CNC machine - Tools and Materials

Tools

The only tools I used where

• a hacksaw
• a driller mounted on a vise and drillset from 1mm upto 10mm
• a metal file
• a punch
• a measuring tape
• a metal ruler
• a knifeblade (used for precise marking)
• a jigsaw (for cutting the aluminium sheet)

Additional tools that might help you are

• a metal crosscut - note that the individual parts of the cnc machine are cut 90degrees to the material, i.e. there is no need for precision angular cutting
• a bench grinder - will enable you to grind the edges perfectly to size

Materials

Construction aluminium provides a number of different profiles that one can use. The cnc machine uses only two types of profiles i.e. the square shape or L-shape. This helps in the simplicity of the design.

Preferably you choose Aluminium profiles that have a polished finish. However you might be able to purchase painted aluminium, because of building restrictions. This might increase friction of the linear bearings of the machine. Having said all that I used painted aluminium and have no trouble since the stepper motors are quite powerful.

The construction of the cnc machine carcass requires

• M3x6mm bolts (x100)
• M3x25mm bolts (x100)
• M3 nuts (x200)
• M6 nuts (x3)
• Ball bearings internal bore 8mm (x6)
• Metric Threaded Rod
• Aluminium sheet (2mm thickness) 250mmx250mm
• Aluminium Square Profile 1.2m
• Aluminium L profile 1m

I was not able to purchase such small quantities of aluminium sheet and profiles, and I had to opt for whole profiles and sheet.

For neatness you might opt to cover the profiles with contact plastic, so that during machining, the surfaces remain intact.

The ball bearings can be purchased from any power tool repairer. These bearings are frequently used in power hand tools. Threaded rods are normally used to fix soffit ceilings. Here will be using them in the linear bearings to transfer the rotational power of the stepper motor into linear motion.

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