'Stupid Strong' CNC Build - PART 4 - THE ELECTRONICS

How to build a DIY CNC machine completely from scratch. I designed the machine in Fusion 360 from the ground up and had a local water jet cut the parts.

The frame is built from 1/2" aluminum plate. Fully supported linear rails reduce the flex and NEMA 23 stepper motors drive the anti-backlash ball screws for the best possible performance on a budget. I used a TinyG motor controller in this project.

In this episode I work on the electronics including the stepper motors, Chilipeppr, and the Tiny G.

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Bill of materials for this machine (Affiliate Links):
Total Price - $1,255.47

Aluminum Frame Local Shop ($520):
1/2" Aluminum Plate

Stepper Motors ($66.00):

Motor Controller ($129):

Z Axis Linear Rails ($41.40):

X and Y Axis Linear Rails and Ball Screw Kit ($218.96):

Z Axis Ball Screw ($37.99):

Longer X Axis Ball Screw ($29.36):

Router Mount ($29.98):

Small Drag Chain ($4.45):

Big Drag Chain ($12.99):

Wire ($21.95):

Limit Switches ($11.59):

Power Supply ($50):

Nuts and Bolts Order Screenshot ($81.80):

The Router I Used:

Transfer Punch Set:

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[MikeAndLaurenTV]

If you want to skip the programming part, the first cut starts at 9:15

[sorenfaulhaber]

Thank you SO much for this video! I cannot tell you how much this has saved me on my own TinyG build. The Chili Pepper code instructions you gave were extremely easy to follow, and there is no way I could have set up my machine without them!

[marchm]

Honestly it’s not that confusing when you watch this video a second time it’s actually pretty clear thank you for this video 😁

[websitesthatneedanem]

Great job1
1:23 - L = live
1:46 - You were Lucky, some of those anti-Static bags are conductive!

[juicyriffs]

Dude…. I totally dig your style! Ive watched atleast a thousand DIY CNC project vids, and this is in my top 10 for sure!

Curious to know how your backstory, and how you first became interested in diy CNC….

My back story is crazy lol !!!

For decades, Ive been a pro musician / song writer-producer but always took an interest in tech / engineering… Now I have my recording studio equipment covered in dust blankets, and have a room full of 8020, motors, controllers and cables everywhere! LOL! Not sure how I got here! Hmmm

Cheers!

[dpmakestuff]

Chilipeppr is an amazing tool for CNC! The guy who created it, John Lauer, helped me set my first CNC router up and is possibly the reason I now have a Youtube channel. He asked me to post a video once I had the CNC cutting wood and that is the first video I ever uploaded. I agree with you that the information floating around the web for the TinyG is such a mess, but once you get it figured out it's not too bad!

[patrickmcneill]

Instead of wiring a plug, the home stores sell appliance repair cables. They've a plug on one end and bare wire on the other.

[gilbycoyote]

if you finetune your steps per mm for x and y, do it with a piece as close to full bed size to minimize tolerance errors. Maybe even cut three pieces and calculate the average size drift. Nice Job.

[kentvandervelden]

For power, instead of bulk cable and a plug, consider an extension cord and cut off whichever end you don't need. Typically easier and cheaper.

[lmccleary]

You can also find all those settings by clicking the little gear on the right side of the page, a few icons to the right of the red feedhold button i believe.. instead of typing in the code settings.

[squared]

Assuming you confirm that the machine itself is square by checking diagonals, you can adjust the number of steps in the drivers to get to a perfect 50*50mm. Great job so far

[WillWinder]

GRBL has fewer features (limited to 3-axis, no built-in web server), but is significantly easier to setup, configure, use and the documentation easier to follow. It also has dozens of open source software options for controlling it, none of which require a separate JSON server. Something to look if you want a toolchain that can be explained to normal humans. Full disclosure, I develop Universal Gcode Sender which runs GRBL controller boards.

[prapanchulapinyo]

Beautiful one! What experience of aluminium plate tabletop? Im in decision about plate like you or T-slot.

[mrsmcdowell]

I would like to see more of the financial planning videos. Also, is Lauren having the baby in the states or back in Costa Rica? Would love to see more of those type of videos!

[adamcoker]

what would it take to cut 7075 aluminum??

[UdyogSutra]

hi Mike. good lessons so far. saw your vids. but what about seperate motor drivers like DM556 (to run NEMA 23, 4 amps)with mach 3 breakout board? or have you tested on Carbide3D or Vectric? What if in case of belt drive (3 mm pitch 3M HTD 15 mm belt & 16 tooth timing pulley), . Why I am putting the questions....? you know ?
I have been trying to build a 4 x 2 ft machine which will have a Makita spindle and Two simlantaneous Y motor, belt drive, except Z (with ballscrew) on secured V- rail. Can you guide me on software. I am having no previous CAM experience. I have a vinyl cutter that runs through Flexisign v8 software, that much I know. Strongly, I feel the need of plug and play type software.
Hobbyist like me have lot of troubles in synchronization with some particular software. I am also very new to Mach 3- a very messy interface. I have seen Carbide motion is clear enough, but not tested. I also have seen Vectric aspire, But the fact is the design and CAM-ing shall be on same platform. Just like converting any image into 3D paths and CAM starts on a "go" button. easier said than Done! But no Linux please. If you have little time in hand, then show me the way....

[matenorth]

What i dont understand is why other projects motor drivers are huge and they need a huge enclosure box for the electronics. Also they have different voltages for different things. Its so confusing. Is this build strong enough electronic wise?

[rajansari]

Sir please give name witch bod do you use

[Linrox]

Can you give the FULL specs of the power supply that you used, not just the Volts. Like Input Volts & Amps and Output Volts & Amps

[foxtrot]

I've moved from a mach3 parallel setup to grbl but I regret it now i know I can't get the accuracy I want using grbl