Tutorial
From Sketchup to CNC Fabrication and Built Asse...
In this tutorial, I show you how to draw a complex assembly in SketchUp, take that drawing and build upon it with machining operations (tool paths) in CAM, cut out...
From Sketchup to CNC Fabrication and Built Asse...
In this tutorial, I show you how to draw a complex assembly in SketchUp, take that drawing and build upon it with machining operations (tool paths) in CAM, cut out...
Cutting/Milling Metal with the blackToe CNC Mac...
Mark Gottschalk has been cutting metal with his 8 foot long blackToe CNC Machine for a while now. How does he do it? It's a balance of depth per pass,...
Cutting/Milling Metal with the blackToe CNC Mac...
Mark Gottschalk has been cutting metal with his 8 foot long blackToe CNC Machine for a while now. How does he do it? It's a balance of depth per pass,...
Demonstration of Spoilboard Surfacing with an O...
The video below is a quick demo of us doing a bottom clearing on our CNC machine using our new Onsrud Spoilboard Surfacing Cutter. It's generally a good idea to...
Demonstration of Spoilboard Surfacing with an O...
The video below is a quick demo of us doing a bottom clearing on our CNC machine using our new Onsrud Spoilboard Surfacing Cutter. It's generally a good idea to...
Cutting Full Depth and Better Dust Removal
Using our new water cooled 2.2kW spindle has benefitted us with less wear on our end mills and the ability to extract almost all of the dust created from milling....
Cutting Full Depth and Better Dust Removal
Using our new water cooled 2.2kW spindle has benefitted us with less wear on our end mills and the ability to extract almost all of the dust created from milling....
CNC Halftoning Tutorial
In my usual morning reading, I came across a post at Evil Mad Scientist Labs showing off CNC halftones using ASCII art. I was compelled by one link in this...
CNC Halftoning Tutorial
In my usual morning reading, I came across a post at Evil Mad Scientist Labs showing off CNC halftones using ASCII art. I was compelled by one link in this...
CNC Electronics and Wiring
This tutorial will make you an expert in wiring CNC electronics using a parallel breakout board and standard stepping motors and stepping motor drivers.
CNC Electronics and Wiring
This tutorial will make you an expert in wiring CNC electronics using a parallel breakout board and standard stepping motors and stepping motor drivers.
Calibration of Linear Motion System Driven by S...
So, you don't have a dial indicator to test the accuracy of your machine. You are finding that your cuts are a little off. You're racking your brain, trying to...
Calibration of Linear Motion System Driven by S...
So, you don't have a dial indicator to test the accuracy of your machine. You are finding that your cuts are a little off. You're racking your brain, trying to...
Printed Circuit Board Isolation Routing
Wiring circuits on a perf board, or trying to get a good etch using laser transfer and harmful and messy chemicals can be a challenge. For a while now, I...
Printed Circuit Board Isolation Routing
Wiring circuits on a perf board, or trying to get a good etch using laser transfer and harmful and messy chemicals can be a challenge. For a while now, I...
3 and 4 Axis Stepper Motor Driver Board Based o...
So, what exactly is a 3 and 4 axis stepping motor driver board. Actually, I am presenting the 3 axis stepping motor driver board in this article, but there is...
3 and 4 Axis Stepper Motor Driver Board Based o...
So, what exactly is a 3 and 4 axis stepping motor driver board. Actually, I am presenting the 3 axis stepping motor driver board in this article, but there is...
Primer on Homing and the Use of Limit Switches
I know, you are finished building the CNC machine, and now, you need to set up the limit switches and be able to home the machine.
Primer on Homing and the Use of Limit Switches
I know, you are finished building the CNC machine, and now, you need to set up the limit switches and be able to home the machine.
CNC Machine Horizontal Work Piece 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...
CNC Machine Horizontal Work Piece 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...
DIY Coupling: A coupler for the motor and lead ...
This creative coupling solution comes from another generous user of the site. He has devised a way to couple the motor to the leadscrew with standard aluminum tubing. Marc has...
DIY Coupling: A coupler for the motor and lead ...
This creative coupling solution comes from another generous user of the site. He has devised a way to couple the motor to the leadscrew with standard aluminum tubing. Marc has...
blackAnt Wall Mounted 3D Printer
The blackAnt 3D printer uses a process called fused deposition modeling (FDM) and has a much larger footprint than its predecessor. This machine is designed to be mounted onto a...
blackAnt Wall Mounted 3D Printer
The blackAnt 3D printer uses a process called fused deposition modeling (FDM) and has a much larger footprint than its predecessor. This machine is designed to be mounted onto a...
Single Starts, 2 Starts, 5 Starts, TPI, Lead, H...
I think it's about time to talk about lead screws. So, what is this lead screw that is always mentioned throughout this website. Lead screws also have all of these...
Single Starts, 2 Starts, 5 Starts, TPI, Lead, H...
I think it's about time to talk about lead screws. So, what is this lead screw that is always mentioned throughout this website. Lead screws also have all of these...
Pipe CNC Step 1: Linear Slide Mechanism and Con...
November 22, 2007 Happy thanksgiving for those who live in the United States. This is my first post in the Research and Development section of this website. You are probably...
Pipe CNC Step 1: Linear Slide Mechanism and Con...
November 22, 2007 Happy thanksgiving for those who live in the United States. This is my first post in the Research and Development section of this website. You are probably...
Technique to Minimize Backlash by Gérard C.
Getting rid of backlash seems to be the biggest concern for the CNC hobbyist, especially when milling PCBs since copper traces for surface mount devices are used. Surface mount devices...
Technique to Minimize Backlash by Gérard C.
Getting rid of backlash seems to be the biggest concern for the CNC hobbyist, especially when milling PCBs since copper traces for surface mount devices are used. Surface mount devices...
A DIY CNC Machine in Pipe
I have been doing a lot of tinkering lately (yup, that's why!). I cannot get the mechanical aspect of CNCs out of my system, so until then, enjoy the crazy...
A DIY CNC Machine in Pipe
I have been doing a lot of tinkering lately (yup, that's why!). I cannot get the mechanical aspect of CNCs out of my system, so until then, enjoy the crazy...
Bill of Materials
Many of you have asked me to provide a list of materials and costs for the CNC Machine. Here, I will provide a list of the materials, costs and where...
Bill of Materials
Many of you have asked me to provide a list of materials and costs for the CNC Machine. Here, I will provide a list of the materials, costs and where...
Some Information about End Mills (Rotational Cu...
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...
Some Information about End Mills (Rotational Cu...
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...
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...
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...
Torque and Linear Motion Formula
Periodically, I get questions from users of the site regarding torque and how much is required to move certain masses and a recent user emailed me specifically and it gave...
Torque and Linear Motion Formula
Periodically, I get questions from users of the site regarding torque and how much is required to move certain masses and a recent user emailed me specifically and it gave...
CNC Machine Pecking
So, what does a woodpecker do? It pecks, and the pecking is to bore a hole. It would be very difficult for a woodpecker to bore a hole in a...
CNC Machine Pecking
So, what does a woodpecker do? It pecks, and the pecking is to bore a hole. It would be very difficult for a woodpecker to bore a hole in a...
Step 34 - Software Toolchain Part 1 - Mach 3 In...
Now we come to the software section of this tutorial series. What's a software toolchain anyhow? Well, my fine feathered machinist... A software toolchain is a "chain" of software that...
Step 34 - Software Toolchain Part 1 - Mach 3 In...
Now we come to the software section of this tutorial series. What's a software toolchain anyhow? Well, my fine feathered machinist... A software toolchain is a "chain" of software that...
Step 36 - Software Toolchain Part 3 - The toolc...
At this point, you should have the control software that is described in Software Part 1 and Software Part 2. Software part 1 shows the process to install Mach3 and...
Step 36 - Software Toolchain Part 3 - The toolc...
At this point, you should have the control software that is described in Software Part 1 and Software Part 2. Software part 1 shows the process to install Mach3 and...