Mini Arduino CNC

Universal G-Code Sender

stepper motor

Arduino UNO

Big Easy Driver

GRBL

Inkscape

12V Power supply

Jumper Wires

<p ><br ></br></p><div id="gallery"><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/2c6b40d0-6948-4d0b-84e9-593fe4c97095.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/e2df7b6a-ed55-42fd-8e40-2488b02d6e4d.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/e6f3cd27-53cc-4cff-ac9d-098f881a0ecd.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/77f8ff22-1cb1-40e4-9d75-2fab4c086530.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/10638bfe-79ab-4619-b134-d083059ded35.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/526bdaf7-5c45-4966-af8a-f8ca0ee359ee.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/858c1ced-dc5a-4705-9d37-45377c3e5f5d.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/e088deef-2f39-4288-b393-3e048abe699a.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/26b9f771-32b5-40a9-9d29-b6b5e94056f5.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/22f8e86e-869e-48a0-a153-985d5e88d190.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/86427090-0655-4e23-996b-d2a7e9638b9a.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/d8916640-30ac-463d-bab6-f1fe49f5b78b.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption></div><p >This project shows  you how to build a cheap and easy, but very small CNC using Arduino  UNO.</p><p ><strong >Step 1: PARTS YOU NEED</strong></p><p >For this project you will need:</p><p >3 x old CD/DVD-Roms</p><p >1 x Computer power supply</p><p >3 x Easydriver boards</p><p >1 x Arduino Uno</p><p >2 x pieces of Wood</p><p >1 x Soldering Iron</p><p >1 x Soldering Wire</p><p ><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZZg1QBYzJA">Mini Arduino CNC Part 2</a></p><div class="se-component se-video-container __se__float-none" contenteditable="false" style="width: 100%;"><figure style="width: 100%; height: 56.25%; padding-bottom: 56.25%; margin: 0px;"><iframe frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EZZg1QBYzJA" data-proportion="true" data-percentage="100%,56.25%" data-size="100%,56.25%" data-align="none" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;" data-index="0" data-file-size="0" data-origin="100%,56.25%"></iframe><figcaption contenteditable="true"><div>Arduino Mini CNC video</div></figcaption></figure></div><p >How to use Inkscape?</p><p ><span >There are a lot of videos on you-tube which will guide you to how to use this software and generate Gcodes. For quick guidance see this link. </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_3yQZxXm-Q">Inkscape and Serial Transfer</a></p><div class="se-component se-video-container __se__float-none" contenteditable="false" style="width: 100%;"><figure style="width: 100%; height: 56.25%; padding-bottom: 56.25%; margin: 0px;"><iframe frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t_3yQZxXm-Q" data-proportion="true" data-percentage="100%,56.25%" data-size="100%,56.25%" data-align="none" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;" data-index="0" data-file-size="0" data-origin="100%,56.25%"></iframe><figcaption contenteditable="true"><div>How to use Inkscape</div></figcaption></figure></div><h3 >Step 2:  Using the DVD CD-ROM, get stepper motors</h3><div id="gallery"><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/366e13c7-b9f5-4303-adee-20ceb37946c8.jpg /><figcaption>DVD-ROM</figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/9f7453b5-01e7-4df6-a9d4-e0f56f4e6a01.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/c527665d-d990-469f-b223-787751e5622a.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/fa3f60b4-fb2e-4312-972d-4ff27877dbe0.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption></div><p >I took three wasted DVD-drives apart because we need the steppers (XYZ axis)</p><h3 >Step 3: Assemble and Build the structure</h3><div id="gallery"><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/2af3db1e-babd-4063-ac8a-20ef16829c74.jpg /><figcaption>Mechanical Structure</figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/f6a5888a-db5d-48ac-a8b8-7df0a88bf016.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/b742b4ba-771e-472b-ab85-8ca694d9af7b.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/a0ad0523-3601-43cf-90ea-e33df9842a02.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/23a23114-cca2-410e-81e2-ceb7d9a6ea95.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/1729eaec-d403-4c6b-acd9-3c26ea652db1.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/b9ee4d88-fbe4-41cb-baca-8bd7d1fae124.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/a82ad3f7-fc84-468d-9f85-facdaffdf5df.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/e4c3efef-f719-4bb8-8e56-e18285c44afa.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/f1d12915-754d-48ac-8884-988c234076f2.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/d2b662f3-251f-4e72-833a-488944e6742e.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/2c87c15e-a2ae-4081-979c-1081e447ba00.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption></div><p >For this part just need a base platform and two pillars. I made the base from wood and pillars are of aluminum. Now simply screw the wooden base withe your Pillars as shown in first Figure.</p><p >Place the X axis across the pillars and Y axis onto the wooden base as shown in figures.I used glue to assemble all the axis. Just make sure that all the axis are exactly perpendicular to each other, they must be at right angle.</p><h3 >Step 4: Soldering and wiring</h3><div id="gallery"><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/d8c5d976-c3af-4597-872b-32f64401a378.jpg /><figcaption>Circuit Diagram</figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/ebfbfe47-095b-47ac-9dea-14c96675128b.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/618863b9-8eb1-434a-a98b-cf8ad20a7572.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/9ed10619-479b-4dcd-87e1-31c82d55419f.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption></div><p >This is also not a very complicated step. You just need to solder wires with your stepper motor. Be careful while soldering and don't use high watt solder as it can burn the wires of stepper, mine was 30W and it was OK. After that, simply sold all the connectors in easydrivers and connect the wires as given in figure.</p><h3 >Step 5: The software</h3><div id="gallery"><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/d9e3841b-499f-431d-a119-c4e7e5807f75.jpg /><figcaption>Arduino IDE</figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/89711dc2-3a52-4327-95b5-6f74392b0acf.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/cfc40bcc-23e1-4892-8059-fad57c5901a9.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/53bd2384-178c-4499-8d29-556274856a6e.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/30f3b000-94af-4cfd-b328-724858b0b1cb.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/774d7651-4030-4152-bf9a-631b58b02bce.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/54632aca-d5ad-44d1-85c0-446ac6c454d3.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/b2b3aea8-3bda-4961-a3bd-d080413e6573.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption></div><p ><span >1. </span><a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Mini-Arduino-CNC/#">download</a><span > and install the </span><a href="http://arduino.cc/en/main/software">Arduino Software</a><span >, the </span><a href="https://github.com/grbl/grbl">grbl library</a><span > and the </span><a href="http://zapmaker.grblcontroller.s3-website-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/">Grbl controller</a><span > .</span></p><p ><span >2. After </span><a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Mini-Arduino-CNC/#">downloading</a><span > the Grbl library, you have to click sketch --&gt; import  library --&gt; add library in the Arduino software and select the zip  file you  just downloaded.</span></p><p >3. Upload the library to your Arduino.</p><p >4. After  you installed Grbl on your Arduino open the Grbl controller and select  the port to which your Arduino is connected. Press the open button.</p><p >5. A list of options appears in the command screen. You have to change a  few of these options, by entering the number of the option (the numbers  with a $)  = and the new value (For example $130=35.000).If  your motors are moving into the wrong direction, go to Tools --&gt;  Options --&gt; Axis and click the axis you want to invert.</p><p ><span >6.You can use any Gcode Generator software to make gcodes.I download DeskEngrave software which is also a gcode generator, here is a link </span><a href="http://deskengrave.software.informer.com/2.0/">deskEngrave</a></p><p ><strong >UPDATE:</strong></p><p ><span >Watch the new video </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZZg1QBYzJA">Mini Arduino CNC Part 2</a><span > of this mini CNC plotter. I have increased the feed rate for sketching. I was using Deskengrave and many other softwares just to check the working of the machine, the results was not satisfactory because some Gcode generated codes were not supported by the GRBL library. After searching n the internet i found Inkscape software. Inkscape is a free and open-source vector graphics editor; it can create or edit vector graphics such as illustrations, diagrams, line  arts, charts, logos and even complex paintings. By using this software i can import Dxf, Dwg, JPG, SVG etc files and can convert them into GCODE. You can download Inkscape by clicking below link.</span><a href="https://inkscape.org/en/download/">Download Inkscape</a></p><p >I have import several image files which i had downloaded from the google, convert them into Gcodes and send to the GRBL software, it worked perfect :D. Below is the link of sample video i have just made.</p><h3 >Step 6: Thank you</h3><figure><img src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/5910032a-cc1c-4f77-9707-57fc6cb4eb25.jpg /><figcaption> </figcaption></figure><p >It is very easy project if you want any help you can ask anytime.</p><p >Thank you!</p>

Schematics and circuit diagram

Github

Mini Arduino CNC

This project shows you how to build a cheap and easy, but very small CNC(Plotter) using Arduino UNO.