Design and construction of a mini 3-AXIS CNC milling machine.

Abstract

In the area of CAD/CAM manufacturing, the high cost and large size of commercial CNC machines limit their accessibility to small-scale industrialists and educational institutions. The rapid growth of technology has significantly increased the demand and utilisation of CNC systems thus the need for machines with smaller form factors. This project focuses on designing and constructing an affordable mini-three-axis CNC milling machine, aiming at providing an accessible solution for small-scale industrial workshops, universities, and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) enthusiasts in the world of CNC machining. This work entails the development of an inexpensive Arduino-based CNC machine capable of simultaneous three-axis interpolation operation. The low cost of the machine was achieved using cost-effective design methods. The CNC machine has a 250 x 355 x 40 mm work area, three axes each with a Nema 17 stepper motor, an Arduino Uno and a 500W spindle. The fabricated CNC machine was tested and yielded a 0.2mm accuracy in the x and y-axes and a 0.1mm accuracy in the z-axis while cutting materials such as plywood, MDF, and acrylic.