CoreXZ Puzzle Pipe Plotter
Introduction: CoreXZ Puzzle Pipe Plotter
Today, I'd like to share how to build at home a CoreXZ puzzle pipe plotter. It is called "puzzle pipe" CNC because I put pieces of pipe fittings together in a logical way, in order to arrive at the strong and nice mechanisum CNC structure.
The plotter firmware is CoreXY, but it works in another dimension CoreXZ.
Please check my video before getting started!
Step 1: Supplies
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a. Main materials:
⦾ 1pcs x Arduino UNO R3 or Combo Arduino + CNCShield + A4988.
⦾ 1pcs x Arduino CNC Shield V3 GRBL.
⦾ 3pcs x Stepper Motor Driver A4988
⦾ 3pcs x Stepper motor NEMA 17.
⦾ 3pcs x 50 mm L Stepper Motor Support.
⦾ 4meter x GT2 6mm Timing Belt.
⦾ 4pcs x GT2 5mm Bore Aluminum Toothless Idler Pulley for 6mm Width Timing Belt.
⦾ 2pcs x GT2 Idler Timing Pulley 5mm Bore 20 Teeth.
⦾ 3pcs x GT2 Timing Pulley 20 Teeth.
⦾ 4pcs x Round Shaft Diameter 8mm, Length 500mm.
⦾ 2pcs x Round Shaft Diameter 8mm, Length 200mm.
⦾ 12pcs x Ball Flanged Shielded Bearings 8 x 22 x 7mm.
⦾ 12pcs x Horizontal Ball Bearing Bracket or Vertical Ball Bearing Bracket.
⦾ 1pcs x Power Supply 12/24VDC.
⦾ 2pcs x Clear/White Acrylic, size A3, thickness at least 5mm.
⦾ 4pcs x Copper Brass Pillars L-10mm.
⦾ 2 meter x 8P/16P Rainbow Ribbon Cable.
⦾ 1pcs x 5mm DC Female Power Plug.
⦾ Some small cable ties, cable spiral wrap, bolts and nuts.
b. PVC pipes and fittings:
⦾ 70pcs x PVC Pipe Tee Ø21mm.
⦾ 16pcs x PVC Three Way Tee Ø21mm.
⦾ 16pcs x PVC Four Way Tee Ø21mm.
⦾ 4pcs x PVC Cross Ø21mm.
⦾ 8pcs x PVC Elbow Ø21mm.
⦾ 4pcs x PVC Connector Ø21mm.
⦾ 8 meter x PVC Pipe Ø21mm.
c. 1000
Tools:
⦾ Drilling machine.
⦾ Hand saw.
⦾ PVC pipe cutter: It was very useful for this project, because I had to cut a lot of connecting pipes.
⦾ Soldering machine.
Step 2: How It Works
My plotter use built-in CoreXY kinematics in GRBL and it has working range about X380mm x Y380mm x Z6mm. It structure is shown as follow:
⦾ The X and Z axes are driven by 2 stepper motors and a common timing belt (CoreXY system). On the Z axis, I attach a PVC pipe containing a pen inside for plotting.
⦾ The Y axis works like other traditional CNCs via timing belt. And the CNC plotter frame is made out of PVC fittings. The following picture shows the plotter's backside.
Step 3: XZ Assembly
I cut 2 acrylic sheets, dimension L180 x W120 x T5mm and drilled holes to mount stepper motors.
Two XZ supports were assembled by PVC pipe tees, three and four-way tees following the shape below, then mounted stepper motors with acrylic sheet to this supports. Two lock bearings were also inserted at 2 open holes.
Assemble one more support to keep XZ axes strong enough.
X and Z sliders were constructed from 2 pcs x PVC tees with ball bearings at 4 ends of these sliders.
An acrylic sheet, dimension L120mm x W120 x T5mm, was drilled and installed 4 toothless idler pulleys in the center.
Assemble the XZ slider. 1000