Show Idea - Homemade CNC Milling Machine

[birdie]

I'd love to see a systm episode(s) on how to build a cnc milling machine (capable of cutting aluminium metal)

[ddreier]

That would be really cool to see, my Dad and I have been wanting to make one for a long time.

It'd be real nice to have something to base off of, and, of course, watching Pat and Dave build it would be an added bonus!

[dosbomber]

my Dad and I have been wanting to make one for a long time

Me too. They're too expensive for most people to buy outright, but a DIY solution is daunting, what with the mechanics AND the electronics involved.

In the meantime, there's a guy over at Build your CNC (http://buildyourcnc.com/default.aspx) who has some pretty decent video tutorials (if you don't mind the kid screaming in the background) on building a pretty simple CNC out of MDF and aluminum angles.

[toadx]

I didn't even know something like this was easily possible. Actually based on that Build Your Own CNC website, it doesn't look like it's too easy to do (36 steps?). I'd love to see a few shows on this as long as it doesn't take 36 episodes to do.

[dosbomber]

Well, those 36 steps are agonizingly detailed, and generally only about 7 minutes long each, plus he does things the old painful way (hand sawing a lot of the MDF stock). It left me with the impression that even I could build such a thing, and even faster/easier with a few more power tools.

[scienceking]

but a DIY solution is daunting, what with the mechanics AND the electronics involved.

Yeah, an understatement even. People with years of full time detailed fabrication experience find this sort of project quite frustrating. Its definitely not a "success on the first try" or even "success on the first set of parts" sort of endeavor. And the most valuable benchmark of any tool is its reliability and you just are never going to get that from a DIY milling machine. An episode on the basics of designing a part to be programed into a CNC machine might be more practical. And also, what good is a CNC machine if you really don't even know the proper way to design parts to be made by one?

[ArmpitOfDeath]

Would be a great idea... in theory, but pretty gruelling.

There are personal CNC machine makers out there who are striving to reduce costs - the sub-$7K PCNC 1100 (http://www.tormach.com/Product_PCNC_main.html) is an increasingly popular machine, which most people should be able to afford.

Perhaps CNC applications, or how to make use of CNC shops to make stuff you've dreamed up but don't know where to get started might be a better topic...?

[mikec]

An episode on the basics of designing a part to be programed into a CNC machine might be more practical. And also, what good is a CNC machine if you really don't even know the proper way to design parts to be made by one?

Considering the fact that there are machine shops in most cities and at least one on-line shop, knowing what can and can't be done is a good start. Any of us can assemble a computer from parts we buy, but how many could even ponder trying to fabricate a diode? Someone may have a great idea but does that mean they need to make the parts?

[patrick-revision3-com]

Would be a great idea... in theory, but pretty gruelling.

I'm not sure we could finish a DIY CNC machine even in a month episodes, but that Build your CNC (http://buildyourcnc.com/default.aspx) tutorial is incredible... one of the coolest book series I ever saw taught you how to build the 'mother machines' ie the mill, lathe, etc. from scratch. As in pouring castings in your backyard scratch.

aha@ here are the books: David J Gingery Publishing (http://www.lindsaybks.com/dgjp/djgbk/series/index.html) ... they're up on Amazon, too.

I'm wondering if interviewing the maker of something like the CNC mill would interest y'all as an episode of Systm... going over the pain points, things they learned in the process, etc.

[scienceking]

Any of us can assemble a computer from parts we buy, but how many could even ponder trying to fabricate a diode?

I made a wafer of diodes in our microelectronics cleanroom as part of my MEMS class. :p Its actually pretty easy if you have all the expensive equipment.

[kid_entropy]

I'd love to see a DIY CNC router or maybe even a big laser cutter ala these instructables:

#1 (http://tinyurl.com/2wvh4t)

#2 (http://tinyurl.com/2wvh4t)

Not that crazy of a project and it covers a wide range of disciplines from carpentry to electronics.

thanks!
~eriC

[kid_entropy]

just noticed a previous thread:

http://revision3.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17408

sorry.

~eriC

[edyalex]

Can you make a cnc mill in an episode?

[mikec]

I'm not sure we could finish a DIY CNC machine even in a month episodes, but that Build your CNC (http://buildyourcnc.com/default.aspx) tutorial is incredible... one of the coolest book series I ever saw taught you how to build the 'mother machines' ie the mill, lathe, etc. from scratch. As in pouring castings in your backyard scratch.



If you are casting in the backyard you might want to include some info on how to keep angry homeowner association zealots at bay.

Has anyone here ever asked their spouse to help them make sand molds for casting?

Anyone remember an episode of Dirty Jobs where they were at a bell foundry and this company mixes screened horse crap with the sand, for their molds.

[dosbomber]

Can you make a cnc mill in an episode?

Do you mean converting an existing mill (Harbor Freight, MicroLux, Grizzly) to CNC control, or building a triple axis machine like the one kid_entropy was talking about?

If the former, maybe 2 episodes? If the latter, then no way.. maybe not even in a month of episodes.

[ddreier]

I'm not sure we could finish a DIY CNC machine even in a month episodes

*sniff* are those longer episodes I smell? How about y'all build it, and then do some shorter (or longer) episodes kinda like the Build Your Own CNC thing. I'd still love to see you and Dave build one.



Anyone remember an episode of Dirty Jobs where they were at a bell foundry and this company mixes screened horse crap with the sand, for their molds.

I loved that episode.