I listed the Arduino kit I am interested in to make my own CNC machine but my question is what else to I buy? The actual framework is not there and only reason I didn't include the description of the listing is because there wasn't any. I have looked at these kits on ebay and amazon. I have reached out and asked the sellers about a bare bone frame work I can use that is compatible with this but they don't respond or simply are not sure what it is compatible with. Any help I would appreciate greatly.

 

I think a better starting place would be a 3018 kit as it supplies all you need.

But you could build one based on draw rails from your local hardware shop.

and while you are there, pick up an engraving tool.
But the cheapest way may be a kit from Ebay or similar.

 

The reason they don't respond is that there isn't a simple answer. The Arduino 'CNC' kits are mainly aimed low-end 3D printing and laser cutting rather than subtractive machining ie milling/drilling. So a first question is "What sort of CNC are you intending to build?" and the second question is "How big"?

 

I was going to make my own too, and purchased one of these for around $30..


It may be a good starting point, but then I just got a 3018 kit.

 

The reason they don't respond is that there isn't a simple answer. The Arduino 'CNC' kits are mainly aimed low-end 3D printing and laser cutting rather than subtractive machining ie milling/drilling. So a first question is "What sort of CNC are you intending to build?" and the second question is "How big"?

I was planning to get a 3018 but the appeal of making my own was to appealing to pass up. The 3018 has a work area of
300x180x45mm and that is perfect for now. As for materials the only plastic and wood. If you can point me in the right direction that would be great. No matter how I word it I just can't get any search results. Thank you sir.

 

I was going to make my own too, and purchased one of these for around $30..
View attachment 278962

It may be a good starting point, but then I just got a 3018 kit.

I almost bought the 3018. I saw the arduino kit listed alongside it. The temptation was there lol. I love making stuff and 3d printers/CNC are quite the challenge. I know it's no easy thing and going to be a long project over the coarse of time. I just cant get any search results back no matter how I search for these barbone kits. I was afraid they don't exist and will have to find a project and parts list. Thanks for any help!

 

You can just buy aluminium T slot extrusion, corners, T nuts. lead screws, bearings... and more.
Or just start with the 3018 then when you get up to speed, buy the longer extrusions and lead screws to make it biger. All the other hardware from the 3018 you can re-use.

 

The thing is that the NEMA17 motors in those kits have little torque - they are fine for moving an extruder or laser head as long as you don't try to go too fast but are too weak to do any serious cutting - slow, light cuts in soft woods or plastics with a Dremel type of spindle is about their limit. As long as you appreciate that and accept that an upgrade to bigger motors and a better spindle will be needed if you are serious about CNC then those kits are OK as a starter.

The advantage of the 3018 type of kit us that everything is cut to size and machined square for you. Cutting your own extrusion lengths from stock isnt hard if you have a good bandsaw or chopsaw but making it all square is critical as is aligning everything. A good pillar drill is very helpful to drill extrusions accurately to mount slides, etc.

 

The thing is that the NEMA17 motors in those kits have little torque

Yes, the 3018 is a bit under powered. Mine has cut Aluminium front panels for radios but it was running VERY slow! If you can put up with something taking a long time, with slow feed and shallow cuts, it works ok. Just keep in mind, a good router motor costs MANY times the price of the complete CNC 3018 machine.


And as @Irving says, making the frame square is critical. That is something I would have problems doing as my skill is not in the mechanical area.

 

Arduino CNC Shield V3 and A4988 Hybrid Stepper Motor Driver can make the task easier:

 

I have some experience with this because I have been there and done that.
I bought a CNC 3018 (300x180 mm) to play with because it was affordable. I learned a lot about CNC hardware and software from this experience.

Then I built my own 1000x600 mm CNC from scratch. Sourcing all the right components was the most time consuming and brain racking part. I spent many nights just trying to source the right combination of nuts and bolts.

The end result was an amazing success (and costly) but I am very pleased with it.

 

300x180x45mm and that is perfect for now. As for materials the only plastic and wood. If you can point me in the right direction that would be great. No matter how I word it I just can't get any search results.

Before spending much time searching for answers, do yourself a favor and join CNCZONE. these are people doing this stuff not some random answers on what or how to build a machine. https://www.cnczone.com/forums/

 

Before spending much time searching for answers, do yourself a favor and join CNCZONE. these are people doing this stuff not some random answers on what or how to build a machine. https://www.cnczone.com/forums/

My answers aren't random; I've built several CNC machines over the years, my current one has a cutting area of 650 x 850 x 250, runs a 4kW spindle and can manage >10m/min traverse rates. For many years I was a moderator for the MYCNCUK forum.

 

Before spending much time searching for answers, do yourself a favor and join CNCZONE. these are people doing this stuff

I have been a moderator there for 20 years!

 

I have been a moderator there for 20 years!

Then you know how good some of the builds from there are. From simple to almost industrial, depending on your wants and needs.

 

https://sienci.com/product/longmill-mk2/

 

https://sienci.com/product/longmill-mk2/

thats not bad pricing though relatively low-spec motors NEMA23 1.6Nm and 8mm dia 2/8mm (pitch/lead) lead-screws. Will machine HD-MDF ok and will handle medium alloys, eg 6061 aluminium, with a good new cutter, 2kW+ spindle at reduced feed rates. I'm not a fan of the v-wheels on angled edge profile linear guides, they are quite hard to align and maintain rigidity..

 

you are correct, cutting metal would be asking a lot from a machine meant for wood carving. and that is the job it does well although in a pinch it could be used on other materials that are not too hard. increasing spindle power and RPM while reducing feed rate can work for small or one off jobs

 

build one based on draw rails
View attachment 278961

There I can see at least two complications:
1) those tableshelves rails are rather inaccurate, Im sure the uncertainty is best case about 0.1 mm or larger. While expectations are at least 10 microns or less. I have mine about 10 cm thick and even that have with the difficulcy falling inbetween 0.01 mm accuracy. That is very important for most of tasks.
2) those rails are rather thin, made of 0.5 mm plate, thus at the loaded force may go off the position for several milimeters. Any grinder may ocasionally create the larger force moments, what means non-disputable necessity for system hardness. My system is 15 mm thick walled and I clearly see it is too weak for most demanding works. The 1/30 of that thickness seems to me the bad joke.

PS: there are kinda new material widly used for to build the CNC rails. It looks like this in the pirture: https://www.laudorts.lv/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Profilu-katalogs2022-pdf-212x300.jpg

 

Actually, nothing new about it. It is called extruded aluminium and it was used for making structure in automation for.many years.