instructables

Build Your Own CNC Milling Machine

by BonJiba

Now that I'm retired, I have time to create things that
I've always wanted to, like this CNC milling machine. I
did a lot of research here on Instructables, which
provided me a lot of ideas of how I wanted mine to
look and work. I have no experience in this area, so the
project itself was fun and enjoyable to see if I could
actually do it! My goal was to make one that was
accurate, reliable, with a reasonable work area and
cheap as possible. Accurate, yes, it can retrace the
same path over and over, consistently. Reliable, not
sure yet as I have only been using it for a month or so.
Work area 32.5" by 18.5". Cheap, perhaps, all in at $400
excluding laptop which I already had.
interest and passion to do so, as so many have done
for me.
Again, I'm no expert, just a hobbyist as many of you
are and have a lot to learn yet. The choices I made
here may not be right for everyone, but worked for
me.
Supplies:
1/2" MDF
Supported Rails and Ball Screws

Arduino UNO, GRBL Shield

By the way I already have an ANET A6 3D printer
which I love. So I gured how hard can this be, LOL!
NEMA 17 Steppers
My main goal for submitting this instructable is not to
Dewalt 660 cutout tool
provide every single step (that's too complicated for
me), but to help inspire those out there with the

Build Your Own CNC Milling Machine: Page 1

Step 1: Tools

I decided to make mine out of 1/2" MDF since its
cheaper than extruded aluminum. Thus, I only needed
conventional wood working tools. I used a table saw,
miter saw, drill and bits and a drill block for
perpendicular holes, since I don't have a drill press.
little pieces like brackets, etc. Many of those could be
made out of wood or metal brackets from the
hardware store.
A soldering iron to solder all the wire.

3D Printer is optional; I designed and printed many

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Build Your Own CNC Milling Machine: Page 3
Step 2: The Mechanical Build
Because this is my own design I had no plans to follow
nor did I create any. The rails dictated what the size of
the unit would be. The Y rails are 1000mm, X rails are
600mm and the Z rails are 300mm.
I started with the base and built a torsion style box
which makes it very rigid and strong. I would cut a
piece of 1/2" MDF and keep adding to the puzzle.
There are ribs or reinforcements anywhere its needed
to keep the MDF from exing. There is no ex in the
entire machine
The base was easy...now to all the other tidbits...
To get 25 holes drilled with some sort of accuracy I
would draw the board layout in Fusion 360 and print
Build Your Own CNC Milling Machine: Page 4
the 2D drawing on a standard computer printer in
actual size. I would then use a center punch to mark
the center of each hole and then use a hand drill to
drill them out as seen in the 3rd and fourth picture
above.
After it was all together, I took it all apart and put a
couple coats of polyurethane on it, those are the
pieces in the seventh picture.
An im po rt a nt no t e : I took a considerable amount
of time making sure everything was perfectly aligned
and square to each other, especially the rails. This way
there was absolutely no binding and everything
moved very smoothly.
Build Your Own CNC Milling Machine: Page 5
Step 3: Electrical
Since the gantry, etc. slid with such ease I decided to
try NEMA 17 motors (only 92 oz. holding torque). With
those motors I can move any axis at 3200mm/min or
125 inches per minute and cut at 1600mm/min
without the motors missing a step. I haven't tried to
cut any faster as that seems fast enough for me.
I used an Arduino UNO, running GRBL and a CNC
GRBL Shield with 8825 drivers. I had no experience
with an Arduino (again, I'm old, LOL), but there are
may instructables here that will teach you!
I did however design a board with 4 opticouplers to
of a trim router, has the same capabilities and comes
with both 1/8" and 1/4" collets. I removed the nose
cone and designed and 3D printed the mount for the
tool.
Build Your Own CNC Milling Machine: Page 6
prevent false triggers on the limit switches and Z-
probe as seen in the second picture. So all that, plus
an emergency switch and fan was packed into that
little box.
I ran all the wires in cable drag chains, motor and limit
switches together thus the need for the opticoupler
isolation.
I used a 20V - 7A laptop type power supply for all the
motors, etc. The actual draw is only about 2 Amps.
I used a Dewalt 660 cutout tool since its half the price
I made a slide out drawer and mounted a docking
station for the laptop. I use a wireless keyboard with
built track pad as a remote pendant.
Build Your Own CNC Milling Machine: Page 7
Step 4: Software

I use Fusion 360 to design my models and use their
built-in CAM to set up the tool paths. I run CNCjs on
the laptop which sends the g-code to the Arduino.
CNCjs can use a USB connected camera to display the
picture right in its user interface. Again, I'm no expert
as these are the only programs I have ever used. They
seem to meet my needs.
Of course the CNC is out in the garage, so instead of
waiting out there, I use remote desktop software to
see the desktop of the laptop from inside my house
on my desktop PC. I can then see how much time is
left and see it actually milling too.

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Step 5: Finishing Touches

I then realized I had no place to put the CNC machine
and it weighs in at 120 pounds, so I had to build a
rolling base. Then after working with it brie y, I
realized it made way too much dust and noise. I
gured I could address both of those with a cover. I
bought art foam board at the dollar store and created
a hinged cover that tilts back. Its much quieter and
there is no more dust outside of the box! Inside its a
mess, LOL. I also milled the removable fence, cam
clamps and hold-down clamps on this machine.

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Build Your Own CNC Milling Machine: Page 10
Step 6: Conclusion
I thought I would have to redesign and rebuild this
several times to get it right, but luckily I haven't. It
works just ne for me. I still have a lot to learn about
modeling, bits and tool paths. But in the mean time I
have designed and created these projects. The rst
two pictures are a laptop stand and the rest are some
plaques. The video is this machine milling some HDPE.
I milled these ags and have it published in another
Instructables - Click Here
Build Your Own CNC Milling Machine: Page 11
Again, its almost impossible to provide every detail
and plans since so many of the items depend on each
other as you build it. But please let it be known that it
can be done as so many others have made similar
ones.
Thanks for viewing and if I can answer any questions
please ask.
https://youtu.be/LwBuTgBlDNs

This is fantastic! I am a highschool student (definitely not retired), but I may try to make a similar
machine. I wish I had the templates for all your parts, but going off the pictures, I hope I can get
similar results.

Great job with this!!!

Thanks, I wish I had templates too, LOL. Basically everything was designed in my head around
some components I had. So every part is customized to every other part. So, If anything in that
chain of parts changes it affects everything down the path. So I was very patient and progressed
forward slowly making sure it fit my overall plan. But feel free to hit me up with any questions in
your process. Thanks and good luck!
Love this project and have similar background but in digital areas of electronics. I have all the
electronics and steppers ready and like your base frame design. I used Arduino Mega and Marlin
software with Nema 23 steppers. Although I have a frame to use I think your sliding gantry is a
better design. Great project thanks, and keep up the good work!!
Sorry I posted my question on the wrong section. It’s a very neat project. Very inspirational .
Keep up the good work /G\

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One suggestion: print a vacuum shoe for the router, and connect your shop vac while milling, that
will greatly improve the dust collection Here's a bunch: https://www.thingiverse.com/tag:dust_shoe
Thanks...that will be next then!

GREAT JOB!....

Thanks...

Tanks for a really nice tutorial. I can't wait to get retired some day (most likely not until 30+ years:).
Can I ask what the total budget for the project was? Regards
My budget and what I spent were not quite the same, LOL. I was hoping to do it for about $300, but
I spent $400 dollars to make the CNC, including the router, electrical and all hardware, everything,
except the rolling cart and enclosure which was probably only another $40. Thanks
How do you keep it from drilling into the bed?

I have a replaceable spoil board on top of the platform. The spoil board has T-nuts inserted from
the bottom side that I can use with either the cam clamps or hold downs. The only time it can cut
down into the bed (spoil board), is If I'm cutting down through the stock. To get my spoil board to
last longer I usually use something very thin under the stock and I only cut down below the stock
about 0.2mm. I hope that answered you question
I absolutely LOVE this! Great job! I've been wanting to build one.

Thanks...

Thanks!

Really like the look of this! I'm also researching to make my own, once I get "the workshop"
finished.

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