The universal CNC milling machine is widely used in small- and medium-series production to perform milling work, drill and bore parts during their single manufacture.
With its help, various parts from materials such as:
- steel;
- cast iron;
- non-ferrous metals;
- other materials.
To make curly details, use a three-coordinate machine. You can make it yourself. Such a computer-controlled device will serve as the main tool for both specialists and home masters. With the help of a desktop machine, you can perform engraving and volume milling; cut shapes or letters from wood, plastic and polystyrene.
A milling machine is often used to make parts and kits for assembling aircraft models. In this case, it is also indispensable.
How to make a home-made milling machine?
All parts for this device are commercially available. Of course, you can save and use guides from an old inkjet printer or a typewriter, but it is better to get them in a furniture hardware store.
Engines can also be removed from the printer or scanner. True, in the market you will find more powerful at an affordable price. Thus, if you cannot afford to buy a milling machine, then it’s quite possible to purchase the necessary parts.
When choosing the type of design, the craftsmen prefer either a portal CNC machine or a device with a milling part and a moving portal. The second option is preferable because it is possible to process sufficiently long workpieces along the Y axis and heavy parts. It is very convenient for them to work with printed circuit boards.
The machine should be designed in the correct geometric form and without the use of welding (if possible). Ideally, it is very good to make upgrades to the machine and change the dimensions.
Phased work
It is necessary to construct a flat horizontal frame. Equipment will be installed on it. In the frame, a knee in a U-shape must be provided in order to fix the Z axis, and it may not be located in the center. Conventional 2.5 cm thick water pipes can be used as a machine frame. Their joints must be sealed with sealant after assembly. Parts can also be bought at the store. For the X axis, choose wider and stronger guides. Next, you need to install a stepper motor with a holder. It is attached with pins to the motor shaft 1/4 of the length. In this case, a piece of rubber hose is used.
How to install the X-axis movable platform?
The very first thing you should do is prepare a piece of metal or plexiglass in the shape of a rectangle. It is attached to a U-shaped frame. Then attach a bearing to a piece of aluminum bar and screw a 0.5 cm coupling nut into the bar. The bearing is needed to attach the horizontal platform to the guide, and the coupling nut - to ensure movement on the platform. By lubricating the nuts and guides, you can simplify the movement.
How to install the movable platform of the Y axis?
When constructing the Y axis, similar work is performed perpendicular to the X axis.
To assemble the platform, you will need such materials:
• plexiglass or metal (piece);
• guides (2);
• U-shaped profile.
Also, according to the scheme indicated above, the bearing and the coupling nut are attached. Here everything is repeated in the same sequence. All parts (guides, engine, etc.) are attached to a piece of plexiglass. The engine will hold four racks. The platform will move up and down. To prevent the platform from slipping off, add a roller bearing to each end. At the end, the engine is mounted in the Z platform. It is installed in the frame. If you want the milling machine to work, then fix the power supply and the controller, connect the electric motors to the controller and install the program on the computer.
Appliance electrical
The circuit should be equipped with a power supply, a controller, a stepper motor driver. You can easily find so many typical controller and stepper motor driver circuits to design your own drilling and milling machine . But if you do not have skills in this area, then buy a ready-made controller for the machine. To control the device from a PC, you need an LPT port.
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A fairly popular program for controlling the machine is VRI-CNC by Roman Vetrov. The milling machine is connected via the LPT port using stepper motors from the drives. There are other programs: Mach 3 and Kcam4, Turbo CNC, Linux CNC.