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Arduino CNC

Former Member

I ama building a CNC machine. I am at the point to figure out what to drive it with. I am looking at the Arduino but don't want to spend the money on a project board and then loose the dev board to the project. Originally I was going to use a PIC. How do you move the dev stuff to something that doesn't use the development board? Or am I thinking of this wrong? I really want to use the Arduino but is it the best option?

  • 0

    Howdy, take a look at this episode of the ben heck show:

     

    http://www.element14.com/community/docs/DOC-24749/l/episode-2-ben-builds-a-portable-cnc-router

     

     

    Cheers,

    Drew

  • 0 in reply to fustini

    Ben starts off with a standard Arduino board and then switches to the RepRap motherboard which was designed for the RepRap 3D printer project:

     

    http://reprap.org/wiki/Motherboard_1_2

     

    MakerBot has a similar board:

     

    http://wiki.makerbot.com/thingomatic-doc:makerbot-motherboard-2-4

     

    Take a look at the element14 Arduino group, too:

     

    http://www.element14.com/community/groups/arduino

     

    Cheers,

    Drew

  • 0

    John,

     

    Ask one question, is building the motor driver circuit your main project or would you rather get the CNC machine up and running. Unless you are copying the CNC components or using a mechanical kit, you have enough work ahead of you to have to also develop the drivers.

     

    If you have never made a commutation table or perfected a PWM servo  motor control algorithm, you should just get someone else's controller. There are plenty of inexpensive off the shelf controllers you can get. Gecko drivers are the most popular. They have both stepper and servo controllers with relatively high power outputs (via mosfet motor driver bridges). On the stepper side, their drivers move in a standard 1/10th microstep. Which divides each stepper motor's step into 10 individual positions. On the design side of this, various poles in the motor need a PWM signal to handle microstepping. If you develop this yourself, prepare for a long process.

     

    Alternatively, you can buy stepper drivers like the EasyDriver, and work up from there. At $14, you cannot beat the price. Developing your own will cost more than these. However, these could not drive large motors. A mosfet bridge circuit is definitely needed.

    See the Big EasyDriver for a 2A/phase capable platform for only $22. Again, can not beat that price.

     

    What will you machine do exactly? I can help you pick a driver for what you are building.

     

    Cabe

  • 0 in reply to Catwell

    My plan is to do some light wood working/engraving right now. Nothing major. I don't think I can build something accurate enough to do anything else my first go-around. After looking for a while, buying the drivers is prob gonna be the best bet. 

  • 0 in reply to Former Member

    John,

     

    What tools do you have at your disposal? How big at the parts you want to engrave?

    I can get you started, and yes, you can make something accurate enough. I will push you in the right directions.

     

    Cabe