Make your own milling and engraving machine. Do-it-yourself wood milling machine: step-by-step manufacturing technology. Equipment for creating a CNC milling machine for wood with your own hands

The question of how to make a CNC machine can be answered briefly. Knowing that a homemade CNC milling machine, in general, is a complex device with a complex structure, it is advisable for the designer to:

• acquire drawings;
• purchase reliable components and fasteners;
• prepare a good tool;
• Have a CNC lathe and drilling machine on hand to produce quickly.

It wouldn’t hurt to watch the video – a kind of instructional guide on where to start. I’ll start with preparation, buy everything I need, figure out the drawing - here correct solution novice designer. That's why preparatory stage, preceding assembly, is very important.

Preparatory stage work

To make a homemade CNC milling machine, there are two options:

1. You take a ready-made running set of parts (specially selected components), from which we assemble the equipment yourself.
2. Find (make) all the components and start assembling a CNC machine with your own hands that would meet all the requirements.

It is important to decide on the purpose, size and design (how to do without a drawing of a homemade CNC machine), find diagrams for its manufacture, purchase or manufacture some parts that are needed for this, and acquire lead screws.

If you decide to create a CNC machine with your own hands and do without ready-made sets of components and mechanisms, fasteners, you need a diagram assembled according to which the machine will work.

Usually, having found schematic diagram devices, they first model all the machine parts, prepare technical drawings, and then use them to produce components from plywood or aluminum on lathes and milling machines (sometimes it is necessary to use a drilling machine). Most often, working surfaces (also called a work table) are plywood with a thickness of 18 mm.

Assembly of some important machine components

In the machine that you started assembling with your own hands, you need to provide a number of critical components that ensure the vertical movement of the working tool. In this list:

• helical gear – rotation is transmitted using a toothed belt. It is good because the pulleys do not slip, evenly transferring forces to the shaft of the milling equipment;
• if you use a stepper motor (SM) for a mini-machine, it is advisable to take a carriage from a larger printer model - more powerful; old dot matrix printers had fairly powerful electric motors;

• for a three-coordinate device, you will need three SDs. It’s good if there are 5 control wires in each, the functionality of the mini-machine will increase. It is worth assessing the magnitude of the parameters: supply voltage, winding resistance and motor rotation angle in one step. To connect each stepper motor you need a separate controller;
• with the help of screws, the rotational movement from the motor is converted into linear. To achieve high accuracy, many consider it necessary to have ball screws (ball screws), but this component is not cheap. When selecting a set of nuts and mounting screws for mounting blocks, choose them with plastic inserts, this reduces friction and eliminates backlash;

• instead of a stepper motor, you can take a regular electric motor, after a little modification;
• a vertical axis that allows the tool to move in 3D, covering the entire X-ray table. It is made from aluminum plate. It is important that the dimensions of the axis are adjusted to the dimensions of the device. In the presence of muffle furnace, the axle can be cast according to the dimensions of the drawings.

Below is a drawing made in three projections: side view, rear view, and top view.

Maximum attention to the bed

The necessary rigidity of the machine is provided by the bed. A movable portal, a system of rail guides, a stepper motor, work surface, Z axis and spindle.

For example, one of the creators of a homemade CNC machine made the supporting frame from aluminum profile Maytec - two parts (section 40x80 mm) and two end plates 10 mm thick from the same material, connecting the elements with aluminum corners. The structure is reinforced; inside the frame there is a frame made of smaller profiles in the shape of a square.

The frame is mounted without the use of welded connections ( welds poorly able to withstand vibration loads). It is better to use T-nuts as fastenings. The end plates provide for the installation of a bearing block for mounting the lead screw. You will need a plain bearing and a spindle bearing.

The craftsman determined that the main task of the self-made CNC machine was the production of aluminum parts. Since workpieces with a maximum thickness of 60 mm were suitable for him, he made the portal clearance 125 mm (this is the distance from the upper cross beam to the working surface).

This difficult installation process

It is better to assemble homemade CNC machines, after preparing the components, strictly according to the drawing so that they work. The assembly process using lead screws should be performed in the following sequence:

• a knowledgeable craftsman begins by attaching the first two motors to the body - behind the vertical axis of the equipment. One is responsible for the horizontal movement of the milling head (rail guides), and the second is responsible for movement in the vertical plane;
• a movable portal moving along the X axis carries the milling spindle and support (z axis). The higher the portal is, the larger the workpiece can be processed. But at a high portal, during processing, the resistance to emerging loads decreases;

• For fastening the Z-axis motor and linear guides, front, rear, upper, middle and lower plates are used. Make a cradle for the milling spindle there;
• The drive is assembled from carefully selected nuts and studs. To fix the motor shaft and attach it to the stud, use a rubber winding of a thick electric cable. The fixation may be screws inserted into a nylon sleeve.

Then the assembly of the remaining components and assemblies of the homemade product begins.

We install the electronic filling of the machine

To make a CNC machine with your own hands and operate it, you need to operate with correctly selected numerical control, high-quality printed circuit boards and electronic components (especially if they are Chinese), which will allow you to implement all the functionality on the CNC machine, processing a part of a complex configuration.

In order to avoid management problems, homemade CNC machines have the following components among the components:

• stepper motors, some stopped for example Nema;
• LPT port, through which the CNC control unit can be connected to the machine;
• drivers for controllers, they are installed on a mini-milling machine, connecting in accordance with the diagram;

• switching boards (controllers);
• 36V power supply unit with a step-down transformer that converts to 5V to power the control circuit;
• laptop or PC;
• button responsible for emergency stop.

Only after this, CNC machines are tested (in this case, the craftsman will make a test run of it, loading all the programs), and existing shortcomings are identified and eliminated.

Instead of a conclusion

As you can see, it is possible to make a CNC that is not inferior to Chinese models. Having made a set of spare parts with the right size, having high-quality bearings and enough fasteners for assembly, this task is within the power of those who are interested in software technology. You won’t have to look for an example for long.

The photo below shows some examples of numerically controlled machines, which were made by the same craftsmen, not professionals. Not a single part was made hastily, with an arbitrary size, but fitted to the block with great precision, with careful alignment of the axes, the use of high-quality lead screws and reliable bearings. The statement is true: as you assemble, so will you work.

A duralumin blank is processed using CNC. With such a machine, which was assembled by a craftsman, you can perform a lot of milling work.

The goal of this project is to create a desktop CNC machine. It was possible to buy finished machine, but its price and dimensions did not suit me, and I decided to build a CNC machine with the following requirements:
- usage simple tools(you only need drilling machine, band-saw and hand tools)
- low cost (I was focusing on low cost, but still bought elements for about $600, you can save a lot by buying elements in relevant stores)
- small footprint (30"x25")
- normal working space (10" along the X axis, 14" along the Y axis, 4" along the Z axis)
- high cutting speed (60" per minute)
- small number of elements (less than 30 unique)
- available elements (all elements can be purchased in one hardware store and three online stores)
- possibility of successful processing of plywood

Other people's machines

Here are a few photos of other machines collected from this article

Photo 1 – Chris and a friend assembled the machine, cutting out parts from 0.5" acrylic using laser cutting. But everyone who has worked with acrylic knows that laser cutting this is good, but acrylic doesn't hold up well to drilling and there are a lot of holes in this project. They did Good work, more information can be found on Chris's blog. I especially enjoyed making a 3D object using 2D cuts.

Photo 2 - Sam McCaskill did a really good one table machine with CNC. I was impressed that he did not simplify his work and cut all the elements by hand. I'm impressed with this project.

Photo 3 - Angry Monk's used DMF parts cut out using laser cutter and gear-belt engines converted to propeller engines.

Photo 4 - Bret Golab's assembled the machine and configured it to work with Linux CNC (I also tried to do this, but could not due to the complexity). If you are interested in his settings, you can contact him. He did a great job!

I'm afraid I don't have enough experience and knowledge to explain the basics of CNC, but the CNCZone.com forum has an extensive section dedicated to homemade machines, which has helped me a lot.

Cutter: Dremel or Dremel Type Tool

Axes parameters:

X axis
Travel Distance: 14"

Speed: 60"/min
Acceleration: 1"/s2
Resolution: 1/2000"
Pulses per inch: 2001

Y axis
Travel Distance: 10"
Drive: Toothed belt drive
Speed: 60"/min
Acceleration: 1"/s2
Resolution: 1/2000"
Pulses per inch: 2001

Z axis (up-down)
Travel Distance: 4"
Drive: Screw
Acceleration: .2"/s2
Speed: 12"/min
Resolution: 1/8000"
Pulses per inch: 8000

Required Tools

I aimed to use popular tools that can be purchased at a regular DIY store.

Power tools:
- band saw or jigsaw
- drilling machine (drills 1/4", 5/16", 7/16", 5/8", 7/8", 8mm (about 5/16"), also called Q
- Printer
- Dremel or similar tool (for installation into a finished machine).

Hand tool:
- rubber hammer (for putting elements in place)
- hexagons (5/64", 1/16")
- screwdriver
- glue stick or spray glue
- adjustable wrench (or socket wrench with ratchet and 7/16" socket)

Necessary materials

The attached PDF file (CNC-Part-Summary.pdf) provides all costs and information about each item. Only generalized information is provided here.

Sheets --- $20
-Piece 48"x48" 1/2" MDF (any sheet material 1/2" thick I plan to use UHMW in the next version of the machine, but now it is too expensive)
-Piece of 5"x5" 3/4" MDF (this piece is used as a spacer, so you can take a piece of any 3/4" material

Motors and Controllers --- $255
-You could write a whole article about the choice of controllers and motors. In short, you need a controller capable of driving three motors and motors with torque of around 100 oz/in. I bought the motors and a ready-made controller and everything worked well.

Hardware --- $275
-I bought these items in three stores. Simple elements I bought it at a hardware store, I bought specialized drivers at McMaster Carr (http://www.mcmaster.com), and I bought bearings, which I need a lot of, from an online seller, paying $40 for 100 pieces (it turns out to be quite profitable, a lot bearings are left for other projects).

Software ---(Free)
-You need a program to draw your design (I use CorelDraw) and I'm currently using a trial version of Mach3, but I have plans to move to LinuxCNC (an open source machine controller using Linux)

Head unit --- (optional)
-I installed Dremel on my machine, but if you are interested in 3D printing (eg RepRap) you can install your own device.

Printing templates

I had some experience with a jigsaw, so I decided to glue down the templates. Need to print PDF files with the templates placed on the sheet, glue the sheet onto the material and cut out the parts.

File name and material:
All: CNC-Cut-Summary.pdf
0.5" MDF (35 8.5"x11" template sheets): CNC-0.5MDF-CutLayout-(Rev3).pdf
0.75" MDF: CNC-0.75MDF-CutLayout-(Rev2).pdf
0.75" aluminum tube: CNC-0.75Alum-CutLayout-(Rev3).pdf
0.5" MDF (1 48"x48" Pattern Sheet): CNC-(One 48x48 Page) 05-MDF-CutPattern.pdf

Note: I am attaching the CorelDraw drawings in the original format (CNC-CorelDrawFormat-CutPatterns (Rev2) ZIP) for those who would like to change something.

Note: There are two file options for MDF 0.5". You can download a file with 35 pages 8.5"x11" (CNC-0.5MDF-CutLayout-(Rev3), PDF), or a file (CNC-(One 48x48 Page) 05- MDF-CutPattern.pdf) with one sheet of 48"x48" for printing on a wide format printer.

Step by step:
1. Download three PDF template files.
2. Open each file in Adobe Reader
3. Open the print window
4. (IMPORTANT) disable Page Scaling.
5. Check that the file has not been accidentally scaled. The first time I didn't do this, I printed everything at 90% scale, as described below.

Gluing and cutting out elements

Glue the printed templates onto the MDF and aluminum pipe. Next, simply cut out the part along the contour.

As mentioned above, I accidentally printed the templates at 90% scale and didn't notice until I started cutting. Unfortunately, I didn't realize this until this stage. I was left with 90% scale templates and after moving across the country I had access to a full size CNC machine. I couldn't resist and cut out the elements using this machine, but I couldn't drill them with reverse side. That is why all the elements in the photographs are without pieces of the template.

Drilling

I didn't count exactly how many, but this project uses a lot of holes. The holes that are drilled at the ends are especially important, but take your time on them and you will rarely need to use a rubber hammer.

Places with holes in the overlay on top of each other are an attempt to make grooves. Perhaps you have a CNC machine that can do this better.

If you have made it this far, then congratulations! Looking at a bunch of elements, it’s quite difficult to imagine how to assemble the machine, so I tried to make detailed instructions, similar to LEGO instructions. (Attached PDF CNC-Assembly-Instructions.pdf). They look quite interesting step by step photos assemblies.

Ready!

The machine is ready! I hope you got it up and running. I hope the article didn't miss important details and moments. Here's a video showing the machine cutting out a pattern on pink foam board.

Nowadays, handicraft people can increasingly find new machines that are controlled not by hands, as we are all used to, but by computer software and computerized equipment. This innovation is called CNC (computer numerical control).

This technology is used in many institutions, large productions, as well as in the master's workshops. Automated system management allows you to save a lot of time, as well as improve the quality of products.

The automated system is controlled by a computer program. This system includes asynchronous motors with vector control, having three axes of movement of the electric engraver: X, Z, Y. Below we will look at what types of machines with automatic control and calculations there are.

As a rule, all CNC machines use an electric engraver or milling cutter, on which you can change attachments. A numerically controlled machine is used to add decorative elements to certain materials and more. CNC machines, due to advances in the computer world, must have many functions. These functions include:

Milling

A mechanical process of processing a material, during which a cutting element (an attachment in the form of a milling cutter) produces rotational movements on the surface of the workpiece.

Engraving

It consists of applying one or another image to the surface of the workpiece. To do this, use either cutters or a graver (a steel rod with one end pointed at an angle).

Drilling

Mechanical processing of material by cutting, using a drill, which produces holes of different diameters and holes with many edges of different sections and depths.

Laser cutting

A method of cutting and cutting material in which there is no mechanical impact, high accuracy of the workpiece is maintained, and deformations made by this method have minimal deformations.

Plotter

High-precision drawing is produced the most complex schemes, drawings, geographical maps. Drawing is done using a writing block, using a specialized pen.

PCB drawing and drilling

Manufacturing of circuit boards, as well as drawing electrically conductive circuits on the surface of a dielectric plate. Also drilling small holes for radio components.

What functions your future computer-controlled machine will perform is up to you to decide. Next, let’s look at the design of a CNC machine.

Type of CNC machines

The technological features and capabilities of these machines are equivalent to universal machines. However, in modern world, there are three types of CNC machines:

Turning

The purpose of such machines is to create parts based on the type of bodies of rotation, which consists of processing the surface of the workpiece. Also production of internal and external threads.

Milling

The automated operation of these machines consists of processing the planes and spaces of various body blanks. They carry out flat, contour and stepped milling, at various angles, as well as from several sides. Drilling holes thread cutting, deployment and boring of workpieces.

Drilling - boring

They perform reaming, hole drilling, boring and reaming, countersinking, milling, threading and much more.

As we can see, CNC machines have a wide range of functionality that they perform. Therefore, they are equated to universal machines. All of them are very expensive and it is simply impossible to buy any of the above installations due to financial insufficiency. And you might think that you will have to perform all these actions manually throughout your life.

You don't have to be upset. Skillful hands countries, from the first appearance of factory CNC machines, began to create home-made prototypes that work no worse than professional ones.

All components for CNC machines can be ordered on the Internet, where they are freely available and are quite inexpensive. By the way, the body of an automated machine can be made with your own hands, and correct sizes you can go online.

Tip: Before choosing a CNC machine, decide what material you will be processing. This choice will be of major importance when constructing the machine, since it directly depends on the size of the equipment, as well as its costs.

The design of the CNC machine depends entirely on your choice. You can purchase a ready-made standard set of all the necessary parts and simply assemble it in your garage or workshop. Or order all equipment separately.

Consider a standard set of parts on the picture:

1. The immediate working area, which is made of plywood, is the tabletop and side frame.
2. Guide elements.
3. Guide holders.
4. Linear bearings and sliding bushings.
5. Support bearings.
6. Lead screws.
7. Stepper motor controller.
8. Controller power supply.
9. Electric engraver or router.
10. A coupling connecting the lead screw shaft to the shaft of stepper motors.
11. Stepper motors.
12. Running nut.

Using this list of parts, you can safely create your own machine with automated operation. Once you have assembled the entire structure, you can safely begin work.

Principle of operation

Perhaps the most important element on this machine is the milling cutter, engraver or spindle. It depends on your choice. If you have a spindle, then the tail of the cutter, which has a collet for fastening, will be tightly attached to the collet chuck.

The chuck itself is directly mounted on the spindle shaft. The cutting part of the cutter is selected based on the selected material. An electric motor, which is located on a moving carriage, rotates the spindle with a cutter, which allows processing the surface of the material. Stepper motors are controlled by a controller, to which commands are sent from a computer program.

Electronics The machine works directly on the provision of computer software, which must be supplied with the ordered electronics. The program transmits commands in the form of G-codes to the controller. Thus, these codes are stored in random access memory controller.

After selecting a processing program on the machine (finishing, roughing, three-dimensional), commands are distributed to stepper motors, after which the surface of the material is processed.

Advice: Before starting work, you need to test the machine using a specialized program and run a test part to make sure the CNC is working correctly.

Assembly

Machine assembly with your own hands It won't take you too much time. Moreover, on the Internet now you can download a lot of different schemes and drawings. If you bought a set of parts for a homemade machine, then its assembly will be very quick.

So, let's look at one of them drawings the actual hand machine.

Drawing of a homemade CNC machine.

As a rule, the first step is to make a frame from plywood, 10-11 millimeters thick. Table top, side walls and a movable portal for installing a router or spindle, are made only from plywood material. The tabletop is made movable, furniture guides of appropriate sizes are used.

The end result should be a frame like this. After frame construction ready, a drill and special bits come into play, with which you can make holes in the plywood.

Frame of the future CNC machine.

In the finished frame, it is necessary to prepare all the holes in order to install bearings and guide bolts in them. After this installation, you can install all fasteners, electrical installations etc.

After the assembly is completed, an important step is setting up the machine software and computer program. When setting up the program, the operation of the machine is checked for correctness given dimensions. If everything is ready, you can begin the long-awaited work.

Tip: Before starting work, you need to check the correct fastening of the workpiece material and the reliability of fastening the working attachment. Also make sure that the selected material matches the machine being manufactured.

Equipment setup

The CNC machine is set up directly from the working computer on which the program for working with the machine is installed. It is into the program that the necessary drawings, graphs, and drawings are loaded. Which are converted in sequence by the program into G - codes necessary to control the machine.

When everything is loaded, trial actions are performed regarding the selected material. It is during these actions that all necessary preset sizes are checked.

Advice: Only after a thorough check of the machine’s functionality can you begin full-fledged work.

Safety precautions

The rules and safety precautions when working with this machine are no different from working on all other machines. Below are the most important ones:

• Before starting work, check that the machine is in good working order.
• Clothes must be tucked in properly so that nothing sticks out anywhere and cannot get caught. work area machine
• You must wear a hat that will hold your hair.
• Near the machine there should be a rubber mat or low wooden sheathing, which will protect against electrical leakage.
• Access to the machine by children must be strictly prohibited.
• Check everything before operating the machine fasteners on their strength.

Advice: You must approach working on the machine with a clear head and understanding that if you do it incorrectly, you can cause irreparable harm to yourself.

You can find complete safety requirements for working with the machine on the World Wide Web, i.e. on the Internet and check them out.

Video reviews

Review of homemade CNC machine assembly

Video review simple machine CNC

Features Overview homemade CNC machine

Stepper Motors Overview

Review video multi-channel driver for stepper motors

Machines equipped with numerical software(CNC) are presented in the form of modern equipment for cutting, turning, drilling or grinding metal, plywood, wood, foam and other materials.

Built-in electronics based printed circuit boards Arduino provides maximum automation of work.

1 What is a CNC machine?

CNC machines based on Arduino printed circuit boards are capable of automatic mode Steplessly change the spindle speed, as well as the feed speed of supports, tables and other mechanisms. Auxiliary elements CNC machine automatically accepts desired position, and can be used to cut plywood or aluminum profiles.

In devices based on Arduino printed circuit boards cutting tool(preset) also changes automatically.

In CNC devices based on Arduino printed circuit boards, all commands are sent through the controller.

The controller receives signals from the software. For such plywood cutting equipment, metal profiles or foam, the program carriers are cams, stops or copiers.

The signal received from the program carrier through the controller sends a command to the machine, semi-automatic or copying machine. If it is necessary to change a sheet of plywood or foam plastic for cutting, then the cams or copiers are replaced with other elements.

Units with program control based on Arduino boards use punched tapes, punched cards or magnetic tapes as a program carrier, which contain all necessary information. With the use of Arduino boards, the entire process of cutting plywood, foam plastic or other material is fully automated, minimizing labor costs.

It is worth noting that building a CNC machine for cutting plywood or foam plastic based on Arduino boards you can do it yourself without much difficulty. Control in CNC units based on Arduino is carried out by a controller that transmits both technological and dimensional information.

Using CNC plasma cutters based on Arduino boards, you can free up a large number of universal equipment and, at the same time, increase labor productivity. The main advantages of Arduino-based machines assembled by yourself are expressed in:

• high (compared to manual machines) productivity;
• flexibility of universal equipment combined with precision;
• reducing the need to attract qualified specialists to work;
• the possibility of manufacturing interchangeable parts according to one program;
• reduced preparation times for the manufacture of new parts;
• the opportunity to make a machine with your own hands.

1.1 Process of operation of a CNC milling machine (video)

1.2 Types of CNC machines

The presented units for cutting plywood or foam plastic, using Arduino boards for operation, are divided into classes according to:

• technological capabilities;
• the principle of tool change;
• method of changing the workpiece.

Any class of such equipment can be made with your own hands, and the Arduino electronics will provide maximum automation of the work process. Along with classes, machines can be:

• turning;
• drilling and boring;
• milling;
• grinding;
• electrophysical machines;
• multi-purpose.

Arduino-based turning units can process external and internal surfaces all kinds of details.

Rotation of workpieces can be carried out in both straight and curved contours. The device is also designed for cutting external and internal threads. Arduino-based milling units are designed for milling simple and complex body-type parts.

In addition, they can perform drilling and boring. Grinding machines, which can also be made with your own hands, can be used for finishing details.

Depending on the type of surfaces being processed, units can be:

• surface grinding;
• internal grinding;
• spline grinding.

Multi-purpose units can be used for cutting plywood or foam plastic, perform drilling, milling, boring and turning parts. Before you make a CNC machine with your own hands, it is important to consider that the equipment is divided according to the method of changing tools. Replacement can be made:

• manually;
• automatically in the turret;
• automatically in the store.

If the electronics (controller) can ensure automatic change of workpieces using special drives, then the device can operate for a long time without operator participation.

In order to make the presented unit for cutting plywood or foam plastic with your own hands, you need to prepare the initial equipment. A used one may be suitable for this.

In it, the working element is replaced with a milling cutter. In addition, you can make a mechanism with your own hands from the carriages of an old printer.

This will allow the working cutter to move in the direction of two planes. Next, electronics are connected to the structure, the key element of which is the controller and Arduino boards.

The assembly diagram allows you to do it yourself homemade unit CNC automatic. Such equipment may be designed for cutting plastic, foam, plywood or thin metal. In order for the device to perform more complex species work, you need not only a controller, but also a stepper motor.

It must have high power indicators - at least 40-50 watts. It is recommended to use a conventional electric motor, since its use will eliminate the need to create a screw drive, and the controller will ensure timely delivery of commands.

The required force on the transmission shaft is homemade device must be transmitted via timing belts. If to move the working cutter homemade machine CNC will use carriages from printers, then for this purpose it is necessary to select parts from large printers.

The basis of the future unit can be a rectangular beam, which must be firmly fixed to the guides. The frame must have a high degree of rigidity, but welding is not recommended. It is better to use a bolted connection.

Welding seams will be subject to deformation due to constant loads during machine operation. In this case, the fastening elements are destroyed, which will lead to settings failure, and the controller will not work correctly.

2.1 About stepper motors, supports and guides

A self-assembled CNC unit must be equipped with stepper motors. As mentioned above, it is best to use motors from old dot matrix printers to assemble the unit.

For efficient operation of the device you will need three separate engines stepper type. It is recommended to use motors with five separate control wires. This will increase functionality homemade apparatus several times.

When selecting motors for a future machine, you need to know the number of degrees per step, the operating voltage and the winding resistance. Subsequently, this will help to configure the entire software correctly.

The ball motor shaft is fastened using a rubber cable covered with a thick winding. In addition, using such a cable you can connect the motor to the running pin. The frame can be made of plastic with a thickness of 10-12 mm.

Along with plastic, it is possible to use aluminum or organic glass.

The leading parts of the frame are attached using self-tapping screws, and when using wood, the elements can be attached with PVA glue. The guides are steel rods with a cross-section of 12 mm and a length of 20 mm. There are 2 rods for each axis.

The support is made of textolite, its dimensions should be 30x100x40 cm. The guide parts of the textolite are fastened with M6 screws, and the supports “X” and “Y” at the top must have 4 threaded holes to secure the frame. Stepper motors are installed using fasteners.

Fastenings can be made using steel leaf type. The sheet thickness should be 2-3 mm. Next, the screw is connected to the axle stepper motor via a flexible shaft. For this purpose, you can use a regular rubber hose.

Complex processing various materials has long ceased to be the lot of factory floors. Twenty years ago, the maximum that home craftsmen could afford was figure sawing jigsaw

Today, hand-held milling cutters and cutting lasers can easily be purchased in stores. household tools. Various guides are provided for linear processing. What about cutting out complex shapes?

Basic tasks can be accomplished using a template. However this method has disadvantages: firstly, you need to make the template itself, and secondly, the mechanical pattern has limitations on the size of the curves. And finally, the error of such devices is too great.

A solution has long been found: a CNC machine allows you to cut out such complex shapes from plywood with your own hands that “jigsaw operators” can only dream of.

The device is a coordinate positioning system for a cutting tool, controlled by computer program. That is, the processing head moves along the workpiece in accordance with a given trajectory. Accuracy is limited only by the size of the cutting attachment (mill or laser beam).


The possibilities of such machines are endless. There are models with two-dimensional and three-dimensional positioning. However, their cost is so high that the purchase can only be justified commercial use. All that remains is to assemble the CNC machine with your own hands.

The principle of operation of the coordinate system

The basis of the machine is a powerful frame. Perfectly used as a basis Smooth surface. It also serves as a work desk. The second basic element is the carriage on which the tool is mounted. It could be a Dremel manual frezer, laser gun - in general, any device capable of processing a workpiece. The carriage must move strictly in the plane of the frame.

First, let's look at a two-dimensional setup

You can use the table surface as a frame (base) for a DIY CNC machine. The main thing is that after all the elements are adjusted, the structure no longer moves, remaining firmly screwed to the base.

To move in one direction (let's call it X), two guides are placed. They must be strictly parallel to each other. A bridge structure, also consisting of parallel guides, is installed across it. The second axis is Y.


By specifying the movement vectors along the X and Y axes, you can high accuracy install the carriage (and with it the cutting tool) at any point on the plane of the workbench. By choosing the ratio of movement speeds along the axes, the program forces the tool to move continuously along any, even the most complex, trajectory.