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Raspberry Pi CNC Machine

by may_colin145 on April 24, 2016

Table of Contents

Raspberry Pi CNC Machine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Intro: Raspberry Pi CNC Machine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 1: Materials/Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 2: Step 1: Gantry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Step 3: Step 2: The Y-axis/Base . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Step 4: Step 3: X-axis/Z-axis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Step 5: Step 4: Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Step 6: Step 5: Attaching Electronics and Cart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Step 7: Step 6: Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Step 8: Final Project So Far.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

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Intro: Raspberry Pi CNC Machine
Me and my friend thought about building a CNC Machine for a while, But we didn't want it to be just any regular old CNC Machine. We wanted to make a very unique
machine that would have very unique attributes. We set out to make a CNC Machine that could do different types of Machining. For example, routing, laser engraving, 3D
printing, drag knife, etc. We took about a few months to design the basics of the machine, what kind of linear motion we would have for each axis, what kind of material
we would use for it, what kind of style to make it, etc. After those few months of finalizing everything, we took our first step into physically making the machine. Note: This
is made for the average consumer, for home use, and for someone who doesn't have the money to invest in a $1000 CNC router or 3D printer.

Step 1: Materials/Construction
Our best bet for material, that would be most cost efficient, but most reliable, was Bultic Birch Plywood. Me and my teacher split (2) sheets of it. One sheet was 3/4 inch,
and the other was 1/2 inch. This was plenty enough. we both payed around $36 each, so it was around $72 for both sheets at Lenco Lumber. I also used cross dowels
and 1/4 inch phillips head bolts to bolt together the Gantry, and used 3/8 threaded rods you can get at The Home Depot. Plus a few miscillanious parts that I cant think of.
Everything came to about $250, this depends on how you make your machine. Also, I used angle aluminum and skate bearings for my rails and cairages, I got a hundred
bearings on Ebay for $40, the more you buy the less cost per bearing is. you can find the angle aluminum at The Home Depot.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Raspberry-Pi-CNC-Machine/
Step 2: Step 1: Gantry
The first step to building the machine was the Gantry, this is my first time building anything close to a CNC Machine so i found it best to start with the Gantry.

Step 3: Step 2: The Y-axis/Base

For the Base I used 2X4's and ripped a 1/4 inch off each side on the table saw to get them as flat as possible. Then I made some sort of a torsion board with them, then I
screwed a piece of MDF on it to make the base as level as possible. This will prevent unaccurate measurments during a machining process.

Step 4: Step 3: X-axis/Z-axis

The X and Z axis is pretty self explanitory, it didnt take as long to build it, because it just has to slide back and forth on the ganrty. Also, I made the lower rail on the gantry
for adjusting your X-axis because it can change over time.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Raspberry-Pi-CNC-Machine/
Step 5: Step 4: Hardware
What we decided to go with in terms of the control board, was the TinyG v8, it is very flexible with what it can do, as in the type of software,a and firmware, but I will get
into that further in the next couple steps. For the TinyG, we needed a 24 volt power supply to power the 3 NEMA 23 stepper motors for each axis. I got all three stepper
motors and three couplings for around $90 on StepperOnline.com. I got the TinyG on synthetos.com for $136 including tax and shipping.

Step 6: Step 5: Attaching Electronics and Cart

I attached each Motor to each Axis, after making a couple mounts for the X-axis. All the Motors go to each stepper driver on the TinyG board. Also, make sure you check
you steeper wire groups, because you can damage them if you do not have them on right. It is very helpful to organize your wiring, because it can be a pain in the but to
figure out what goes where. You can motor map each motor to each Axis in the software, once you connected everything, so the board knows which Axis is which. This
CNC Machine is very significant because we managed to run the machine using a credit card size computer, aka. the Raspberry Pi. You would connect the Raspberry Pi
just like how you would connect it with any other computer. Also, in the last picture i mapped out how everything is connected to give you a better understanding of the
electronics. Next we will talk about the software.

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Step 7: Step 6: Software
The Software we chose that would be most suitable for the machine, was Chilipeppr. We chose this Software because it is very flexible with what you can do with the
machine. It gives you a bunch of workspaces, for different boards you are using and other types of machining you can do. The workspace we chose was the tablet
workspace, because the Raspberry pi has basically a phone processor. Since Chilipeppr is an api and, it is a network based program, it has to be accessed though
online. You also need to run a serial port for Chilipeppr so it can communicate to the TinyG via USB. Basically you download the serial port JSON server from the
Chilipeppr website and you run it in terminal before you start up Chilipeppr on your machine, NOTE: The serial port JSON server has to be running the whole time while
your machine is being used. Also, NOTE: That you cannot download the serial port JSON server through console, it will automatically unzip you file, therefore your serial
port cannot be run, because you need the application. Once that has all gone through you can configure your TinyG board via CLI in Chilipeppr and you can go look at all
of the configuring commands, and if you need help you can go to the TinyG wiki, and it will show you everything there has to do with the TinyG and Chilipeppr.

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Step 8: Final Project So Far....
This is still a work in progress, what we are working on now is trying to 3D print with the machine and add other tools to machine with. The machine works very well, and
there will be more to come. We will keep you posted, as more progress continues. Thanks for taking the time to value our project!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Raspberry-Pi-CNC-Machine/
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Comments
4 comments Add Comment

premenko21 says: Apr 24, 2016. 9:18 PM REPLY

Believe me this is cool but what does this have to do with 3d printing? I dont think this should be in the 3d contest

may_colin145 says: Apr 24, 2016. 9:24 PM REPLY

This Machine will soon be able to 3D print, all i need is a 3D printing extruder, but like i said it is still a work in progress, and i understand what you mean.

premenko21 says: Apr 24, 2016. 10:28 PM REPLY

Oh ok nice. Great instructable!

DIY Hacks and How Tos says: Apr 24, 2016. 8:13 PM REPLY
Awesome DIY CNC

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