Mini CNC Plotter
Build a mini CNC machine from recycled material.
Fig0.0 Demonstration
Fig0.1 Students works in Fablab O Shanghai
Part List
- Arduino Uno
- Breadboard
- 2x L293D ICs Motor driver
- Mini Servo Motor
- 2x DVD/CD Drives
- 5 V 2A adaptor
- M2.5 screws and nuts
- M5 screws and nuts
Tools
- Screw driver
- Soldering Iron
- Solder
Softwares
Tutorial
Recycled Old DVD Drives
First of all, what you need to do is to disassemble the DVD drives using the screwdriver and take off the rail and the servo motor.
Pictures
Fig1.0 Front view
Fig1.1 Side view
Fig1.2 Back view
Fig1.3 Student results
X and Y Axes
Fig2.0 3D CAD of the mounting 90 degree angle (Part 1)
Fig2.1 3D CAD of the mounting 90 degree angle (Part 2)
Z Axis
Fig3.0 Front view of the Z axis
Fig3.1 Side view of the Z axis
Fig3.2 3D CAD of the rail hander (Part 8)
2D Design
Fig3.2 Laser cut parts
Circuit
Programming
Arduino
/*
Mini CNC Plotter firmware, based in TinyCNC https://github.com/MakerBlock/TinyCNC-Sketches
Send GCODE to this Sketch using gctrl.pde https://github.com/damellis/gctrl
Convert SVG to GCODE with MakerBot Unicorn plugin for Inkscape available here https://github.com/martymcguire/inkscape-unicorn
More information about the Mini CNC Plotter here (german, sorry): http://www.makerblog.at/2015/02/projekt-mini-cnc-plotter-aus-alten-cddvd-laufwerken/
*/
#include <Servo.h>
#include <AFMotor.h>
#define LINE_BUFFER_LENGTH 512
char STEP = MICROSTEP ;
// Servo position for Up and Down
const int penZUp = 83;
const int penZDown = 115;
// Servo on PWM pin 10
const int penServoPin =10 ;
// Should be right for DVD steppers, but is not too important here
const int stepsPerRevolution = 48;
// create servo object to control a servo
Servo penServo;
// Initialize steppers for X- and Y-axis using this Arduino pins for the L293D H-bridge
AF_Stepper myStepperY(stepsPerRevolution,1);
AF_Stepper myStepperX(stepsPerRevolution,2);
/* Structures, global variables */
struct point {
float x;
float y;
float z;
};
// Current position of plothead
struct point actuatorPos;
// Drawing settings, should be OK
float StepInc = 1;
int StepDelay = 0;
int LineDelay =0;
int penDelay = 50;
// Motor steps to go 1 millimeter.
// Use test sketch to go 100 steps. Measure the length of line.
// Calculate steps per mm. Enter here.
float StepsPerMillimeterX = 100.0;
float StepsPerMillimeterY = 100.0;
// Drawing robot limits, in mm
// OK to start with. Could go up to 50 mm if calibrated well.
float Xmin = 0;
float Xmax = 40;
float Ymin = 0;
float Ymax = 40;
float Zmin = 0;
float Zmax = 1;
float Xpos = Xmin;
float Ypos = Ymin;
float Zpos = Zmax;
// Set to true to get debug output.
boolean verbose = false;
// Needs to interpret
// G1 for moving
// G4 P300 (wait 150ms)
// M300 S30 (pen down)
// M300 S50 (pen up)
// Discard anything with a (
// Discard any other command!
/**********************
* void setup() - Initialisations
***********************/
void setup() {
// Setup
Serial.begin( 9600 );
penServo.attach(penServoPin);
penServo.write(penZUp);
delay(100);
// Decrease if necessary
myStepperX.setSpeed(600);
myStepperY.setSpeed(600);
// Set & move to initial default position
// TBD
// Notifications!!!
Serial.println("Mini CNC Plotter alive and kicking!");
Serial.print("X range is from ");
Serial.print(Xmin);
Serial.print(" to ");
Serial.print(Xmax);
Serial.println(" mm.");
Serial.print("Y range is from ");
Serial.print(Ymin);
Serial.print(" to ");
Serial.print(Ymax);
Serial.println(" mm.");
}
/**********************
* void loop() - Main loop
***********************/
void loop()
{
delay(100);
char line[ LINE_BUFFER_LENGTH ];
char c;
int lineIndex;
bool lineIsComment, lineSemiColon;
lineIndex = 0;
lineSemiColon = false;
lineIsComment = false;
while (1) {
// Serial reception - Mostly from Grbl, added semicolon support
while ( Serial.available()>0 ) {
c = Serial.read();
if (( c == '\n') || (c == '\r') ) { // End of line reached
if ( lineIndex > 0 ) { // Line is complete. Then execute!
line[ lineIndex ] = '\0'; // Terminate string
if (verbose) {
Serial.print( "Received : ");
Serial.println( line );
}
processIncomingLine( line, lineIndex );
lineIndex = 0;
}
else {
// Empty or comment line. Skip block.
}
lineIsComment = false;
lineSemiColon = false;
Serial.println("ok");
}
else {
if ( (lineIsComment) || (lineSemiColon) ) { // Throw away all comment characters
if ( c == ')' ) lineIsComment = false; // End of comment. Resume line.
}
else {
if ( c <= ' ' ) { // Throw away whitepace and control characters
}
else if ( c == '/' ) { // Block delete not supported. Ignore character.
}
else if ( c == '(' ) { // Enable comments flag and ignore all characters until ')' or EOL.
lineIsComment = true;
}
else if ( c == ';' ) {
lineSemiColon = true;
}
else if ( lineIndex >= LINE_BUFFER_LENGTH-1 ) {
Serial.println( "ERROR - lineBuffer overflow" );
lineIsComment = false;
lineSemiColon = false;
}
else if ( c >= 'a' && c <= 'z' ) { // Upcase lowercase
line[ lineIndex++ ] = c-'a'+'A';
}
else {
line[ lineIndex++ ] = c;
}
}
}
}
}
}
void processIncomingLine( char* line, int charNB ) {
int currentIndex = 0;
char buffer[ 64 ]; // Hope that 64 is enough for 1 parameter
struct point newPos;
newPos.x = 0.0;
newPos.y = 0.0;
// Needs to interpret
// G1 for moving
// G4 P300 (wait 150ms)
// G1 X60 Y30
// G1 X30 Y50
// M300 S30 (pen down)
// M300 S50 (pen up)
// Discard anything with a (
// Discard any other command!
while( currentIndex < charNB ) {
switch ( line[ currentIndex++ ] ) { // Select command, if any
case 'U':
penUp();
break;
case 'D':
penDown();
break;
case 'G':
buffer[0] = line[ currentIndex++ ]; // /!\ Dirty - Only works with 2 digit commands
// buffer[1] = line[ currentIndex++ ];
// buffer[2] = '\0';
buffer[1] = '\0';
switch ( atoi( buffer ) ){ // Select G command
case 0: // G00 & G01 - Movement or fast movement. Same here
case 1:
// /!\ Dirty - Suppose that X is before Y
char* indexX = strchr( line+currentIndex, 'X' ); // Get X/Y position in the string (if any)
char* indexY = strchr( line+currentIndex, 'Y' );
if ( indexY <= 0 ) {
newPos.x = atof( indexX + 1);
newPos.y = actuatorPos.y;
}
else if ( indexX <= 0 ) {
newPos.y = atof( indexY + 1);
newPos.x = actuatorPos.x;
}
else {
newPos.y = atof( indexY + 1);
indexY = '\0';
newPos.x = atof( indexX + 1);
}
drawLine(newPos.x, newPos.y );
// Serial.println("ok");
actuatorPos.x = newPos.x;
actuatorPos.y = newPos.y;
break;
}
break;
case 'M':
buffer[0] = line[ currentIndex++ ]; // /!\ Dirty - Only works with 3 digit commands
buffer[1] = line[ currentIndex++ ];
buffer[2] = line[ currentIndex++ ];
buffer[3] = '\0';
switch ( atoi( buffer ) ){
case 300:
{
char* indexS = strchr( line+currentIndex, 'S' );
float Spos = atof( indexS + 1);
// Serial.println("ok");
if (Spos == 30) {
penDown();
}
if (Spos == 50) {
penUp();
}
break;
}
case 114: // M114 - Repport position
Serial.print( "Absolute position : X = " );
Serial.print( actuatorPos.x );
Serial.print( " - Y = " );
Serial.println( actuatorPos.y );
break;
default:
Serial.print( "Command not recognized : M");
Serial.println( buffer );
}
}
}
}
/*********************************
* Draw a line from (x0;y0) to (x1;y1).
* Bresenham algo from https://www.marginallyclever.com/blog/2013/08/how-to-build-an-2-axis-arduino-cnc-gcode-interpreter/
* int (x1;y1) : Starting coordinates
* int (x2;y2) : Ending coordinates
**********************************/
void drawLine(float x1, float y1) {
if (verbose)
{
Serial.print("fx1, fy1: ");
Serial.print(x1);
Serial.print(",");
Serial.print(y1);
Serial.println("");
}
// Bring instructions within limits
if (x1 >= Xmax) {
x1 = Xmax;
}
if (x1 <= Xmin) {
x1 = Xmin;
}
if (y1 >= Ymax) {
y1 = Ymax;
}
if (y1 <= Ymin) {
y1 = Ymin;
}
if (verbose)
{
Serial.print("Xpos, Ypos: ");
Serial.print(Xpos);
Serial.print(",");
Serial.print(Ypos);
Serial.println("");
}
if (verbose)
{
Serial.print("x1, y1: ");
Serial.print(x1);
Serial.print(",");
Serial.print(y1);
Serial.println("");
}
// Convert coordinates to steps
x1 = (int)(x1*StepsPerMillimeterX);
y1 = (int)(y1*StepsPerMillimeterY);
float x0 = Xpos;
float y0 = Ypos;
// Let's find out the change for the coordinates
long dx = abs(x1-x0);
long dy = abs(y1-y0);
int sx = x0<x1 ? StepInc : -StepInc;
int sy = y0<y1 ? StepInc : -StepInc;
long i;
long over = 0;
if (dx > dy) {
for (i=0; i<dx; ++i) {
myStepperX.onestep(sx,STEP);
over+=dy;
if (over>=dx) {
over-=dx;
myStepperY.onestep(sy,STEP);
}
delay(StepDelay);
}
}
else {
for (i=0; i<dy; ++i) {
myStepperY.onestep(sy,STEP);
over+=dx;
if (over>=dy) {
over-=dy;
myStepperX.onestep(sx,STEP);
}
delay(StepDelay);
}
}
if (verbose)
{
Serial.print("dx, dy:");
Serial.print(dx);
Serial.print(",");
Serial.print(dy);
Serial.println("");
}
if (verbose)
{
Serial.print("Going to (");
Serial.print(x0);
Serial.print(",");
Serial.print(y0);
Serial.println(")");
}
// Delay before any next lines are submitted
delay(LineDelay);
// Update the positions
Xpos = x1;
Ypos = y1;
}
// Raises pen
void penUp() {
penServo.write(penZUp);
delay(penDelay);
Zpos=Zmax;
digitalWrite(15, LOW);
digitalWrite(16, HIGH);
if (verbose) {
Serial.println("Pen up!");
}
}
// Lowers pen
void penDown() {
penServo.write(penZDown);
delay(penDelay);
Zpos=Zmin;
digitalWrite(15, HIGH);
digitalWrite(16, LOW);
if (verbose) {
Serial.println("Pen down.");
}
}
Libraries
https://github.com/adafruit/AccelStepper https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit-Motor-Shield-library
Processing
GCTRL
https://github.com/damellis/gctrl
Inksacape
Initial Setup
If it’s your first time to use Inkscape, you could make sure that the inkscape units are in cm or your prefered unit. Go to menu and click “Document Properties”.
Generate G code
- Go to file menu
- Click save as
- Select .gcode
- Use gctrl.pde (or .exe) app to print the gcode file
Download https://github.com/martymcguire/inkscape-unicorn Copy Files
Download and install Inkscape from : https://inkscape.org/release/inkscape-0.48/?latest=1 Important: download 0.48.5 version
To change the page size, click File > Document properties… (or click on the next to last icon on the commands bar, which looks like , or use the Shift+Ctrl+D keyboard shortcut). In the section “Page size” on the Page tab, select or define the size you wish. (recommended 40x40 mm)
Downloads
3D Print
2D Design
Arduino mount