file and transform it into gcode. Now send it to your mill and start milling (Keep in mind that your objectshave to fit the small dimensions of this CNC).
Note: When starting Grbl controller it's automatically in alarm mode. Before milling, you have to switch it of by entering $X into the command field.
To produce files for your CNC, you can use Inkscape with the add on Gcodetools both programms are freeware. But you can also use any other programm.
In my example i milled a star into floral foam. The material is really soft and can be milled even with a drill instead of a cutter. I attached the foam with double faced tape.
If your bed is correctly leveled and you use a cutter, it should also be possible to produce small PCB's. PCB's can be attached with magnets, as I have a magneticplatform, which was made out of a CD-Rom case.
Image Notes1. The finished CNC as seen from the side.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Small-Arduino-CNC/
Image Notes1. The finished foam star.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Small-Arduino-CNC/
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Comments
9 comments Add Comment
padbravo says: Oct 5, 2014. 11:47 AM REPLYGreat!I'll make one of those too!got my vote!and Tks for sharing
Antzy Carmasaic says: Oct 5, 2014. 10:21 AM REPLYThat's really nice use of CD ROMs. I tried the same thing about an year ago but couldn't find a way to attach drill bit to motor(I was aiming to drill holes inPCB). I tried superglue and araldite but the joint didn't hold. Have you tried drilling holes in something harder than foam?In the end the laser module also died due to sparking and now it's just a 2D plotter :(
Make it BIG says: Oct 5, 2014. 11:34 AM REPLYYeah I had the same problem with the laser. I broke 2 due to a broken curcuit.Ijust tried some materials and most failed (the foam and soft balsa woodis working). But i have a very weak motor (1,5V) and a drill. I think astronger motor and a sharp cutter could cut stronger and harder material.
billbillt says: Oct 5, 2014. 10:19 AM REPLYGreat!.... Got my vote!... Double plus good!.....
kst182 says: Oct 5, 2014. 9:54 AM REPLYGood idea thanks,but i think z axis is too weight
MsSweetSatisfaction says: Oct 5, 2014. 9:24 AM REPLYThis is awesome! Amazing hack, and you made it into something that is so cool! Thanks for sharing!
robodude95 says: Oct 5, 2014. 8:59 AM REPLYAwesome job!!
Arman5592 says: Oct 5, 2014. 7:09 AM REPLYGreat work . I also am making one ! But do these motors deliver enough power for cutting through materials such as balsa (low thickness ) or cardboard ?I wanted to make a laser version as you wont need a Z axis and it can be used for making shapes on paper too .
kode1303 says: Oct 5, 2014. 5:44 AM REPLYVery cool!