DIY CNC Machines

Flashlight Modding and DIY Parts
1

A while back there was talk of what makes a milling machine a milling machine. Basically it comes down to the fact that any machine that is motor driven and can remove material is a milling machine but that is not the usual reference. The usual reference is a machine that stands vertical and can use a bit that enable one to make grated cheese out of a huge chunk of metal. Then to ease or complicate things we make them CNC (Computer Numerical Control) for either repetition or control, often both.


I am not a machinist by any means nor will I ever claim to be. What I am though is a CNC user and it benefits/compliments my sign business. As I promised I will explain and show that for most CNC is easily affordable and in some cases much cheaper than a multitude of wood tools or a high dollar drill press. How extensive and elaborate one wants to get is up to them but it is very possible for everyone.

My very first machine was something called a JRGO, an open source design readily available. It was a small moving gantry flatbed mill made out of mdf, skateboard bearings, steel pipe, and a Dremel for a spindle. The footprint was a mere 16"x20". I purchased it from a fellow sign associate to "cut my teeth" and see my true interest before shelling out thousands.

http://www.myheap.com/cnc-router/jgro-router-build.html

After months of backward engineering and studying how this mysterious machine worked, I finally broke down and built what is known as a Mechmate (a ShopBot copy) to the size of 120"x60"

http://postimg.org/gallery/jul0dk5o/

It is a monster of a machine and has a accuracy repeatability of .0001 BUT it is not a mill that can produce engine parts etc. Most do not need that type of precision. Most do not even need a machine anywhere near that size, not even in the sign business. This machine and even my JRGO can cut all the woods as well as most metals. Steel is the hardest for this machine because the spindle is way to fast but it can be done with patience.

Through the course of learning and building this machine I found a world of information that showed me how to build a cnc mini-mill, a cnc lathe, etc. etc.

Most basic software can be found for free as well as the design software, which essentially uses the same principals as Eagle. Also, just to be clear - there is absolutely NO need to EVER pay for plans - drawings are everywhere.

I have included links that many can view and for those that are interested I am more than willing to answer questions via post or pm. I hope this helps.

http://buildyourcnc.com/CNCMachineKits.aspx

http://solsylva.com/cnc/10x9x4.shtml

http://www.mechmate.com/

2

Wow…awesome!

I was just looking at these the other day…pipe dream for sure…but cool as hell

Ever see this

CNC routered furniture

or this

Slap a sheet of plywood down…zip out a beehive or desk or whatever

Or this
http://atfab.co/

3

Making a DIY CNC is fun, but it is simply not worth the trouble esp if you’re making your first one, and if you are already thinking about saving the money then you are probably not as committed, but that’s just my opinion on “DIY” if anything winds you up with a unique, personalized product, and the satisfaction of making your own thing that works for you, but it will still be way too far from the real thing, unless , again, offcourse you are super committed and have funds to do so.

4

No, no, NO!!! Not a pipe dream whatsoever! Once you build the electrics you are done. Table size does not change the cost much. Hell, I had a friend build completely out of wood...same size as mine...for $500 AND he is building boats with it.

Sinner - that depends on what is considered the "real thing". For most, a Bridgeport or a Hoss that will last 100 years is just not needed and out of reach.

5

$500 is very doable…

Is the wooden one as stable/accurate as a metal one

And would the tolerances be acceptable routing out the furniture above, just slap in some good plywood and zing out furniture?

Building the electronics would actually be something I am somewhat capable of…the other stuff, who knows

6

You would be very surprised at how accurate they can be.

Just to get an idea...look at the JRGO. From there substitute whatever you like. The wood version was only about $200 BUT keep this in mind...your choice of spindle or router can change quickly from $25 to $400.

7

Amazing effort. It truly is another world when you go NC. Your large table is a work of art. Thanks for posting the info up.

8

A few weeks ago I almost bought one of these: https://www.inventables.com/technologies/desktop-3d-carving-cnc-mill-kit-shapeoko-2 2

9

http://shop.shapeoko.com/products/shapeoko-2

I wonder if that would be accurate enough to cut prototype drivers?

Sure looks like it

10

They look like decent machines but you can build the same machine for much less. The first thing that one needs to do is try and figure out what you will be doing 90% of the time. When you do that you will come up with YOUR optimal size.

Even in the sign business many buy 4x8 and 5x10 machines only to find out that they only use 2-3 ft corner.

If one wants to build furniture a 4x4 should be the minimum. If one wants to cut circuit boards or aluminum flashlight pills. 12"x12" would be in order or possibly a fixed spindle with a moving table instead and possibly even a slow spindle for steel.

Feel free to ask any questions.

11

I salvaged a CNC router from an engraving business, it was mechanicaly in very good condition but the electronics were faulty and outdated (only did half stepping).

Retrofited it with G203V controllers from Gecko drives and a C10 breakout board from CNC4PC, The cutting head is a 1050FME from KRESS, it’s driven with Mach3 software from a PC.

Cuts through aluminium like butter, very handy tool to have, sees a lot of work around christmas.

Here it is (on the left) while i refurbished it

Done

12

Nice job on the retrofit!

I do not see any steppers on the lathe?

13

The lathe i use too much on small fast jobs to retrofit (especially since i moved to the countryside, but i entertained the idea to convert it back in the past when most use was hobby oriented), on the right of the lathe though the red thing is a SiegX2 mill (in pieces), i already have a full ballscrew kit to convert it to CNC, not in a hurry because i usually use aluminium (or wood) for projects and the small router does a great job with both, and having the manual mill is very handy for fast jobs (just like the lathe).

14

ORSM shop there JamesB. How is the noise in the rest of the house when the machine park is working?

15

That was my former shop when i lived in the city, it was in the basement, very loud if you stayed there by the machine, but being a CNC (and me being quite confident in my G code and slightly retarded) i just clicked the start button, left and closed the doors leading to the basement (you could hardly hear a slight hum fro the rest of the house) only to come back some hours later to a finished piece, never had a mishap while away (touches wood).

My new shop is not finished yet, machines are in a temporary, messy room.

16

For a cheap CNC mill, look into Taig. For a DIY conversion, look at the CNC Fusion kit for the X3 mill. You could get a CNC X3 up and going for 3-4 grand and it’s fairly stout. There are also programmable spindles sold for X3’s and you can employ rigid tapping. Beyond this there is Tormach at 6-7 grand.

You can start to get used 1980’s Fanuc machines such as Mori Jr’s once you get up to beyond the $6,000 mark but most will not have the shop accommodations for a huge machine like this. The spindles are often slow and the memory lacks, but you can drip feed them from a DNC to overcome the memory limitation. These machines are no joke.

17

Just stumbled across this

http://www.repairablemachines.com/

Also…have you ever seen this?
Open source SBC linux boards…capable of CNC w/ all pinouts!

18

great routers there!

The Grizzly G0704 (PM25) is a very popular machine to CNC and there are a few kits out there. It’s not super cheap and the servos/ ballscrews+nuts add another layer of cost on top of that, but it would be a very capable machine for the scale of work we do on here. Some ability to mill steel too, plus the extra Z would give you the space to mounted a small servo controlled rotary table for a 4th axis.