DIY CNC Router – Birth of a new project

A few years ago I built a DIY CNC router using MDF & other cheap, easily available materials. I intended to post info on that machine, but in reality I was never truly happy with the machine even after numerous mods, upgrades and improvements…bring on the new project.

I originally decided to build a DIY CNC router many years ago – the original purpose was to cut parts for RC model planes that I designed & built. Given that the machine would mainly cut balsa & occasionally 1/8″ light ply, it really didn’t need to be particularly strong or fast.

 

This machine was built using the original plans from build your cnc using a Trend Router to do the cutting – I then used the machine to cut revised upgraded parts to improve it. Despite many upgrades, I still had many issues that I could never quite seem to get around. During the long time span from when I originally planned to build the machine & when I actually managed to finish it, I stopped flying RC model planes…so the original brief was no longer valid. After this point, we also moved house – the machine sat unloved, in pieces in the garage for 2 years during which time it was exposed to damp/humid environment…MDF doesn’t like moisture…the machine was no longer suited to my needs or the environment in which it had to live.

I have been thinking about building a new DIY CNC router for the last couple of years. This time round it needs to be a much stronger, more stable build with a slightly larger cutting area. Space is also less of an issue this time round – I actually have enough space to build an enclosure around the machine to help keep some of the noise & mess contained. The goal this time round will be to build a machine using a metal construction, have a 600mm x 1220mm cutting area & hopefully as well as cutting wood/MDF be capable of cutting simple aluminium pieces.

Let the planning begin…