build your own cnc machine kit
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So you've decided to build a homemade CNC router or maybe youre just considering it, but where do you start? There are many advantages to owning a CNC router. Homemade CNC routers can cut and carve almost anything. For any hobbyist or DIYer, this opens many doors. The fact that you could own one for a fraction of the retail cost is even more enticing.
Yes, you can build a CNC router that is just about as good as any other for a fraction of the retail price, and its not that difficult! This is not a sales pitch, this guide is FREE its all below.
There is also a great deal of flexibility when you design and build your own machine. You will be able to customize your machine to fit you needs best. Not to big, not to small, just right.
There are many reasons people want to build their own homemade CNC router. Its usually because we simply cant afford to buy one off the shelf and thats as good of a reason as any other. Or you may be like me and enjoy working with your hand and creating something unique. You might simply be in it for the learning experience. For me personally, I think it was a little of both.
When I first started to design and build my first homemade CNC router, I had it all figured out in about a day. I had my design ready to go. Then as I started to buy the parts, I did a little research. I found bits and pieces of information here and there, but it just lead to more questions.
Do I really need ball screws or will ACME screws work fine?
What kind of linear bearing is the best, and can I afford it?
How big of a motor do I need, and should I use steppers or servos?
Will this material flex too much over that span?
Etc.
Luckily, some of my questions I could answer with my mechanical engineering background. However, many of the problems I would encounter could not be calculated. I just needed someone with experience and information on the subject.
So I researched the internet. The information available is scattered and hard to come by, and how do I know if its valid. Most of the answers to my questions came through reading hundreds and hundreds of threads like CNCzone.com. Which is a rood resource. I would post my questions and wait for people who already have built a homemade CNC router to hopefully give me a good answer.
Of course I would get many answers to my questions from different people, many of which contradicted each other. Then Id have to read though a thread where people were bickering back and forth. Of course then I would have to research further to find out which answers were worth while and which ones were garbage.
Every time I had a question that I didnt know, I would have to go through the same process. A lot of this was due to the fact I was on a budget and wanted the best design my money could buy. Which is the same situation many people building a homemade CNC router are in?
Yes, there are homemade CNC router kits available, but I have yet to see one that gives any explanation as to what you are actually doing. It just says do these things and you are supposed to follow directions. But what if you do not have the parts available? Or you want your design to vary slightly. Then you are left to fend for your self.
There are a lot of them out there and how do you know which one is the right one. No matter how good the instructions are, if its a bad design it WILL be a bad machine.
That is why you need to be educated as to what you are building and what each part does!
This is where this guide will help you. After designing and building several of my own homemade CNC routers, I would like to share the knowledge from my experiences, good and bad. I think its sad that this information isnt out there, and I DONT think it should cost you anything.
This guide aims to keep you for making some of the same mistakes that I made costing me precious time, money, and frustration.
We will walk through ever component down to the bolts, looking at advantages and disadvantages of every type of each component. I will discuss every aspect of designing and building your own homemade CNC router. It will take you through the mechanics to software and everything in between. If you still want to use a homemade CNC router plan or kit, you can find...