Overview: The Manuals and the MachinesMultiple plans for a variety of options. |
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The plans were created to help as many Do-It-Yourself builders as possible. These range from the novice with a minimum of tools, to the shop that wants to add CNC, but lacks the budget or desire to buy a commercially produced machine.
The machines were designed to use off the shelf parts efficiently and simply.
All of the plans include written step by step directions with images of the parts and the building process. |
The 13x13 plans manual is over 40 pages with step by step instructions that include black and white photographs and dimensioned drawings.
This machine was designed to be as inexpensive and simple as possible. Its axes are supported by bushings that ride on steel rods. This gives a simple machine, but it is not as robust as the others. |
The 10x9 plans contain hundreds of images including color photos, dimensioned drawings and templates. The machine is a more solid version of the 13x13 and costs slightly more.
Its axes use bearings that ride on pipe rails that are cradled in the wooden frame. The heavier components on this small unit give a robust machine that is simple to build. It was built for this shop so the mill and larger machines would not have to be started just to quickly test g-codes for aluminum. |
The 18x24 plans are 100 pages with hundreds of images including dimensioned drawings, templates and color photos.
This machine uses aluminum components with V bearings on steel rails. It was built to meet the requests for a robust desktop machine. |
The plans for the 25x25 machine are over 90 pages with hundreds of black and white images. These include perspective drawings, dimensioned drawings and templates.
This machine has a low price for a large cutting area. This is done with standard framing lumber, and uncut 36 inch leadscrews. Because it was designed to be simple to build, it is not as solid as the 24x48, and it uses a trim router rather than a full sized router. |
The 24x48 Rack/Leadscrew plans are for those who have a modest shop, and are familiar with their tools. These plans are over 140 pages with hundreds of black and white perspective and dimensioned drawings as well as templates.
This machine was designed with a number of options including racks or leadscrews, and wood or aluminum gantry and carriage construction. The aluminum version is significantly more solid than the wooden model and can cut more aggressively. |
Different Skills, Different Options
A number of builders have said this is the first time they have undertaken a project of this sort, and they appreciate any extra guidance. Other builders have a lifetime of hands-on experience and only want dimensioned directions. These plans were written with the perspective that it is better to share too much information, rather than too little. An earnest effort has been made to address virtually every question that has come this way over the years. These plans attempt to be as clear and straightforward as possible. Some will be able to build the machines by looking at the images and dimensions. Others will find the additional text helpful. These plans do not include directions
for the software and electronics because the suppliers cover this information for their own products.
These plans do give directions for deriving the Step per Inch values that are needed to configure the software for these machines. The machines were all designed to use NEMA 23 stepper and drive components such as those from Geckodrive, Xylotex and
HobbyCNC.
Mach3 and TurboCNC are popular controller software options. Other software and motor suppliers can be used. The above vendors work with the Do It Yourself market. They have help forums and documentation. |
