Homemade CNC Drawing Machine
Servos, CD player parts, and wine boxes complete this unique three-axis plotter.
Popular Instructables creator tuenhidiy has come up with a unique CNC machine, which can be seen demonstrated in the video below drawing several nice pictures. The machine runs GRBL firmware, and features a fairly standard X axis gantry setup with a movable table for the Y axis. For the Z component, it lifts its drawing instrument up with drive parts from a CD player.
What makes this build special is that instead of stepper motors for the X and Y axes, tuenhidiy employed a pair of servo motors. To accomplish the proper PID control, an Arduino Uno receives movement commands via a GRBL interface, and sends them on to an Arduino Mega running custom firmware. The Mega, along with a custom adapter board and an L293D motor shield, is then able to exert proper control on the servos. Interface boards are stacked is a five-high component sandwich, with the Mega on the bottom and a CNC shield – which ultimately powers the motors – on the top.
Another interesting aspect to this project is that the structure, which also functions as an electrical enclosure, is made out of old wine boxes. These appear to be a perfect size for such a small CNC build, providing a nice base for the Y axis lead screws and shafts, and an upright structure for the X axis components and electronics.