It's Alive!

finally after 3 burned controllers my router finally works )

it does need some hardware tweeking for less ratteling noise and also the motors should be able to go faster but i'm verry carefull now.

here's 2 Video's where you can see my first tests. one with only a motion test and the other with actual routing.

-> ps: tomorrow i will try to make the front and back cover of my controller :)

New Controller set arrived and working!

i've recieved my new controller set yesterday.

I also got a nice 2nd hand 19" Controller enclosure from my stepdad (needs to be refurbished) and installed everything in it.

sort of... The main elements (Power supply, controller and 3x drivers) are installed but the switches and connectors need to be fitted in some new front and back panels.

the perfect job to test my router with!
so the wiring is quite improvised at the moment but this way i can let the router make me some custom pannels.
i'll update this when (and if) this worked :)

Electronics (hopefully) going to be o.k. now.

I had bought a 'cheap' cnc controller from Ebay and had nothing but trouble with it :s

after recieving the controller the chip burned up after 10min's of use..
-> recieved a second one and burned this one too!
-> recieved a 3rd one and this one lasted for one hour but guess what .... burned too!

after reading some reviews it seemed these controllers were just not designed right and therefore being sold on ebay for a 'good' price.

... so one tip for all you other builders: never buy a TB6560 on Ebay!!

now i've ordered a more expensice one (got my money back from the previous controller) and hope this one will work as it should.

i should get it tomorrow so i can begin testing it :)

tip for cable management!

saw these cable label tie-wraps and got the idea to also use them for cable managing. when drilling 2 holes in the 'label' you can screw these on your machine and strap your cables on like you can see in the pictures:

hardware done, electronics still to come...

Some pics of the hardware assembly:

Some assembly ...

i'm still waiting for my bearings to arrive so here's an update.

the machine is almost complete, just have to add the bearings and putting the Z-axis and the cutting table on. the controller is also ready.

actually making the router

here are some Photos of the production process:

Started making a (small) CNC Router

this is my first ever made cnc router.
i always wanted to make one but never had the courage to finally begin building one. now i have/am making one

here are the pictures of the initial design and some specs:

-> note that the base of the initial design will be shorter when i actually make the router, i wanted to put the controller in the base of the router but decided afterwards to put it in a seperate box.


Type: fixed gantry
size: 48cm x 62cm x 37cm
cutting surface: 20cm x 38cm (and the Z-axis can move 6cm up from the cutting surface)
materials base: waterproof multiplex
materials Z-axis: PVC 10mm

controller: 3x M542 Drivers + 1 'universal' breakout board
Motors: 3x Nema 23
router: Dremel (for now a cheap rip-of Dremel)