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DIY CNC Plans Update

Just a quick update that the drawings are now completed and are in a review process.  An instruction manual is in the process of being drafted. It will go along with the drawings to provide some additional explanation and tips on building the machine.  It is expected that the plans package will be ready by the end of the year.  A purchase page will be added to this website and another announcement made here.  Those of you who signed up ahead of time on the plans page of this site will be given first priority for hard copies of the plans, along with a coupon for the plans (you can still sign up now).  Digital copies of the plans will also be available at the same time for purchase by anyone.

The plans consist of a drawings package and an instruction manual.  There are 70 sheets of drawings including fully dimension-ed views of each part that will be fabricated, exploded views of various assemblies, and parts lists for each sub-assembly.  The instruction manual provides a suggested build order, methods, tips, and some additional detail to complement the drawings. The manual also includes information about the control hardware and software that is external to the CNC machine.

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Overdue Update

I’ve been quite busy for the past few months. So busy that I haven’t posted any updates. I’m going to give a quick summary of what I’ve been up to and then follow up with some more detailed posts.

Since my last post I’ve done the following:

  • Added an emergency stop switch to my machine
  • Added a laser to my machine for engraving and cutting
  • Made my first cuts in Aluminum, using finish passes, resulting in +/-0.002” accuracy
  • Researched and purchased a few styles of home/limit switches to test (still in progress)
  • Wrote an eBook, Introduction to CNC Router Design
  • Performed a static rigidity test on my CNC machine
  • Created a Version 2 of my CNC design in CAD with some improvements that will make it easier for someone else to build a copy of this machine and to improve rigidity based on my testing
  • Started creating detailed drawings of Version 2 to be able to offer plans to others (still in progress)
  • Used my CNC router and laser for some small project requests

More details to come.