instructables

DIY Arduino CNC Drawing Machine

by Surajit Majumdar

Hello Guys, In this instructable I'm going to show you If you like this project then please do vote for me
how to make an Arduino CNC plotter from old DVD guys. I really need your support :)
writers. This is an amazing machine. You can make
this machine for your school, college science project. Here's the demonstration and tutorial video.
It can write and draw anything. This is also very easy
to make. So let's get started.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/SLtb2R89Vgw

DIY Arduino CNC Drawing Machine: Page 1

Step 1: Parts List

We need this following parts to make this CNC plotter.

Parts list:

Old DVD writer (2x)

Arduino Nano.
L293D Motor Driver IC (2x)
IC Base (2x)
Micro Servo Motor.
PCB Board
Male And Female Header Pin.
Barrel Socket.
Acrylic Sheet 3mm

Tools List:

Solder iron.
Super Glue.
Mini Handsaw.
Sandpaper.
Ruler.
Marker Pen.

DIY Arduino CNC Drawing Machine: Page 2

Step 2: Making the Pieces for Frame

Here I'm using the acrylic sheet to make the frame for the CNC plotter. It is a very good choice for making the
enclosure for every DIY Project. Personally, I frequently use this sheet to make the enclosure for my DIY Projects.
It is easy to cut, bend and sand. It is also so affordable.You can use the following process to make pieces for the
frame.

1. Take the measurement of the acrylic sheet for the enclosure to your need and mark it with a marker
pen.
2. Then use your handsaw to cut the pieces.
3. Use sandpaper to smooth the pieces.

DIY Arduino CNC Drawing Machine: Page 3

 Download
http://www.instructables.com/ORIG/F4Q/2XWD/JDKKM6IM/F4Q2XWDJDKKM6IM.pdf
…

DIY Arduino CNC Drawing Machine: Page 4

Step 3: Making the Base

In this step, I'm going to make the base for my CNC plotter. So follow the step carefully.

1. First, apply super glue on one piece of acrylic then attach this piece with another two pieces.
2. Again use the super glue to attach the X-axis frame.
3. Then attach another two pieces for better support.

DIY Arduino CNC Drawing Machine: Page 5

Step 4: Removing the Stepper Motor

We need two old DVD writers for this project. You can find old and broken DVD writer on local computer hardware
store. Usually, they do not use this DVD writer so they can give you it at the very low price. I got one for free and I
had another one laying around. So I decided to use it for my CNC project.

1. First, disassemble two DVD driver and take off the stepper motors.
2. Then use your screwdriver to open the stepper motor and rails from the frame.

DIY Arduino CNC Drawing Machine: Page 6

Step 5: Hacking the Slider for X and Y Axis

1. First, take off the two sliders from their rails.

2. Use your handsaw to cut the two little pieces from the slider
3. Then attach the two pieces using super glue.

Step 6: Attaching the Sliding Rods

In this step, we'll attach the sliding rods to its frame. So follow the step below.

1. First, take one sliding rod and insert it into the slider.
2. Then apply super glue to attach the sliding rod with its frame and hold it still for some time.
3. Use the above method to attach another rod.
4. Repeat same procedure to attach sliding rods with X-axis frame

DIY Arduino CNC Drawing Machine: Page 7

DIY Arduino CNC Drawing Machine: Page 8
Step 7: Mounting the Stepper Motors

Now we'll mount the stepper motors. Use your screwdriver to mount the stepper motor to X and Y Axis.

Step 8: Attaching the X and Y Axis

In this step, we'll attach the Y-Axis on the top of X-Axis. Follow the above picture to attach both axes.

DIY Arduino CNC Drawing Machine: Page 9

Step 9: Making the Z- Axis

I have seen many people got stuck on this part but I'm going to show you how to make a perfect Z-Axis. So follow
steps below.

1. Take the required parts for the Z axis like Sliding rod, pen spring, compass pencil holder, some
acrylic pieces.etc
2. first, take your sliding rod and insert it into its holder and insert pen spring after that use a small
piece of the plastic holder to hold the pen spring.
3. Then apply super glue on the sliding rod holder and attach it to the acrylic frame.
4. After that attach a small piece of acrylic on the top of sliding rod, it also works to move the pen up
and down.
5. Then attach the pen holder at the end of sliding rod.
6. Finally, mount the servo motor using the super glue.
DIY Arduino CNC Drawing Machine: Page 10
DIY Arduino CNC Drawing Machine: Page 11
Step 10: Attach the Z-Axis

Attach the Z-Axis to Y-axis using superglue as the above pictures showing.

DIY Arduino CNC Drawing Machine: Page 12

Step 11: Solder Wire With Motors

First, cut the flexible PCB of the motors, then solder wire with motors. I'm using small pieces of a marker pen to
hold my circuit board little higher.

Step 12: The Circuit Diagram

Here's the complete circuit diagram, connect everything according to the circuit diagram. If your steppers don't
work properly then you have to find correct working combination by changing the pins of the L293D IC. You can
also adjust the IC pins in code.

DIY Arduino CNC Drawing Machine: Page 13

Step 13: Making the Circuit Board

In this step, I'm going to show you how I made my Circuit board. First, insert the IC bases and all the header pins,
then solder its pins, after that make every connection according to its circuit diagram. You have to do it very
carefully and precisely.

DIY Arduino CNC Drawing Machine: Page 14

Step 14: Assembling the Circuit Board

First Mount the both IC, then the Arduino nano and at the end connect the wires. We're done :)

DIY Arduino CNC Drawing Machine: Page 15

Step 15: Uploading the CNC Code

In this step, we'll upload the CNC code to Arduino.

1. First, connect the Arduino board with PC through USB cable.

2. Select correct port and board.
3. Then upload the CNC code.

Programming Video Tutorial

https://www.youtube.com/embed/efWQfR-qWwM?ecver=1

DIY Arduino CNC Drawing Machine: Page 16

 http://www.instructables.com/ORIG/F2E/FB94/JDCBTK74/F2EFB94JDCBTK74.zip
… Download

Step 16: The GCTRL Program

Now we are ready to print our first image. We'll use the processing software to run the gctrl.pde program. This
program sends the 'gcode' images to the CNC plotter.

1. First, open the processing software and open the gctrl.pde program for the cnc machine.
2. Then click the run button, one new window will open.
3. Press p button to select the current port.
4. Press g button to select the gcode.

Step 17: We're Done :)

I hope this tutorial helps you to build your own Thanks for watching project, I hope you liked this
Arduino CNC Drawing machine. You have made your project, if you did then please follow me I'll keep
own CNC project then please send a photo in the posting awesome new projects. Also, don't forget to
comment section. I am very excited to see your own SUBSCRIBE my YouTube channel.
creation.

Later I'll keep updating this instructable.

DIY Arduino CNC Drawing Machine: Page 17

 We are also making Cnc drawing machine but we
have 28BYJ48Stepper motor with uln2003 driver and Arduino uno (atmega 328p)
So my question is ... Will that code given by you , will work for our project?

try these links

http://42bots.com/tutorials/28byj-48-stepper-motor-with-uln2003-driver-and-arduino-uno/
https://www.instructables.com/id/BYJ48-Stepper-Mot...
https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Mini-...

//www.youtube.com/embed/uv6rIOjITlY

they all use uln2003 and you can use their example code to try it

Brother We created 2d Plotter like this..only 1 problem in project is drawing is not fine means
accuracy and clear so everything rest is fine and superb also you explained well but need and
improvement for this drawing part only or you use good quality stepper motors like nema 17 and
improve your project..thanks for sharing this tutorial

the issue here is not that the drawing is not fine or accurate. Remember these stepper motors are
from a DVD player and to read and write a DVD the controller in the DVD player has to be very
accurate. If you look at my picture in the I made it, the result is close to his, I am happy as his
design is one of the more elegant ones using DVD steppers. You have to play with the code to get
more precise.

We are also making Cnc drawing machine but we 28BYJ48Stepper motor and Arduino uno
So my question is ... Will that code given by you , will work for our project?

now all i have to do is learn inkscape and gcode

ROFL , so they made you create templates. This is the cleanest and clearest instructable on the
subject. P.S. i voted for you.

Yeah, a lot of people asking about the templates. Thanks for your vote man :)

can you make an acrylic parts template and send me? and how thick is this material?

check in step 2

DIY Arduino CNC Drawing Machine: Page 18

 from parts list acrylic sheet 3mm. if you look at the pictures you can get the measurements.

I've seen a few of these DVD CNC projects, but I reckon this one is the best yet. Nice work!

Thank you much. I've tried my best to make this one :)

DIY Arduino CNC Drawing Machine: Page 19