What does the word CNC mean? CNC actually means Computer
Numerical Control. This means a computer converts the design produced by
Computer Aided Design software (CAD), into numbers. The numbers can be
considered as the coordinates of a graph and then they will be used to control
the movement of the cutter. This way the computer controls the cutting and
shaping of the material.
Our Build a CNC Router course is coming up again in April, and I’m really excited
about it. I love building, programming and using CNC routers, but seeing the
photos from students in this class is even more fun. So many people have built
their own machines over the past year, and they’ve shared photos of the process
and their finished projects in the course galleries.
The project is fairly straightforward, and
anyone with a few basic tools and woodworking skills can build it. In previous
sessions, some people followed the plans exactly. But a few students made some
simple modifications and improvements. One of the first tweaks to the design
was the drag chain shown above that keeps the wires organized and out of the
way. For just a few dollars, the student who built this machine was able to
make a huge improvement to the look and performance.
There are several mechanical components in the
project, and I’ve linked to a website where students can purchase them. But
it’s possible to save a few bucks by making some of those components, which is
exactly what Kevin R. did to the machine shown above. There are four metal
collars on each axis that hold the shafts in place, but they could be made out
of MDF. That’s a good way to save about $50, and you can see how this works in
the photo.
Workholding is one of the biggest challenges in
CNC routing. Big commercial machines use vacuum systems to keep parts in place,
but smaller machines can make use of mechanical clamps. Tony S. routed a couple
of dados into the X-axis of his router and installed t-tracks. Now he can
use clamps and feather boards to hold workpieces during routing. Tony’s build
should be encouraging for people who think they’re too set in their ways to try
this new technology. He’s getting into CNC at 70 years old.
My favorite modification is from a student
named Ray S. I included two SketchUp models in the course: one for a
fixed-gantry machine and another for a moving-gantry version. Most students
have opted to build the fixed-gantry machine because the course focuses on
that one. But Ray built the moving-gantry CNC. He also made a few sweet
upgrades. To provide additional support for the X-axis, he set two pieces of
tube steel into notches in the front and back of the machine. He added an
emergency stop button, which any experienced CNC operator can tell you will
come in handy sooner or later. In addition, his machine is light and strong
because he built it with 3/4” plywood instead of MDF.
As much as I love these
modifications, I was thrilled when I saw the first student photos of the
machine exactly, or in some cases, almost exactly as I designed it. Kent D. was
one of the first students to finish the project. That’s Kent’s CNC router in
the photo above.
Build a CNC Router is
always a fun course, and I think that’s because there’s so much interaction
between students. When someone asks a question in the discussion, other
students often reply before I have a chance to put in my two cents. I’ve had
mechanical engineers, electricians and machinists in the course, and they’ve
all helped out with valuable input. Now this is why we do online courses at
Popular Woodworking!
No comments:
Post a Comment