Ben Builds a Portable CNC Router -- Episode 2

www.mcmaster.com. Source for just about everything.

the material is sintra he says that 4:40-50 the thing that sucks is i need a site to get the stuff or a sheet plastic i live in florida the worst place for material

It's a cheat. Using a CNC to build a CNC router. Makes it a little difficult for the average DIYer.

Material used looks like high density polyethylene , breadboard plastic.

What gcode interpreter is being used on Arduino, Grbl?

Why are you using a Arduino Mega, because Grbl will run on basic Arduino. Probably so you can use a toaster oven.

This was actually the most reasonable 'how-to' CNC video I've seen thus far, simply for one reason. It looked to me like the unit was constructed from balsa wood. Model airplane hobbyists often use balsa wood because of it's weight/strength ratio, and for wonderful fact you can make straight cuts with a ruler and an exacto knife, meaning you no longer need a cnc to make your first cnc.

There's a lot of places to get CNC/CNC-ready vertical mills:

www.ximotion.com (old MAXNC - what I have)

www.taigtools.com

www.sherline.com

www.littlemachineshop

the Maxnc5 runs a dremel tool for the spindle

you can also get kits for gantry types that run a standard router (usually used by cabinet/countertop guys) check cnczone.com

You have to understand that it isn't quite so easy -- for instance, setting off smoke detectors isn't normal. my guess - spindle too fast for the material too low a feed, wrong cutter.

And unless you're doing simple 2D, you'll need to 3D model the parts ( usually solids; I use Solidworks) then generate toolpaths with a . I've actually used Blender and the python script for generation of STL's that you can use in some freeware G code generators.

Some vids of a heavily modified table top CNC - was running the stock drive - converted to Gecko:

using Mach3:

vid of cutting custom front panels for Hammond electronics enclosure:
http://home.comcast.net/~ajawam/DSCN1879.mpg

nested pattern of 20 sets
http://home.comcast.net/%7Eajawam1/DSCN1990.wmv

Machining of a COTS enclosure
(note the spindle armed LEDs on the controller I designed):
http://ajawam5.home.comcast.net/DSCN1233s.avi

Machining of custom tooling
http://ajawam5.home.comcast.net/DSCN1413.mpg

Machining a test fixture plate
http://ajawam5.home.comcast.net/DSCN1481.avi

Machining small custom Lansing front plates:
http://ajawam5.home.comcast.net/DSCN1449.avi
http://ajawam5.home.comcast.net/DSCN1450.avi

Machining a custom fixture for a military RF device:
http://ajawam5.home.comcast.net/DSCN1397.avi
http://ajawam5.home.comcast.net/DSCN1398.avi

Cutting a nested pattern from 1/4" (0.220)
http://ajawam4.home.comcast.net/DSCN1247.avi

Milling a COT’s enclosure for us in an avionics prototype (electronics designed in-house):
http://home.comcast.net/%7Eajawam5/DSCN0860.avi

Cutting a hot air tool for my SMT equipment, 30IPM, 1/8" carbide 2 flute endmill:
http://ajawam5.home.comcast.net/DSCN1279.avi
http://ajawam5.home.comcast.net/DSCN1280.avi

Cutting a heatsink out of a 2"x3" block using a 3/8" 2 flute endmill at 15ipm:
http://ajawam5.home.comcast.net/DSCN1007.avi

Cutting a logo, roughed with a 1/4" 3 flute at 15ipm, finishing with an 1/8 4 flute"
http://ajawam5.home.comcast.net/DSCN1022.avi

Cutting a 2x4" block of 6061 with a 5/16" endmill:
http://ajawam5.home.comcast.net/2inblks.avi

Cutting an aluminum rack panel using a 1/16" 2 flute endmill:
http://ajawam5.home.comcast.net/lansing.avi

Cutting a pocket for an RF amplifier heatsink using a 2 flute 3/8" endmill:
http://ajawam5.home.comcast.net/pocket.avi

Cutting a part for a desoldering tool with a 3/8" 2 FL:
http://ajawam5.home.comcast.net/DSCN1408.avi
http://ajawam5.home.comcast.net/DSCN1409.avi
http://ajawam5.home.comcast.net/DSCN1413.mpg
http://ajawam5.home.comcast.net/DSCN1414.mpg

Hi CMNDR   Months late on a reply, but I just watched this episode.

It looks like STARBOARD (trade name) - a polyethtelyne.  Used in the Marine trade all over production boats because it doesn't rot or mildew - it takes the place of plywood basically. It machines well, too.  Not a great bearing material like HMWPE, but it's strong and cheap.

This is pretty useless really. Ben has made a great bit of kit, and I'd really like to make one too, but the BOM doesn't contain a lot of the parts I'd need. In particular, all those plastic bits that Ben had machined, or even the plan for those parts. And the firmware for the Arduino, and the wiring diagram. Without these things, the whole job would become a lot more difficult and time consuming.

Or am I missing some vital resource which has all this info ?

I guess not. I'm really disappointed, because I'd love to make one of these things myself.

Pretty sweet.  I looked like he's cutted the parts for the CNC machine out of wood.  It would be cool to be able to make one of these without access to an existing CNC machine.

Good use of Ardunio.  We (element14) recently showcased our own version of Arduino (Amicus18) at electronica, and even had Arduino on the stand demonstrating their boards.  See attached the slides presenting the Amicus18Amicus18, MC-noveMC-nove, MC-mega MC-mega andMC-nanoMC-nano.