Majosoft's Hobby Site

How to build a Wooden Hobby CNC Engraving machine ?

This is what i have made with this machine. width = 74.64 mm height = 102.4 mm. Engraving time  6 and a half hours. Tooltip = 0.3mm and TipAngle = 40 degrees .Some visitors have seen this, when i had given a demonstration on the HCC Days in Utrecht ( the netherlands ).

Well, easy. Think simple.

This machine will be good for wood, plastic and Print Circuit Boards. When you want to engrave copper or steel you must make a stronger one.

On this site I give you no drawings , but I give you an idea : How to make one and I let you see how simple it is to make one.

Before you start with building, it’s better that you read this whole page and learn what is better and what you don’t must do. Please learn of my mistakes and do it better.

What do we want ?
We want to make a machine with 3 axis. ( X, Y and Z ).
On my choice page you can see that machine 1 is the best option to start.

What do we need ?

For the leadings I use sliders of a dresser. I use 4 sliders for each ax.

They cost about €8,- for two.

I make the most of the wooden parts together with glue.

I use for the lead screw M6 ,  but when I was finished with the machine I have replaced it to M12.
 Because the movements were very slow. 1 turn around on M6 is 1 mm and 1 turn around with M12 is 1,75 mm.
And the nut of M12 is made of plastic. Later on this page you can see how to make the nut for this.

The main constituent of this machine is wood. I used a wood look a like. In the Netherlands we call it MDF.

Let’s start X ax and Z ax

The basic is : We make 2 buckets, one for X ax and one for the Z ax.

The length is depending of the length of two sliders.

A little part of the leaders is raised.

You must cut it out.

before we put the leadings on the box , we must make them on the back side of the frontplate of the box

Make holes in the frontplate. When you don’t you can not fix the screws in the box.

use a little block to make the leadings parallel

assemble the nut

you can make it stronger with an other 2 peaces square on this block

the y ax

to determine the length of the y ax box , you must put the different parts together and measure the height.
Do this X 1.5 and add the length of two sliders. Thats the lenhth you need

put the y ax on the backside of the x ax

don’t ask me why , just look to the pictures.

make it square and in the middle of the x ax

place a block to it and draws a line on both sides

now draws a line without the block  on both sides

measure a bold M8.

you will see it’s 7.9mm

drill the holes 7.9mm

make 2 post and add them with bolds to the y ax.

clamp the x ax to the two post.

drill the holes in the post

so, i think you can handle it by your own now.

Some Tips

to make good , cheap and easy screw-threat.

use m12 and make a hole like this.

that looks nice and it works very well.

How to assemble the leadscrew to the steppermotor.

Well i have try something simple, but my conclusion was not so simple.
look what i have made. It wont work , but is was only the idea. Mayby with a good peace of wood it will work.

This is a better idea.
Make a pipe of steal and Drill two holes through and combine them with a paperclip.