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Development => Hardware => Topic started by: DarkestEx on February 26, 2016, 01:37:11 AM

Title: DarkestEx' own CNC machine
Post by: DarkestEx on February 26, 2016, 01:37:11 AM
Hello everybody!

I have been working on my own tabletop CNC machine recently as I always wanted to build one.
(https://flic.kr/p/DwZ6Zt)

You can see more photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/139723640@N07/albums/72157664936085041

It should be capable of cutting plastic (PLA, ABS, etc.), wood (even harder woods) and some metals (maybe thin aluminium and PCB copper).
Title: Re: DarkestEx' own CNC machine
Post by: Dudeman313 on February 26, 2016, 02:05:36 AM
That's pretty cool! Can you make a copper :walrii: plaque? That'd be bae. :P
Title: Re: DarkestEx' own CNC machine
Post by: alexgt on February 26, 2016, 02:13:15 AM
Wow! that would be really nice to be able to make a PCB on a homemade CNC machine!

I wish you luck, it looks great ;)
Title: Re: DarkestEx' own CNC machine
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on February 26, 2016, 07:01:17 AM
That seems like a cool and useful project. :D Just be sure to make it safe if any cutting process involves heat and sparks, and to avoid personal injuries.

Do you have ideas of what future projects you might use the machine for if it comes to fruition?
Title: Re: DarkestEx' own CNC machine
Post by: DarkestEx on February 26, 2016, 08:37:15 AM
Thanks :)

Quote from: Dudeman313 on February 26, 2016, 02:05:36 AM
That's pretty cool! Can you make a copper :walrii: plaque? That'd be bae. :P
Probably. I can engrave glass and most metals. Also wood. I can do a relief or an engraving.

Quote from: DJ Omnimaga on February 26, 2016, 07:01:17 AM
That seems like a cool and useful project. :D Just be sure to make it safe if any cutting process involves heat and sparks, and to avoid personal injuries.

Do you have ideas of what future projects you might use the machine for if it comes to fruition?
Yes, though I guess it shouldn't be that much of a problem but I haven't cut anything yet. I don't think there will be sparks unless I cut solid aluminum but even then I doubt it will spark as aluminum is quite soft.

The machine is basically done and ate up most of my savings including my next birthday in advance. I always wanted to build one and finally was able to.
I plan cutting the ZPX-128 case with it.

If anybody needs a PCB, an engraving or some wood/metal/plastic cut exactly, I might be able to help, if you pay me shipping to me / or the material I buy and the shipping back and some donation to run it (power, appreciation).
Title: Re: DarkestEx' own CNC machine
Post by: aetios on February 26, 2016, 11:22:42 AM
Wow, that's really awesome man. Looks professional, too :D
Title: Re: DarkestEx' own CNC machine
Post by: DarkestEx on April 06, 2016, 08:04:21 PM
Quote from: aeTIos on February 26, 2016, 11:22:42 AM
Wow, that's really awesome man. Looks professional, too :D
Thanks :)

I did a lot since my last update here like upgrading the power supply and adding limit switches. But I still can't try the machine as there is literally no pre made software. I can either write my own from scratch or start porting grbl to my platform. Or downgrade to a 17€ controller from my 120€ one. I am not sure what to do.
Title: Re: DarkestEx' own CNC machine
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on April 14, 2016, 01:04:58 AM
Aw, I was reading your other post (I didn't check this sub-forum in a while) and got my hopes up about you trying the machine when you mentioned cutting the ZPX-128 stuff, then I saw your last post. Hopefully you can manage to write such software at some point, but I assume that must be difficult. Good luck!
Title: Re: DarkestEx' own CNC machine
Post by: DarkestEx on April 14, 2016, 01:10:09 AM
Quote from: DJ Omnimaga on April 14, 2016, 01:04:58 AM
Aw, I was reading your other post (I didn't check this sub-forum in a while) and got my hopes up about you trying the machine when you mentioned cutting the ZPX-128 stuff, then I saw your last post. Hopefully you can manage to write such software at some point, but I assume that must be difficult. Good luck!
Thanks :)

Time has passed since my last post and I spend another 150€ on parts such as a completely new controller setup.
The new setup uses an Arduino Uno for driving the steppers using the old drivers and a shield. It now also features a keypad and a 128*64 pixel LCD screen (a big one) to allow using the machine without a computer at all. The user interface with the display, Ethernet, USB, SD card and the keypad will be controlled by a little 86Duino running FreeDOS and my custom software that is in progress.

The last parts should arrive today or tomorrow and I can finish it up then.
Title: Re: DarkestEx' own CNC machine
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on April 14, 2016, 01:22:58 AM
Darn, I hope this doesn't hit 6000€ O.O, but I guess if you have the money and love building your own hardware then that's what counts. Glad it will also have its own screen. :)
Title: Re: DarkestEx' own CNC machine
Post by: Dudeman313 on April 14, 2016, 08:19:00 PM
It's starting to sound a whole lot fancier than the first picture showed. :)