Building a Drawer Slide CNC Machine for Under $200!

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Building a Drawer Slide CNC Machine for Under $200!

By CopperDropDesigns in Technology > Cnc 151.077 788 123 Featured

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Home made CNC with hardware store parts

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Drawer Slide CNC Machine for under $200

 
Like many of us interested in this hobby, I wanted my own machine. But I didn’t want to
dive into it, spend $2k plus and have a large paperweight out in my shop. The idea was
born for a simple, cheap, somewhat accurate CNC machine that I could modify as I gained
knowledge (and funds).

The rst step in the process was deciding what hardware I was going to use.

I decided on the TB6560-3 axis driver bought off eBay for $22.00/free shipping. I chose
this driver because it was very affordable, and that is how I chose most of the components
for this project. Next came the 12V 8.5A Switching Power Supply, also bought off eBay for
$14.99/free shipping

For stepper motors, I found a lot of 5 on eBay for $10.00/free shipping. They are small, but
they actually have plenty of power for this machine (I’m not milling aluminum and the x-y is
quite small).

The spindle is probably the most important part of the machine. If you buy something that
has too much run out (movement in the shaft/bearings which makes your cutting tools
“wobble”) you will have dif culty achieving any sort of accuracy. This is the mistake I made,
I chose a Dremel 100. This is a great tool, don’t get me wrong, but it is made with a plastic
housing, and it turns at 35,000 RPM so it has quite a bit of run-out.

There are a lot of misc hardware pieces need to build this machine, but most of which can
be found at your local Lowes, Home Depot or local hardware store. I will detail a list of
materials needed here:

Also, you will need some sort of software(and obviously a computer) to run the machine
and to do drawings. I use Mach3(free... http://www.machsupport.com/) for the controlling
software, and I do most of my drawing in Turbo Cad for Mac. There are many choices out
there, some more expensive than others.

****EDIT**** I forgot to mention what I would do with the laser cutter if I were to win! I
would make a lot of crafts and projects to bene t a not for pro t I'm involved with. It's a
great organization that helps children increase their self esteem and self con dence.

(2) 2”x4”x8’

(2) Pairs of heavy duty drawer slides

(1) small linear slide rail (bought off eBay $5.00/free ship) for Z axis

(1) 2’x2’ 1/8” sheet of luan plywood (could also use Plexiglas)

(1) Sheet of Plexiglas or lexan ¼” to 3/8” 10" x 10"

(1) 3/8”x 3/8”x 36" aluminum angle 3

(1) 3/8” x 36"aluminum U channel

(1) ½” x 1/8”x 3’ aluminum at stock

(1) ¼”-20 x 3’ Threaded rod (lead screw)

(3) ¼”-20 hex standoffs 2” long

(1) ¼” fuel line hose for coupling motor to threaded rod

(1) Tube of super glue

(4) Wood screws for securing drawer slides to frame

(16) Nuts and bolts 10-24 x 5/8”

(12) Nuts and bolts 8-32 x 3/8”

(2) drill bushings (for lead screw support)

Wire:

-For stepper motor hook-up determined by stepper motors (how many wires) and how far
your drivers are placed.

-Power cable for power supply (used 3 wire cord of old power tool)

-Small length of 12ga wire for driver power (from power supply) + and –

1. Start by building a 2x4 frame, as shown in the Illustrations.

2. Attach the drawer slides to the frame

3. Glue or weld a small piece of sheet metal (with holes), or plastic to the hex standoff for
the lead screws and attach to bottom of both X and Y axis

4. Attach the X axis plywood, luan, or plexiglass

5. Attach the next set of drawer slides to the X axis

6. Attach the Y axis plexiglass (10" x 10") to the drawer slides on the X axis

7. Next, attach the small linear slide to the upper Z support

8. Attach a small piece of plexiglas, or any other rigid material for the Z axis, along with
another hex standoff mounted to the back for the lead screw.

9. Depending on your spindle motor choice, you will have to gure out how to mount it. I
used a 2" plastic pipe holder, found at Lowes in the plumbing section.

10. Also depending on which stepper motors you choose you will have different options on
mounting them. I used aluminum angle to mount them.

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123 Discussions

mikerosati 6 years ago on Introduction Reply / Upvote

How is the Z axis supported when the slide isn't fully extended? If you have a pound or two with the slide,
mount, and whatever you may use as the spindle (dremel, trim router, etc..) wouldn't that just put all the
weight on the screw and motor, which would pull apart?

Thanks :)
Mike

7 replies F

RasooL kargozar 3 years ago Reply / Upvote

I am making my first cnc :) it is a nice work , like :) , I use this map to make mine.tnx

bharatmali05 3 years ago on Introduction Reply / Upvote

please can you suggest me what outcome is possible after making this machine

gaxx 3 years ago Reply / Upvote

I have a stepper motors that run on 3.7V with 4 wires. How do I install the board voltage on them? The
board is TB6560.

DavideS1 3 years ago on Introduction Reply / Upvote

Threaded rods how much they cost and who have step ?

bdubu 4 years ago on Introduction Reply / Upvote

Thanks so much for sharing this. After about five years of getting nowhere
on my own CNC machine (mostly due to limited funding + lack of an acceptable workspace), I now have
renewed hope. This really is a good
overall (fixed gantry) design for a first time CNC hobbyist. Just like imyz, I too have an "evil plan" to use your
brilliant simple design to "bootstrap" myself into this hobby. I'm a little disappointed that no one has yet
shared pics of their own builds of this CNC machine. BTW, I believe you indicated somewhere in the
comments that you'd be upgrading your design. Do you have any news regarding that?

6 replies F

chrissunny94 3 years ago on Introduction Reply / Upvote

Hey @bdubu (jon) ,
These are the pictures of my first build during last summer vacations.
Its a very bad design as you can see and i didnt build it further because of the lack of time (this is outside my
field of study , I am a computer science student).
Anyways i will start work on this in about 1 months time
Regards
Chris Thaliyath
Delhi,India

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