# My DIY-carve **URL:** \ **Category:** Upgrades\ **Created:** [May 9, 2017, 6:09pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/my-diy-carve/37586 "2017-05-09T18:09:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HaldorLonningdal](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/haldorlonningdal/32/72377_2.png) [@HaldorLonningdal](https://community.inventables.com/u/HaldorLonningdal)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 6:09pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/my-diy-carve/37586/1 "2017-05-09T18:09:52Z")
I have been active for some time on this board but have not had any decent images to show for until now - so now I wanted to share my simple project. A year or so ago I knew nothing about CNC / machining. The Carve is DIY and I have had a low cost approach, the only real money going into this have been the SBR16 railing, ACME T8 rods, Nema23´s and Makita router. The rest is wood/parts I had on hand already. This is actually v2, v1 used drawer slides for Y-axis - which worked surprisingly well. I have experienced most of the failings of a CNC, one issue solved lead to another but this endeavour have been mainly for fun/learning experience. Up until now I have used a generic Arduino/shield with DV8825´s but have now built a proper CNC-controller. Drivers used is TB6560´s which cost almost nothing, time will tell how they hold up 😉 Travel is restricted by the Y-axis ACME rod´s which are short but as-is I have about 14x20x4" of travel (X/Y/Z) Nema23 269oz.in for X and Z, 2x Nema23 140oz.in for dual Y. There are still issues to be improved, the machine can always become more rigid but it is waaaay better than my initial attempts. Anyways, here are some images showing status quo 😅 The whole shebang: ![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/uploads/inventables/original/3X/2/5/25ee6082e43e6f43f840b883c00ed542558e5738.jpg) The Z-axis: ![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/uploads/inventables/original/3X/8/2/8280eb67c12e2cf48f283a9af547e1e8e01c4b33.jpg) The new controller, Arduino (GRBL 1.1f) and 4x TB6560 drivers: ![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/uploads/inventables/original/3X/d/0/d01eb07b8245f138ab3fb379f82e0fa90c6acb45.jpg) GRBL1.1 used, will expand with limit switched, pause/resume buttons etc : ![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/uploads/inventables/original/3X/d/3/d31aa73dbd338ecebad8c4241ce3c633656f7e85.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![ErikJanssen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e57/32.png) [@ErikJanssen](https://community.inventables.com/u/ErikJanssen)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 6:31pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/my-diy-carve/37586/2 "2017-05-10T18:31:23Z")
I understand the approach, when I left school a typical CAD station would cost more than a house and even in your dreams you would never have a CNC machine at home. Before taking the plunge I wanted to know if I was smart enough to get it running. My DIY-carve never made a carve, a flatbed scanner and an old HP printer supplied the parts. It took some fiddling with the steps per mm but after a couple of days it would do ShapeOko2 with a pencil, very very slow. Once completed I ordered a ShapeOko2 and never regretted that decision. ![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/uploads/inventables/original/3X/e/d/ed7c1089241d7f38f6828745e553e004cf4ecc4e.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![HaldorLonningdal](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/haldorlonningdal/32/72377_2.png) [@HaldorLonningdal](https://community.inventables.com/u/HaldorLonningdal)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 6:35am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/my-diy-carve/37586/3 "2017-05-11T06:35:58Z")
It all start somewhere 🙂 My journey startet three years ago when I wanted to make camera slider rigs and got myself an Ardunio, got distracted and built myself a set of speakers, a 50W class A stereo amplifier, a flight computer which needed an alumininum front frame =\> enter CNC world 😉 The Arduino was on hand already, Gshield and Nema17’s easy/cheap to get and that ball started rolling. I know a lot more now than I did back in 2014 😂 ---
**Author:** ![HaldorLonningdal](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/haldorlonningdal/32/72377_2.png) [@HaldorLonningdal](https://community.inventables.com/u/HaldorLonningdal)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 11:08am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/my-diy-carve/37586/4 "2017-05-16T11:08:37Z")
Update and something to be aware for others who are making their own controller 🙂 After having everything assembled and testing/verifying all work as intended I tried to make an actual carve. I would hear the very first motor power-up sound before USB-connection dropped out causing =\> “Carve finished, success or not so much…?” I checked that my PSU is sufficiently large to handle the inrush, tried a bigger one just to be safe =\> same. Every attempt to carve would halt immideately after the steppers startet to engange the mechanics. **At this time I was only feeding power to the Arduino with the USB-connection.** I hooked up a regular 12V PSU to the Arduino power input -\> no interupts. Had a DC-DC converter and dialed it down to 12V output and placed this parallell to the main 24V PSU, powering the Arduino. **All good, it has been solid with no drop-outs since** ---
**Author:** ![HaldorLonningdal](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/haldorlonningdal/32/72377_2.png) [@HaldorLonningdal](https://community.inventables.com/u/HaldorLonningdal)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 11:36am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/my-diy-carve/37586/6 "2017-05-16T11:36:25Z")
> [@PhilJohnson](#): > > It’s like the computers usb power just isn’t stable enough. Indeed. Previously I used a std G-Shield which provide additional power to the Arduino and didnt consider this when taking the actual shield out of the chain. Jogging/calibration of travel etc worked just fine without drop-outs, it was when I hit Carve it would drop out. ---
**Author:** ![HaldorLonningdal](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/haldorlonningdal/32/72377_2.png) [@HaldorLonningdal](https://community.inventables.com/u/HaldorLonningdal)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 9:46pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/my-diy-carve/37586/7 "2017-06-01T21:46:15Z")
Coming together again after some component swaps / general improving. Knock on wood, not skipping any steps or job interrupts 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![EliasPolitis](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/eliaspolitis/32/67223_2.png) [@EliasPolitis](https://community.inventables.com/u/EliasPolitis)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 11:51am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/my-diy-carve/37586/8 "2017-06-02T11:51:32Z")
What’s your cooling solution? Some sort of DIY mist? Btw, the camera angle might be misleading, but your adaptive cut looks a lot deeper than 3mm. ---
**Author:** ![HaldorLonningdal](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/haldorlonningdal/32/72377_2.png) [@HaldorLonningdal](https://community.inventables.com/u/HaldorLonningdal)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 11:56am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/my-diy-carve/37586/9 "2017-06-02T11:56:14Z")
For the time being air only, but for the video I ran it dry/no air. I have a mister I intend to incorporate soon. > [@EliasPolitis](#): > > Btw, the camera angle might be misleading, but your adaptive cut looks a lot deeper than 3mm. Two passes @ 3mm each, video show the 2nd pass 🙂 I have tried 9mm DoC/0.3mmWoC @900mm/min but it is a little to aggressive at the moment. The recorded settings didnt seem to load the machine/mechanics much at all 🙂 Surface finish is really good btw! ---
**Author:** ![EliasPolitis](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/eliaspolitis/32/67223_2.png) [@EliasPolitis](https://community.inventables.com/u/EliasPolitis)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 12:02pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/my-diy-carve/37586/10 "2017-06-02T12:02:30Z")
What bit dia, # of flutes and RPM did you try at 9mm deep? ---
**Author:** ![HaldorLonningdal](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/haldorlonningdal/32/72377_2.png) [@HaldorLonningdal](https://community.inventables.com/u/HaldorLonningdal)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 12:23pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/my-diy-carve/37586/11 "2017-06-02T12:23:47Z")
> [@EliasPolitis](#): > > What bit dia, # of flutes and RPM did you try at 9mm deep? 3mm 3F helical at 10k rpm. [Link to bit used](http://www.ebay.com/itm/112353391844?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT) I really havent started to experiement with feed/speeds yet - just havent had the time to do it. ---
**Author:** ![EliasPolitis](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/eliaspolitis/32/67223_2.png) [@EliasPolitis](https://community.inventables.com/u/EliasPolitis)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 12:55pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/my-diy-carve/37586/12 "2017-06-02T12:55:12Z")
The reason I am asking is that since you have a cut that works, you have a good basis (chipload & MRR) to keep and experiment with the other variables. Same chipload and MRR =\> same heat dissipation, same wattage, same chatter, same rigidity requirements. (Changed variables bellow are marked in bold) For example, if this works: bit dia: 3mm flute: 3 WoC: 0.3mm DoC: 3mm feed: 1000mm/min speed: 10000rpm chipload: 0.0333mm/tooth MRR: 0.9cm^3/min you could try with the same bit bit dia: 3mm flute: 3 WoC: **0.037** mm DoC: **9** mm feed: **2733** mm/min speed: 10000rpm chipload: 0.0333mm/tooth MRR: 0.9cm^3/min The downside of making very slim cuts (but still at the same chipload =\> will not rub) is that you will end up with huge amounts of code. Your CAM will take a while to generate it too. As an alternative, see what happens if you drop some flutes: bit dia: 3mm flute: **1** WoC: 0.3mm DoC: **9** mm feed: **333** mm/min speed: 10000rpm chipload: 0.0333mm/tooth MRR: 0.9cm^3/min This is a workaround when using a router (i.e. not being able to drop your min RPM low enough). You could still use your tool if you could drop down to 3333RPMs: bit dia: 3mm flute: 3 WoC: 0.3mm DoC: **9** mm feed: **333** mm/min speed: **3333** rpm chipload: 0.0333mm/tooth MRR: 0.9cm^3/min And this is when a Makita is better suited than a DeWalt …and when a Kress is better suited than a Makita… and a when mill is better suited than a Kress. ---
**Author:** ![HaldorLonningdal](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/haldorlonningdal/32/72377_2.png) [@HaldorLonningdal](https://community.inventables.com/u/HaldorLonningdal)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 1:50pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/my-diy-carve/37586/13 "2017-06-02T13:50:18Z")
Very helpful, and I do see a VDF spindle in my future 🙂 I appreciate the info! Image showing surface finish, pocket is 9x30mm and 6mm deep. Two stage cut, Adaptive Clearing DoC 3mm with 2D pocket for finish full depth. No real difference in perceived quality between the two operations 🙂 ![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/uploads/inventables/original/3X/b/2/b2fbc9a211702a8b194ce1d6f9e92057f4889cf1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![HaldorLonningdal](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/haldorlonningdal/32/72377_2.png) [@HaldorLonningdal](https://community.inventables.com/u/HaldorLonningdal)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2017, 8:58pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/my-diy-carve/37586/14 "2017-06-05T20:58:16Z")
@EliasPolitis Tried a brief test yesterday after playing with numbers. Baseline: Feedrate 900mm/min DoC 3mm WoC 0.3mm Tested: FR 225mm/min DoC 3mm WoC 1.2mm Worked quite well except the bit gobbed up with alu after a couple of minutes, I could hear it load up. Tried a new bit with same settings but added the mister with air + denatured alcohol. Worked better this time. Nice big (relative speaking) chips during both tests 🙂 The big bonus of course is what you mentioned regarding amount of g-code generation, took must less time to generate 🙂 The downside seem to be a smaller sweetspot as my baseline was done fully dry, with no apparent build-up. But very interesting excerise 😃 ---
**Author:** ![EliasPolitis](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/eliaspolitis/32/67223_2.png) [@EliasPolitis](https://community.inventables.com/u/EliasPolitis)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/my-diy-carve/37586/15 "2017-06-06T15:11:21Z")
short version: Watch out! Trying to be conservative it seems that you ended up rubbing! long version: If you have a working chipload, you cannot just drop your feedrate to drop your material removal rate (MRR). If you suspect that the MRR is too demanding for your setup (machine & endmill & material & workholding) and wish to try a lower MRR, you need to take into account your chipload too. If you had a good chipload, try to maintain it. If your chipload becomes too low bad things start happening. Instead of cutting you might start rubbing. This in turn will increase the heat, which could cause aluminum to melt and gum up your flutes, which might eventually break your cutter if you keep on going. To keep things less complicated, in the previous post we did not mention a rather important variable. Well, it’s time to make things more complicated: _it’s chip thickness what you are after, not chipload_. Whenever your DoC is greater or equal to half your cutter diameter, then chip thickness and chipload are equal. However, if your DoC is less than half your cutter diameter, the chip thickness is smaller than the chipload. chipload=feed/(speed_flutes) chip\_thickness = (2_chipload_sqrt(tool\_dia_WoC-WoC^2))/tool\_dia Chipload is your cutting capacity, chip thickness is how much of it is used. A simplified analogy is that if chipload is the pipe, chip thickness is the water. In your experiment… Cut (a) bit dia: 3mm flutes: 3 WoC 0.3mm DoC: 3mm feed: 900mm/min speed: 10000rpm chipload: 0.03mm/tooth **chip thickness: 0.018mm/tooth** MRR: 0.81cm^3/min Cut (b) bit dia: 3mm flutes: 3 WoC 1.2mm DoC: 3mm feed: 225mm/min speed: 10000rpm chipload: 0.0075mm/tooth **chip thickness: 0.0073mm/tooth** MRR: 0.81cm^3/min In effect you experimented with the same MRR but cut your chip thickness by more than half. I ran the numbers in GWizard too and, surprise-surprise, the rubbing warning showed up. ---
**Author:** ![HaldorLonningdal](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/haldorlonningdal/32/72377_2.png) [@HaldorLonningdal](https://community.inventables.com/u/HaldorLonningdal)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 6:57pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/my-diy-carve/37586/16 "2017-06-06T18:57:25Z")
Perfect, I just made a spreadsheet and will play with the numbers again and keep an eye out for ChipThickness (Ct) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![HaldorLonningdal](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/haldorlonningdal/32/72377_2.png) [@HaldorLonningdal](https://community.inventables.com/u/HaldorLonningdal)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 8:14pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/my-diy-carve/37586/17 "2017-06-06T20:14:19Z")
Hmm… @EliasPolitis I can’t get Chip Thickness to compute… What am I missing? I am not strong in Excel 😉 Spreadsheet attached: [CNC Speeds and Feeds](https://cdck-file-uploads-canada1.s3.dualstack.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/flex009/uploads/inventables/original/3X/1/8/18e001c83a4973501fa0f72d3cb250be0269c42a) (7.5 KB) ---
**Author:** ![EliasPolitis](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/eliaspolitis/32/67223_2.png) [@EliasPolitis](https://community.inventables.com/u/EliasPolitis)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 8:49pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/my-diy-carve/37586/18 "2017-06-06T20:49:29Z")
Voila… [CNC Speeds and Feeds.xls](https://cdck-file-uploads-canada1.s3.dualstack.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/flex009/uploads/inventables/original/3X/7/9/7941573b4ab98d6ca9f5b0e4a9fc81129a03dc9a.xls) (7.5 KB) I was thinking of making a javascript version online with selectable input and output variables. Maybe in a parallel universe where days have 25 hours. ---
**Author:** ![HaldorLonningdal](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/haldorlonningdal/32/72377_2.png) [@HaldorLonningdal](https://community.inventables.com/u/HaldorLonningdal)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 9:35pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/my-diy-carve/37586/19 "2017-06-06T21:35:55Z")
> [@EliasPolitis](#): > > Maybe in a parallel universe where days have 25 hours. I´d settle for an 8th day per week 🙂 Thank you again, this have been very helpful / insightful 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Pyrex](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/pyrex/32/67259_2.png) [@Pyrex](https://community.inventables.com/u/Pyrex)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 10:32pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/my-diy-carve/37586/20 "2017-06-06T22:32:18Z")
awesome work! ---
**Author:** ![HaldorLonningdal](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/haldorlonningdal/32/72377_2.png) [@HaldorLonningdal](https://community.inventables.com/u/HaldorLonningdal)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 11:43am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/my-diy-carve/37586/21 "2017-06-08T11:43:12Z")
> [@C.j.Shull](#): > > awesome work! Thanks, it have been a fun build & very educational! @EliasPolitis I will perform the following test with a fixed set of FR/WoC with my go-to 3mm 3F end mill. The intent is to find an acceptable MRR based on a target Chipload / thickness value. DoC Single pass = 1,2, 3…,7, 8mm per pocket, the Chipload/thickness remain equal but MRR increase obviously. MRR will range from 0,48-3,84cm^3/min if allowed to run the full carve 🙂 Fixed parameters: FR 600mm/min WoC 0,8mm Chipload 0,020 ChipThickness 0,01769 ![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/uploads/inventables/original/3X/9/c/9c0a038c8ecdaca8e5c0620d8c4c6f2a7b9b9791.png) [Next page](https://community.inventables.com/t/my-diy-carve/37586.md?page=2)