X & Y table
I am working on a project to bootstrap a CNC router or milling machine using only basic hand tools and inexpensive components. Tools I used for the X and Y tables: a hand saw, a battery powered drill, a soldering iron, various screwdrivers and a pair of pliers. When working on the Z-axis I broke down and bought a jigsaw, which made cutting the pieces of MDF and the steel angle-iron much easier!
- I started off by using Ikea drawer rails and surplus MDF board for the mechanical parts and got the X axis working.
- Then I added the Y axis mechanism and was able to draw in two dimensions under computer control.
- Here is a post about the Electro-Mechanical parts of the router
- I added limit switches to the X and Y axis.
- My new Ocean Controls serial stepper controller arrived.
- My first performance test and platform leveling
- Cutting out my first part and building a bearing assembly.
- Making angle iron bearings and the Z-axis cart.
- More on the z-axis cart and pipe adjustment assemblies
Costs:
| Category | Item | Cost |
| Mechanical (IKEA AS-IS room) | Base, X-platform, Y-Platform X/Y linear rails (drawer pulls) Raw Material (MDF board) for Z-cart & base |
$3 $2 $1 |
| Mechanical (ACE Hardware) | M4 screws, washers & nuts (servo mounting) wood screws SM screws & washers 2×1 x 8foot piece of wood 1-foot plastic tubing 4 foot 3/4 inch steel angle iron Eight 1/4inch bolts, nuts, and nylon locking nuts for Z-axis bearings 2x 12 inch by 1/2inch black “nipple” pipe (z-axis) 100pc box of 6-32 machine screws and nuts (pipe adjusters) |
$2.21 $3 $1.88 $3 $0.19 $11.23 $8.48 $6.98 $8.28 |
| Total Mechanical | $51.25 | |
| Electronics (may be re-used on 2nd Gen router) |
3 Surplus Linear Actuator (servos) 3 Stepper driver boards (kit) Servo Serial Control Board 6 micro-switches |
$75 70.50 (AUD, or $44.52 USD) 65 (AUD, or $41 USD) $7.20 |
| Total: | $218.97 |
I expect to re-use the steppers and driver electronics in my 2nd gen milling machine. I also bought a “dremel drill press” to use as a temporary (human operated) Z axis on my first gen router for $15.