At home, making CNC from a printer is not at all difficult. It is enough to have at hand all the necessary tools, as well as failed equipment, which will not be a pity to disassemble for parts. Experts note that a powerful CNC machine can be manufactured with a stepper type electric motor. Using the finished unit, it will be possible to engrave various blanks made of plastic, wood, as well as some metals. Homemade CNC units from the printer are able to provide high processing speed of various materials - up to two millimeters per second.
Description
In order to independently manufacture CNC from the printer, you need to disassemble the failed equipment in advance in order to have high-quality parts on hand:
- Drive from drives.
- Studs guides from the printer.
- Controllers
- Materials for fasteners.
- Particleboard or plywood to create a durable case.
The resulting CNC machine tools from printers will be able to realize different ideas of users. The final functionality depends on the mechanism that will be located at the output of the machine. Experts note that most often inkjet printers make a CNC milling machine, drilling machines to create high-quality printed circuit boards, a burner.
The basis is always a wooden box made of durable chipboard. The master must take into account the fact that electronic components, as well as controllers, will be hidden inside the container. For reliable fixation, it is better to use self-tapping screws. The work that will be performed by the future machine, and the processes that occur in the milling and drilling mechanisms, are very diverse and accurate, so the wizard will need a reliable controller and driver.
Characteristic
The mini CNC machine, common in everyday life, compares favorably with the fact that each person can create volumetric structures of complex shape from wood at home. This unit has numerous positive characteristics. It is worth noting that he does not print in the usual sense for everyone, but cuts out various shapes from an array with a cutter. Industrial models are quite expensive, which is why not all users can buy them. That is why it is better to make CNC yourself.
Basic work
If the master has already decided that he will design the CNC machine tool from the printer with his own hands, without the help of a special kit, then you need to choose the standard scheme.
As a basis, you can take the old drilling unit, in which the main working head with a drill replaces the classic cutter. The main difficulties can arise with a mechanism that guarantees the movement of the tool in three independent planes. This mechanism can be assembled on the basis of classic carriages from an idle printing device. Due to this, the product will move freely in two planes. It will be possible to connect up-to-date programmed control to such an aggregate.
The only drawback is that you can handle plastic, thin sheet metal, and wood blanks with this product. To explain this effect is quite simple, since the carriages cannot boast of sufficient rigidity. In order for a home-made unit to perform complete milling manipulations with workpieces, a fairly powerful stepper motor must be responsible for moving the main working tool.
For the timely transmission of force to the shaft of the milling device, it is desirable to use not standard, but more advanced gear belts. Only these products are guaranteed to not slip on the pulleys. It is necessary to approach CNC manufacturing as responsibly as possible, it is best to use proven drawings, which will need to be strictly followed.
Tool preparation
To make a home-made CNC machine, you need to have at hand the following materials:
- Bearing 606 (3 pieces).
- Strong plywood (used to make the case). Plate thickness should be at least 15 millimeters.
- M9 nuts (2 pieces).
- Self-tapping screws for connecting the main parts.
- Dremel.
- Corners made of aluminum.
- Rubber hose.
- Glue.
- Linear bearings (4 pieces).
- Bracket 80.
A quality machine will not work if the master does not have a screwdriver, pliers, file, vice, hacksaw, side cutters. The work will be much easier if you use a powerful electric drill.
The foundation
A high-quality home-made CNC machine can be built from a conventional matrix-type printer. Experts note that you can use any office equipment that is available. Manufacturer and brand does not matter. For high-quality control of the unit and the effective operation of the devices, other details must be removed: carriages, engine, guides, timing belts, various gears.
Classic technology
From plywood, it is necessary to cut out the walls of the future building: two side 37x37, rear 34x37 and front 9x34. For fastening blanks, ordinary screws are suitable. Corners can be used as guides. For a more precise installation in the right place, a tongue of 3 mm is made.
The working surface can be formed from corners with a length of 14 centimeters. One bearing is fixed in the lower part, the other two on top. At a distance of 6 cm from the bottom, you need to drill a hole to connect a stepper motor.
On the front panel, the master needs to make a small recess of 8 mm in size, which will be needed to install the bearing of the propeller support. You can build this unit from a construction stud. It is worth noting that only the connection scheme of the stepper motor will help to avoid the most common errors. Finished carriages are mounted on the axis. To make the base as strong as possible, you need to use PVA glue. Instead of the usual spindle, a dremel with a bracket holder will be installed in a makeshift wall. Only after assembling all the elements of the axis are they neatly mounted in the housing.
Common pyrograph
This unit boasts an absolutely automated wood processing of any breed. Experts note that this product is designed for universal laser burning. In external parameters, the device is more like a classic plotter. Unlike milling machines, a pyrograph has only two degrees of freedom and is capable of applying any image to an absolutely smooth wooden surface.
More powerful models can burn through the wood, creating a carved lace of complex shape. Compact installations can not boast of such parameters. In the household industry, a craftsman can burn relief patterns on any surface.
3D printer multifunctionality
Burning the desired pattern is based on the careful observance of certain rules. On the working surface is placed the material that will need to be processed by a machine. Most often this is a sanded board, a small plywood sheet, glued timber, fiberboard or MDF. When the material is laid and the maximum position accuracy is checked, it is fixed with vacuum clamps. Before starting the machine, the device must be given the start point of the print. The movement of the laser emitter and its intensity are set by the system, which is very practical.
Electronic equipment
If the master has already decided to make the CNC machine from the printer, then he needs to prepare a soldering iron, solder, flux, magnifier. In order to prevent mistakes, you need to understand all the microcircuits of office equipment in advance. You can find printer control boards from the LB1745 and 12F675 series. If you work a little with these details, you can create a CNC control board. Fix the product to the back of the machine.
The power supply is better to take the one that was previously installed in the printer. If the master does not want to bother for a long time, then he can use the factory-made CNC controller of the machine. The five-axis controller model is most popular. Of course, off-the-shelf electronics have numerous advantages, but the price of such products is often too high. There are universal models for sale that allow the final user to connect three types of end motors, a quick shutdown button.
The principle of control of the unit is absolutely automated. The CNC burner is powered by an old printer using a conventional USB cable. It is worth noting that in a home-made unit, it is necessary to connect a control board based on office equipment microcircuits from the machine power supply itself. The product will function well if the stepper motor has a power of 35 volts. Under other conditions, the CNC risks just burning out.
The power supply must be carefully removed from the printer. Using conventional wiring, you must connect the power supply to the on / off switch, dremel, and controller. Be sure to connect a wire from the computer to the main control board of the unit. Otherwise, the user simply will not be able to download all the necessary tasks.
To get a good result, you need to download a program for sketching. It is worth noting that a home-made CNC machine can qualitatively cut textolite up to 4 mm, plywood up to 16 mm, as well as wood. The finished product cannot be more than 35 centimeters in length.