This is cool, but your not going to get any real resolution. A good way to build a low cost CNC is to start with a milling machine, you can get the X2 for about $500 and buy a conversion kit at www.cncfusion.com, I recommend getting the ball screw if you want to get rid of the play in the original X2. You then need a controler, I like the Xylotex, they also can sell some good steppers. That is enough to get started, but I wanted a bit more so I bought some darlington optical switchs, you only need a few resisters on each switch, one to drive the LED and one as a pullup resister on the darlington output. I added home switches on all X Y and Z. I use EMC2 (http://www.linuxcnc.org) to drive the CNC, AutoCAD Inventor to make my parts and MasterCam X for toolpath setup.
My goal is to make injection molded parts. Step 1 is to make a CNC machine; Step 2 is to make an injection molding machine. I need a CNC that can operate on a 12" square bed to make an 8 cavity mold. No commercial desktop CNC as far as I can see can do this (Lightmachines has a 12"x7" bed). In your opinion, can I make a durable/accurate desktop machine with 12"x12" travel that can cut tool steel (or at least aluminum)?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Nathan Stratton @ Jun 29th 2006 8:52PM
This is cool, but your not going to get any real resolution. A good way to build a low cost CNC is to start with a milling machine, you can get the X2 for about $500 and buy a conversion kit at www.cncfusion.com, I recommend getting the ball screw if you want to get rid of the play in the original X2. You then need a controler, I like the Xylotex, they also can sell some good steppers. That is enough to get started, but I wanted a bit more so I bought some darlington optical switchs, you only need a few resisters on each switch, one to drive the LED and one as a pullup resister on the darlington output. I added home switches on all X Y and Z. I use EMC2 (http://www.linuxcnc.org) to drive the CNC, AutoCAD Inventor to make my parts and MasterCam X for toolpath setup.
Matthew Kennedy @ Mar 10th 2007 5:46PM
Hey Nathan,
My goal is to make injection molded parts. Step 1 is to make a CNC machine; Step 2 is to make an injection molding machine. I need a CNC that can operate on a 12" square bed to make an 8 cavity mold. No commercial desktop CNC as far as I can see can do this (Lightmachines has a 12"x7" bed). In your opinion, can I make a durable/accurate desktop machine with 12"x12" travel that can cut tool steel (or at least aluminum)?