Polar CNC Pen Plotter & Laser Engraver
Introduction: Polar CNC Pen Plotter & Laser Engraver
I've done a 3-Axis Polar CNC Machine on the previous post. I've made some below modifications this weekend and would like to share in detail.
* Change the CNC structure: the Y rotation axis is mounted on the X linear axis.
* Pen plotting mode or laser engraving mode can be used.
* Test with DFRduino Mega2560 and Ramps 1.4.
Let's getting started.
Supplies
a. Main materials:
⦾ Controller options:
* 1pcs x DFRduino UNO R3 - Compatible with Arduino Uno + 1pcs x Arduino CNC Shield V3 GRBL.
* 1pcs x DFRduino Mega2560 + 1pcs x RAMPS 1.4 Controller.
* 3 Axis Control Board GRBL With Laser Engraver Supported.
⦾ 1pcs x 2500mW Laser Module.
⦾ 3pcs x Stepper Motor Driver A4988
⦾ 3pcs x Stepper motor NEMA 17.
⦾ 2pcs x 50 mm L Stepper Motor Support.
⦾ 2pcs x GT2 6mm Closed Timing Belt 200mm.
⦾ 2pcs x GT2 Timing Pulley 20 Teeth.
⦾ 2pcs x GT2 Timing Pulley 60 Teeth.
⦾ 2pcs x Round Shaft Diameter 8mm, Length 400mm.
⦾ 1pcs x Round Shaft Diameter 8mm, Length 200mm.
⦾ 2pcs x 8mm Linear Rail Shaft Clamping Guide Support.
⦾ 2pcs x T8 Lead Screw 2mm Pitch, 8mm Lead , Length 400mm with Copper Nut.
⦾ 20pcs x Ball Flanged Shielded Bearings 8 x 22 x 7mm.
⦾ 1pcs x Aluminum Flexible Shaft Coupling, Inner Hole Size: 5mm x 8mm
⦾ 1pcs x Power Supply 12/24VDC.
⦾ 2pcs x Clear/White Acrylic, size A3, thickness at least 5mm.
⦾ 4pcs x Copper Brass Pillars L-20mm.
⦾ 1 meter x 8P/16P Rainbow Ribbon Cable.
⦾ Some small cable ties, cable spiral wrap, M3/M4 bolts and nuts, some paper clips.
b. 1000
PVC pipes and its fittings:
* 4pcs x PVC Pipe Elbow Ø42mm.
* 8pcs x PVC Pipe Straight Connector Ø42mm.
* 16pcs x PVC Pipe Tee Ø42mm.
* 3pcs x PVC Pipe Cross Ø42mm.
* 16pcs x PVC Pipe End Cap Ø42mm.
* 8pcs x PVC Pipe End Cap Ø60mm.
* 4pcs x PVC Reducer Ø60mm to Ø42mm.
* 2pcs x PVC Tee Reducer Ø60mm to Ø42mm.
* 2 meter x PVC Pipe Ø42mm and Ø60mm.
c. Softwares:
* LaserGRBL
* tkCNC Editor
* Universal Gcode Platform (UGS)
Step 1: Build Rotary Y Axis
Cut an A3 sized acrylic sheet into a circle form with a diameter 297 ~ 300mm. Two motor L-shaped supports and two 8mm linear rail shaft clamping guide supports were mounted on acrylic sheet so that the shaft supports center hole and acrylic sheet center were aligned together.
Assemble the rotary motor support, it included:
* 3pcs x PVC pipe cross Ø42mm.
* 1pcs x acrylic sheet for mounting rotary stepper motor.
* 3pcs x PVC end caps Ø42mm.
* 2pcs x bearings at top and bottom of middle cross.
Step 2: Build Linear X Axis
From rotary support, I continued to build up the linear X axis by:
* Mount two PVC pipe tees Ø42mm to left and right crosses of rotary base.
* As picture below, left tee will thread a lead scew and right tee for a round shaft. So they were installed copper nut and bearings on their end caps, following their functionalities.
Install rotary working plate on this base.
Thread a lead screw and T8 round shaft through copper nut and bearings. 1000