I've added a small Z-axis out of an old DVD-Drive and hoocked it uf to my CNC. At the z-axis i mounted a pen, so now my machine can plot pictures on a Paper or flat surfaces like my "Sprit" or alcohol bottle.
Here is the first test-video of my CNC, in this Video, i couln't controll the laser, but at the moment it works. This is a normal violet laser who writes on a glow in the dark surface.
Now the Y-axis is added to my PCB-Mill and the belts arrived so i dont't have to use those shoelaces again. The entire system works pretty good. Test Video is comming soon!!!
First Test of the X-axis was succesfull. The axis don't have a belt at the moment, because they didn't arrived at time, but a sholace will works fine ; ). Next step is to Design the new holder for the y-axis linear shafts, with a included beltholder.
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For motor, i used a standard NEMA 17 Stepper motor, the BArs are standart item aluminium Profile, and the plasticparts are 3D-Printed, when the Project is close to the end, i will make it Opensource.
Hey, what laser are you using or going to use? It looks like 445nm, but what optical power? And what about laser driver, are you going to use diy driver?
Yes i will make the whole Project Opensource, but only at the time when i finished it. I have a full 3D-Model of the my CNC in SolidWorks, iI'm gonna publish it, but later.
What kind of control electronics are you using? I built something similar, but I designed all my motor controllers from scratch, so they aren't really compatible with existing CNC software. I wondered if you had any advice on off-the-shelf controllers. Thanks!
Sure, for the Controling I'm just using the RAMPS Board from thr RepRap community and a Arduino. On it i run the Repetier Firmware. To upload Gcode i use Repetier Host, and to generate the Gcode i use CamBam. Hope i could help you.
Looks nice. Is the left motor for the Y-axis? If so, how are you moving the Y-axis? Are you using something like the coreXY mechanism (http://corexy.com/theory.html)?
The left and the right motor is to move the X axis. the Y axis isn't installed yet only their linear shafts. On these two i will mount another sledge, where the Dremel or Laser is gonna be mounted. I will post a Statusupdate, but not know because the belts dind't arrived at the moment.
please add a tutorial on how to make it.