Arduino mini CNC
The goal of this project is to build a very small and cheap CNC machine.
Almost every used part will be recycled from old PC's, except of some Arduino boards.
Also all software I'll use is freeware.
Almost every used part will be recycled from old PC's, except of some Arduino boards.
Also all software I'll use is freeware.
As a start I took some old CD/DVD drives appart, hoping to discover some useful parts inside.
I found some small stepper motors + guide rails.
I'll use them for the X and Y-axis. I don't know yet what I'll use for the Z-axis.
I found some small stepper motors + guide rails.
I'll use them for the X and Y-axis. I don't know yet what I'll use for the Z-axis.
In the past I already did some testing with a Arduino and EasyDriver board to control a stepper motor. A video can be found here
I repeated this test with the two recycled stepper motors from above and with the software I'll use for the CNC machine.
Update 1
Meanwhile, I also found a suitable z-axis.
I was looking for something less heavy (in comparison to the X and Y-axis) and found it in a notebook cd/dvd drive.
As with the other motors, I soldered new wires on it because the original flex print connection is not easy to re-use.
Meanwhile, I also found a suitable z-axis.
I was looking for something less heavy (in comparison to the X and Y-axis) and found it in a notebook cd/dvd drive.
As with the other motors, I soldered new wires on it because the original flex print connection is not easy to re-use.
And of course a little test had to be done with the Z-axis before building all parts together
Update 2
I used some wood scraps to build a simple frame.
The Z-axis is mounted directly on the X-axis with screws and hot glue.
The Z-axis is mounted directly on the X-axis with screws and hot glue.
After all axles were attached to the frame I started working on a solution for the "drawing table".
I cut a rectangular piece out of a floppy disk drive enclosure, and attached a magnet on the Y-axis.
This way I can easily remove or repostion the table.
And because it is made of metal it will be easy to secure my piece of paper with some more magnets.
Next important piece needed was the penholder.
I printed one with my 3D printer and attached it to the Z-axis with some straps and hot glue.
With the build almost finished it was time to start with the electronics.
On a prototyping board I soldered some pin headers to easily connect the power, motors and arduino with the EasyDriver boards.
The circuitry is done in the same way as i did in my test setups.
Finally i mounted a wooden board on the back of the plotter to attach all the electronics to it.
Finished!!
Time to test and improve it.
360° view
Conclusion:
I had to adjust the current trimmers on the EasyDriver boards before it worked,
But for a first run it does it's job pretty well!
Of course there is still room for improvements,
But I think I succeed in my initial goal to build a cheap and small CNC or plotter.
I only spent 5-10€. Arduino and EasyDriver boards from chinese webshop. Almost everything else is recycled scrap.
I had to adjust the current trimmers on the EasyDriver boards before it worked,
But for a first run it does it's job pretty well!
Of course there is still room for improvements,
But I think I succeed in my initial goal to build a cheap and small CNC or plotter.
I only spent 5-10€. Arduino and EasyDriver boards from chinese webshop. Almost everything else is recycled scrap.