Simple CNC Enclosure (X-Carve)

In this video I build a very simple plywood enclosure for my Inventables X-Carve. With this enclosure shut it dramatically cuts down the noise and allows me to record video and audio in my shop without distraction.

Here is a link to the sketch with dimensions:

Thank you to Pferd abrasives for supporting my shop and my channel. For links to some of the grinding discs I use most see below:

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Flap disc:

Inside corner disc (AMAZING):

Wire Wheel:

Thanks for watching! Be careful, know the limits of your skills and your tools! Don't try this stuff at home!

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For PDFs of some of our project check out our profile on Instructables:

Below are some links to tools I use in the shop on a daily basis.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Bosch Miter Saw ( My Favorite miter saw)

Sawstop Table Saw:

Wen Tabletop Metalcutting Bandsaw

Articulated Vise:

Bosch Portable Bandsaw ( 18V)

Porter Cable Restorer:

Lincoln 120V Welder ( good for a home shop)

The Camera I use:

The Tripod I use:

[mr-giht]

This is the best incloser for s cns machine I've seen so fare, I'll be using this when I finally order my machine.

[CJICantLie]

This is my favorite enclosure I have seen on Youtube. So simple, low profile, and effective.

[inventables]

Looks great, Chris! Glad you were able to come up with a good solution for minimizing X-Carve noise in your shop.

[robertpolaco]

Chris....Awesome...I'm a newbie the the CNC world and in a 20' by 20' (2 car garage)...my Shapeoko machine will be arriving soon, and wanted to find ideas for an enclosure/noise reduction...You nailed it....will be my near in the future project, Thank You for posting this...very helpful.

[bradh]

This enclosure helped with noise much more than the decibel readings suggest. Decibel readings are a bit misleading and confusing. Its read on a log scale, which basically means that doubling the decibel value does not double the volume. Same goes for going down in decibel value. In a nutshel, and without getting overly technical, a reduction of 10 decibels is about half as loud. So, your enclosure almost cut the volume in half with the numbers you got in the decibel app. I just wanted to share that to help the viewers see that this enclosure helps a LOT more than what the numbers suggest.

Great job on the video and build btw! Great design too! This gave me lots of good ideas for my own enclosure that I'm planning.

[hudsonriverlee]

Well here it goes. I did not yet, watch the video, , I hit the like button instantly... right after I saw the door hinged in the middle and swing up to expose nearly the entire machine. My projects thus far are small.... once I did three 6’ 2x12’s and had to slide the lumber through ... anyhow, , since your design allows such exposure, for set up purposes, clamping, last minute measurements to bit changes... I want my own enclosure to be similar. I plan to add a hinged door in the back to accommodate the pass through longer boards.

[budmiller]

pld school trick to sound proofing is to glue in or ise double sided tape to hold in egg foam on the sides. it will cut the router noise by half.

[donfillenworth]

Great job! I built a custom CNC and plan to build a similar enclosure to reduce sound. Thanks for sharing.

[ramshckyskterlife]

I’ve had the same problem with gas pistons before. The easiest way to get the right pistons is to go to your local NAPA and get replacement pistons for car trunks. They also sell brackets that are made for mounting them, couldn’t be easier!

[pickinnick]

could add foam acoustic panels on top of a sound deadening mat layer for improved performance

[thegracedfarm]

Thank you for posting this video and a link to the sketch!! I will be attempting to make this

[drhender]

As always, nice video with good information. I'd suggest that polycarbonate (ie, Lexan) is a better alternative to acrylic (ie, Plexiglass). Polycarb costs a bit more, but it is less brittle and is less likely to crack or shatter when it takes a hit. It can even be bent on a sheet metal break without heating, but it bends nicer when heated just like plexiglass.

[TwistedTwineWoodworking]

Enjoyed the video! Will be making an enclosure for my new cnc and this one has some great features

[TheNottonight]

I like what you did especially bending the plexiglass. How about putting some insulation on the inside of the box.

[scrapnewyork]

Wow great idea Chris. Some good old fashioned engineering!

[brianewhiteguy]

Great build! Simple and extremely useful!! Thank you for: 1) NOT using Baltic Birch plywood, 2)NOT putting 26 coats of poly on it and 3)NOT using LED lights set to German techno music.

[kentharris]

Like your design. I am going to use two sheets of Lexan 2 X 4 foot each. I am making an enclosure for a Long mill so the enclosure will be 2 feet tall. I'm going to put the controller outside the box. So I will build a door on the side. As far as the gas piston I would get one from an auto supply store (They go by the name lift support). You will just need to figure out the lifting capacity. They cost between $15.00- $30.00. I figure it is probably the same weight as a car hood. The ones at the Hardware store are used for screen doors. Hope this helps.

[vincentrolfe]

If you build that hood for the CNC again do allow some extra room inside for sound deadening and that might reduce the router sound quite a lot.

[wetdedstuocm]

Good work I'm looking forward to the X-carve videos.

[CCSandSonsWorkshop]

Pretty slick! Great idea that I might have to incorporate into a future project!