DIY dremel cnc

Manfred-Klose

i am gonna help a friend build a camera stand that can move from left to right, say about a meter, so i tried to explain to him how a cnc mechanism works, and then i found this page.

i hate it when i get ideas............(hint hint this could make some nice custom fretboard inlays)

http://www.lirtex.com/robotics/diy-cnc-machine/

Gearhead

Not a new idea, but not a bad idea either. Most of your time will go into the softwarecthough, unless you get a good source somewhere. One thing - please don't mount bearings like that (unless you 'd like your inlay shifted a couple of mm up the fretboard).

aja

Gearhead wrote: Not a new idea, but not a bad idea either. Most of your time will go into the softwarecthough, unless you get a good source somewhere. One thing - please don't mount bearings like that (unless you 'd like your inlay shifted a couple of mm up the fretboard).

Indeed. The open source numerical control software can be a pain, especially if you interface it with funky hardware or want to use complex measurement and control systems.

I agree about the bearings - what was he thinking? Very strange way of doing things! ?
It would not have been a lot more effort (relative to the whole project) to get some mounts machined out...

See more DIY CNC stuff here:

Nice laser engraver:
http://www.pc-control.co.uk/desktop-cnc-laser.htm

Random info:
http://buildyourcnc.com/

Forum for (mostly) industrial machinists, but useful:
http://www.cnczone.com/

Some controllers and other parts:
http://www.diycnc.co.uk/

Various instructables:
http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-CNC-1/

Another dremel:
http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/29/how-to-build-your-own-cnc-machine-part-1/

DIY 3D printer:
http://reprap.org/wiki/RepRap

Not DIY, but the Bentley of tabletop mills and lathes as used by some luthiers, especially for bridge pins:
http://www.sherline.com/

Some nice workshop tips:
http://www.frets.com/HomeShopTech/hstpages.html
More guitar tips:
http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/pagelist.html

Manfred-Klose

awesome thanks.

i am not planning on building a CNC anytime soon, its just a fantasy

.........i must build a camera slider though, something like this, this is a very bad and unstable design, but the outcome should be something like this:

=

MattAttack

I've designed a CNC router that wil cost less than a grand to make.
It's a small desktop one, but will have ample space for cutting out inlays and pickup bobbins, circuit boards too.

Doesn't need any bearings, just uses perspex sliding along oiled rails.
Stepper motors sourced from Mantech, rails salvaged from old printers, perspex from Maizey, and MDF from anywhere.
Will post picks of the design, looks pretty awesome, used the Brotherhood of Nod buildings from RED ALERT as inspiration =D

I'll just say upfront that as a graphic designer, it's probably gonna look better that it works :-[
But if 13 yr olds on instructables can do it, I have a fair chance!

rikus

Care to share your design Matt? That sounds interesting...

MattAttack

yeah i will,
gimme a couple of days though.
cheers

MattAttack

Here's a little pic:

I didn't realise it was so small till I got to work. Was too busy freaking out thinking my file was corrupt.
In 3d Studio the file was complete chaos, nothing was redrawing properly. Luckily in still renders out fine.

This model is without the steppers or drill included.
You can't see much in this pic, I'll post more details soon. I can also share the CAD files for the MDF cutouts.
Just realise that I haven't got round to building it yet, but I looks like it'll run perfectly.

For stepper controllers just go see what the kids are building on instructibles, not too difficult.

Manfred-Klose

id like to see this think in action

seeing that you are in cape town ?

Nicholas-L

I still wants to build me one of these one day.