Low cost CNC - offer to help you build one

For discussions related to designing and making ski/snowboard-building equipment, such as presses, core profilers, edge benders, etc.

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richie
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Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2010 7:25 pm
Location: New Zealand
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Low cost CNC - offer to help you build one

Post by richie »

Hi, I have been messing around the past few years with CNC systems and now am keen to help any of you who are interested in building a low cost CNC to do your snowboard/ski and other cutting / profiling with.

I'm proposing you use what ever materials that you have available that will suffice. If you have access to better gear then use it, if your budget is limited then go cheaper.

All of the software you need to do this is opensource. So its generally FREE :)

GRBL
Universal Gcode Sender
Raspian (a type of Linux)
MonkeyCAM

And the hardware is based on cheap stepper motors and drivers and Arduino microcontroller, and a Raspberry Pi computer to run the Raspian operating system on with a cheap HDMI monitor and kb/mouse.

An alternative to Raspian/Raspberry pi is to use Mac or PC as the Universal Gcode Sender can run on MACOSX, Windows, Linux ..... its portable.

The actual CNC router , is very basic 3 axis system using bearings and belts and timing pulleys. Timber, ply, angle iron, steel, plastic, aluminium, whatever looks roughly useful probably can be put to good use. Your friend google will show you plenty of fully wooden CNC routers with simple steel or ali bearing rails , I've seen one a mate of mine built that has built dozens of skate decks this was very inspiring as the guy was on a tough budget.

Don't be afraid to have a crack at this, it will be a useful tool for your workshop to make boards press profiles , cutting plasic base to shape and profiling drilling and rebating cores. There are a few challenges ot learn but if you are patient then youll enjoy the challenge and end up with a very very useful tool.

I'm not looking for anything out of this apart from the satisfaction of helping someone else improve their workshop and hopefully build a network of cnc enabled ski/board builders that help each other out. Doing this will help get more focus on the key software like MonkeyCAM and further the development of it.

So if you are interested please hit me up. Other CNC knowledgeable guys (you know who your are!!!) please also pass on your wisdom here.

Lets see who can build the cheapest best CNC!!!!!!!

cheers
Rich
MonkeyCAM and SnoCAD - https://github.com/mikemag
Ski binding mounting https://github.com/splitn2/DrillSki

Richard Harcourt | www.splitn2.com | Christchurch New Zealand
rich@splitn2.com | www.facebook.com/splitn2
grainhog
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Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2016 12:33 pm
Location: Missoula, MT

Post by grainhog »

Hi Richard,

Very appreciative of your offer--haven't heard from you in several weeks so thought I'd try once more to take you up on this offer before I continue looking into other ways of getting into a CNC set-up.

Thank you and hope to hear from you soon.
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richie
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Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2010 7:25 pm
Location: New Zealand
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Post by richie »

grainhog wrote:Hi Richard,

Very appreciative of your offer--haven't heard from you in several weeks so thought I'd try once more to take you up on this offer before I continue looking into other ways of getting into a CNC set-up.

Thank you and hope to hear from you soon.
Hi sorry we've not hooked up I'm still very keen to help let's aim for this coming weekend on Skype ?

Cheers
MonkeyCAM and SnoCAD - https://github.com/mikemag
Ski binding mounting https://github.com/splitn2/DrillSki

Richard Harcourt | www.splitn2.com | Christchurch New Zealand
rich@splitn2.com | www.facebook.com/splitn2
grainhog
Posts: 13
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2016 12:33 pm
Location: Missoula, MT

Post by grainhog »

This weekend should definitely work. Did you receive any emails from me? If not I can try again. If so, please feel free to respond to one of those and we can set up a time. I'd give you my email here, but the forum's not letting post URL's!

Thanks, and looking forward to it.
grainhog
Posts: 13
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2016 12:33 pm
Location: Missoula, MT

Post by grainhog »

Hi Richard, I tried to reply to your last PM, and I sent emails to both the email addresses I found for you. Do you prefer to just communicate through this thread? Do you still want to try to talk this weekend? Is the time difference just too inconvenient or something?

I can be reached, much easier than here, at georgecgaines at gmail dot com.
thanks, George
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richie
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great meeting with George to discuss cnc build

Post by richie »

Hi folks, George and I had a great skype call on the weekend to discuss his CNC build. He is now on the path to building his first benchtop cnc to do core profiling and base cuts and anything else he can find a use for the cnc - endless really.... And we'll start with MonkeyCAM most likely too.

Anyone else want help getting started just ask!

cheers
Rich
MonkeyCAM and SnoCAD - https://github.com/mikemag
Ski binding mounting https://github.com/splitn2/DrillSki

Richard Harcourt | www.splitn2.com | Christchurch New Zealand
rich@splitn2.com | www.facebook.com/splitn2
JukeSnowboarding
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Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2010 7:21 am
Location: Mass

Post by JukeSnowboarding »

I would be interested in a chat.
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richie
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Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2010 7:25 pm
Location: New Zealand
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cnc build

Post by richie »

JukeSnowboarding wrote:I would be interested in a chat.
Hi, happy to help , please pm me or hit me up via Facebook messaging, Facebook.com/splitn2 . Cheers
MonkeyCAM and SnoCAD - https://github.com/mikemag
Ski binding mounting https://github.com/splitn2/DrillSki

Richard Harcourt | www.splitn2.com | Christchurch New Zealand
rich@splitn2.com | www.facebook.com/splitn2
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