| Have you seen the article? Tom Owad, author of the two page article in the latest Make Volume:18, kindly features the kits here to describe CNC fabrication. You will also notice as specified by the article that CAM files are available for download for the version 1.3. Update: Through development, testing and the release of the blackToe system, many videos have been added. Check them out here... CNC Router Kit Version 2.0:Blacktoe  What number usually comes after 1.3? 1.4, right?!? Wrong, 2.0 of course. I have been working on the next obvious evolution for the CNC Machine kit that I offer here. Actually, I only started counting version numbers from 1.2 on to the 1.3. In this version, 2.0 seemed like the next logical step, and the machine wouldn't be complete without a name... Blacktoe. Read on... Chris Cockrum's CNC Control  When I look for content to add to this website, I look for content that will ultimately beneft the users of this site with additional information. With the various control methods that Chris brings to the table, I am overjoyed to add his methods to this website. Chris implements a simple and effective z-axis homing plate, router control and some fine examples. Read on... Octavio's Metal CNC Machine  Octavio went out on a limb and created a metal machine with some very inventive components. Inspired by this website, he was able to get this design and construction going. The machine is truely an example of using components in the machine for efficiency and simplicity. The overall structure appears to be steel. He uses bearings with channels to serve as linear guides. The z-axis mechanism is reversed to enable longer travel. All of this is not the most interesting part. Octavio is a medical doctor. This goes to show that individuals of all backgrounds dabble with this technology. Read on... Alessandro's CNC Machine Build with Guitar Example  I have gotten a lot of requests asking, can this machine make a guitar? Alessandro created a 2nd generation CNC machine using this website as a guide and from the images he provided, I can say he was quite successful. Not only that, he also built his electronics from scratch and his wire management is absolutely fantastic. Read on... Maker Faire Austin 2008 Fabrication  As always, the Maker Faire was an awesome experience. There were makers from all over. All of the really great stuff was exhibited like engineering, crafts, sustainable technology, art and other interesting things that was conjured up by makers. Can you guess what my favorite part of the show was? Well... Fabrication, of course. Oh yeah, they were nice enough to slap on a couple of Editor's Choice ribbons (very very shameless plug). Read on... Single Starts, 2 Starts, 5 Starts, TPI, Lead, HUH?!?  I think it's about time to talk about lead screws. So, what is a lead screw that is always mentioned throughout this website. Lead screws also have all of these terminologies and esoteric language that I will demystify. Maybe you will also start to understand the math behind the linear motion and how different lead screws will provide various linear motion characteristics. Read on... Some Information about End Mills (Rotational Cutters) for CNC Machines  I receive a healthy dose of questions about end mills and which ones that I use. I usually respond with answers like, my end mill will probably differ from your end mill. So, what is this thing called an end mill anyhow. If you are new to CNC machining and routing, you may have never heard of the thing. I could imagine googling something like, "CNC bits". Using the terminology "bit" is not all that incorrect. Bits are commonly referred to as drill bits, but routers use router bits. If you're looking to cut various metals and composites, end mills are the tools of choice. However, end mills will also work on wood, depending on the type of end mill selected. Read on... The CNC Process - From CAD to Product I have put together a video tutorial of the entire process from drawing a part in CAD (Computer Assisted/Aided Design) to the final product that is cut out from the CNC machine. This three part series will step you through the design of a very simple object that uses drills and profiles. Drills are simply holes created from the end mill (router bit) into the material and profiles are horizontal cuts, usually in geometric form, that create various shapes. Read on and watch the videos... Video Wiring Instruction for the Electronics Combo I finally got around to creating step by step instructions on how to connect the stepping motors, drivers, power supplies, fan and computer. These videos detail the procedure for wiring the electronics combo for sale here. This may also show similar wiring schemes for other systems like Geckos. Read/View on... DIY Coupling  This creative coupling solution comes from another generous user of the site (Marc K.). He has devised a way to couple the motor to the leadscrew with standard aluminum tubing. Marc has graciously allowed me to show you this creative idea. Read on... Have you noticed the new graphic? I am extending the rights associated to the work I'm doing here. I have licensed my work and kits under the Creative Commons Attribution License. Since this is a machine that can replicate itself, I'm giving the users the right to be able to reproduce the machine and elements of the machine for non-commercial distribution. So, if you purchase or build the machine, you can improve upon the design and/or make reproductions of it and give it to others, but you must attribute the credit to this work and site. Click on the license to get more information. CNC Machine Workpiece Clamping  This technique comes from one of the users of this site (Robert L). He has come up with a brilliant clamping idea. I get many emails asking, "how do you clamp your workpiece." I would often reply with the screw and wood scrap idea, but when I saw the method below, I knew this was the one to seriously consider. The historic reference is icing on the cake. When he talks about the moving to various positions, he is making reference to g-code. He specifies, assuming that you have zeroed out the correct position of the origin, that you move to x0 y0... and so on. You would read on... Start Building your CNC Machine from Scratch: | | Product Links 
The new CNC Router v2.0:blackToe kit with a 2'x4' routing area. 
Motion Electronics: Motors, Drivers and Power 
Hardware and Plans to get the DIYer started quickly.
Bearings for Lead Screws and Linear Motion. 
Couplings to connect motor shafts to lead screws New Products: 
V-Groove Bearings. These are great for linear motion. 
Hand crafted bearing assemblies. | |