The Builder's Guide "Your homemade CNC router project begins here"

Introduction
So you've resolute to build a domestic CNC router or maybe you’re solely taking into account it, but everywhere sort out you start? There are many advantages to owning a CNC router. Homemade CNC routers can graze and carve almost whatever thing. For one hobbyist or DIY’er, this opens many doors. The detail with the intention of you may possibly own lone pro a part of the retail cost is even more inviting.

Yes, you can build a CNC router with the intention of is solely in this area as skilled as one other pro a part of the retail fee, and it’s not with the intention of trying! This is not a sales pitch, this handbook is FREE its all not more than.

There is furthermore a splendid deal of flexibility as you design and build your own apparatus. You will be able to make to order your apparatus to fit you needs preeminent. Not to lofty, not to small, solely aptly.

There are many reasons public aspire to build their own domestic CNC router. It’s ordinarily since we simply can’t afford to approve of lone rancid the shelf and that’s as skilled of a wits as one other. Or you could be like me and take pleasure in working with your furnish and creating something unique. You might simply be in it pro the learning experience. For me personally, I think it was a little of both.

My Experience



When I initially ongoing toresolute and build mdomesticallydomestic CNC router, I had isolelyltaking into accountde known in in this areaverywhereimeort out I had my design equipped to energy. Then as I ongoing to approve of the parts, I did a little investigateaze I found bits and whatever thingf in rank at this time and here, but it solely principal to more qudetailowith the intention of
“Do may possiblylly nlone pro spart will ACME screws bring about fine?”
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Luckily, approximately onot more thanquestions I furthermorehermore asplendid with my mechanical easeering background. However, manapparatuse problems I would run intoo ordery possibly noapparatusalculated”. I solelypreeminentked-for someoloftywith experience solelyin rank on the theme.

So publicaaspired the internet. The domestic unfilled is sordinarilydsinceicky to occur by, and how sort out Iapprove ofolonefrancid’s convincing. Most of the ansskilled to mywitsionsoneme through conceptionld hundreds and hutake pleasure ins of threads like Cfurnishne.Com. Which is a rood resource. I would placement my questionprond pass the time pro public who already be inflicted with built a domestic CNC router to with a bit of luck produce me a skilled answer.

Of way I would make many answers to my questions from uncommon public, many of which contradicted all other. Then I’d be inflicted with to read though a thread everywhere public were power struggle back and forth. Of way at that time I would be inflicted with to investigate additional to discover made known which answers were worth while and which ones were garbage.

Every calculate I had a question with the intention of I didn’t know, I would be inflicted with to energy through the same process. A ration of this was due to the detail I was on a financial statement and wanted the preeminent design my money may possibly approve of. Which is the same circumstances many public building a domestic CNC router are in?

CNC router kits and plans



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.

Maybe you don’t want to design your own, but still want to build your own. That’s where the kits and plans help you most, like the CNC router kits at www.solsylva.com . Plans are good for what they are, they are instructions.

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 it’s 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 Guide



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 it’s sad that this information isn’t out there, and I DON”T 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 CNC router plans here. Keep in mind, homemade CNC Router plans offer little in the way of explaining concepts. This often leads to a "sloppy" design or unsatisfactory machine performance. That is why I suggest I you read through this guide first.

By the end, you should be talking CNC like a pro! This will give you a real heads up when you go to build and design your homemade CNC router. Regardless if you are using your plans or someone else's . 

 LET’S GET STARTED

STEP 1: Key Design Decisions
This section covers the following:
Identifying the right design for you
Required cutting area
Space availability
Materials
Tolerances
Constructing Methods
Available tools
Budget 


STEP 2: The Base and X-axis Frame
This section covers the following:
Designing and Building the main base or x-axis base
A breakdown of different designs
Fully Supported Frames
Partially Supported Frames
etc.


STEP 3: The Y- Axis Gantry Design
This section covers the following:
Designing and Building the Y-axis Gantry
A breakdown of different designs
Forces and Moments on the Gantry
Do's and Don't
etc.


STEP 4: The Z- Axis Assembly Design
This section covers the following:
Designing and Building the Z-axis Assembly
Forces and Moments on the Z-axis Assembly
Linear rail/rods and bearing spacing
The Plunge arm Design
etc.


STEP 5: The Liniear Motion System
This section covers the following:
Detailed Overview of linear motion systems
Choosing the right system for your machine
Designing and building your own
Linear Shaft and bushings
Linear Rails and Guide Blocks
etc.


STEP 6: Mechanical Drive Components
This section covers the following topics:
Detailed overview of the drive components
Choosing the right components for your design
Stepper and Servo motors
Lead screws and ball screws
Drive nuts
Radial and thrust Bearings
Motor coupling and mounting
Direct drive vs. Geared
Rack and Pinions
Lead screw motor sizing
etc.


STEP 7: Choosing The Motors
This section covers the following topics:
Detailed overview of the CNC motors
Types of CNC motors
Stepper vs Servo motors
How Stepper motors work
Types of Stepper motors
How Servo motors work
Types of Servo Motors
NEMA Standards
Choosing the right motor type for your design
Motor Sizing
etc.


STEP 8: The Cutting Table design
This section covers the following:
The Cutting table designs overview
T-slot Table
Vacuum Table
Perforated cutting bed
The Cutaway bed
Designing and Building your own
etc.
STEP 9: The Spindle Options
This section covers the following:
CNC Spindles overview
Types and features
Pricing and costs
Mounting and cooling options
Coolant systems
Building your own
How to calculate chip load and cutting force
How to find optimal feed rates
etc.

STEP 10: The Electronics
This section covers the following:
CNC Electronics overview
The Control panel
Wiring and Fusing
Buttons and switches
MPG's and Jog wheels
Power Supplies
etc.
STEP 11: The CNC Controller options
This section covers the following:
The CNC Controller overview
Controller selection
Options available
Closed loop vs. Open loop systems
Best priced controllers
Building your own from scratch
etc.
STEP 12: Selecting the Software
This section covers the following:
The CNC related Software overview
What software will I need
CAM software
CAD software
NC Controller Software
Best choices
Free ware
etc.