DIY homebuilt 3 axis CNC router, CUTTING ALUMINUM

Plans for this machine are available on ebay.
http://shop.ebay.com/momus_design/m.html?_trksid=p4340.l2562

Unique fully enclosed benchtop CNC router design. Designed to be fast, accurate, and inexpensive to build. The enclosure is designed as part of the machine frame, which adds to its strength and rigidity. Capable of rapid speeds of over 500ipm, and cuts wood at over 200ipm. Has about a 16" x 16" cutting area. It is belt driven on the X and Y axes, with an acme leadscrew on the Z axis. It is powered by 276 oz/in stepper motors, with a Xylotex drive.

Here it is milling aluminum. It is cutting 3/16" thick 6061-T6 aluminum plate with a 1/4" end mill, using a laminate trimmer as a spindle. The machine is robust enough to accurately mill aluminum with no chatter or vibrations. Accuracy is dead on, with each successive pass lining up exactly with the previous one. No lost steps, no backlash, just effortless cutting of aluminum parts.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• CNC
• DIY CNC
• homebuilt CNC
• CNC aluminum
• 3 axis
• CNC router

[boreddism]

where can i find the plans? the ebay link doesnt work

[momusCNCdesign]

@boreddism

Sorry about the old link. If you search on ebay for "cnc router plans", it will be the listing that says "benchtop CNC" in the photograph. Or you can find me by my ebay seller id, which is momus_design. I think you have to do an advanced search to find me by seller id.

[jdh239]

How do you keep the part from getting all screwed up at the end of your cut if you aren't using tabbing? You didn't show the final pass in the video.

[momusCNCdesign]

@jdh239 It actually is tabbed, but you are correct that they aren't seen in the video. There were very thin tabs that were only as thick as the last pass or two. Just enough to keep the part in place for the final pass, but easy to twist the part free from the stock and then clean up with a couple of passes with a file.

[piniw5]

Can you please give more details about the belt, How to configure to get this speed and precision in MACH3.

[momusCNCdesign]

@piniw5

The belt is XL pitch (.200") driven by 10 tooth timing pulleys, direct drive. They are neoprene with fiberglass cords. Part of the speed also comes from keeping the mass of the gantry as low as possible while still managing to keep it very rigid and strong.

[scottfx10]

what did this machine end up costing you? materials, steppers, electronics (sans computer), etc..

[DJhenderlong]

Nice man! fyi at the shop we have to program to cut the stock when cutting circles, so that the stock doesnt break the tool.

what spindle and steppers and controler and ball screws are you running?

[gtinoco7]

What do you think is the smallest I can engrave on aluminum? I'm looking to engrave ruler lines 0.1" apart for custom ruler as well as the numbers to go with it. Do you think I'll be able to get that precision on your machine?

[gtinoco7]

What do you think is the smallest I can engrave on aluminum? I'm looking to engrave ruler lines 0.1" apart for custom ruler as well as the numbers to go with it. Do you think I'll be able to get that precision on your machine?

[jdh239]

Cool, good to know. thx