In this tutorial I will show you step-by-step how I built this all-aluminum DIY CNC router that I machined with the help of my DIY 3D printed CNC router from my previous video.
That’s right, I machined all the parts for this CNC build, out of aluminum using my DIY 3D printed CNC router.
Then I disassembled it, and build this one using the same components, the aluminum extrusions, the linear rails, ball screws and the motors, so that we can make a direct comparison between the two CNC machines.
The 3D printed version was already quite rigid and capable of cutting aluminum with high accuracy within 0.05mm, but how much improvement we will get by replacing all 3D printed parts, with aluminum parts, can we get down to 0.02mm accuracy, can we cut steel with it now and how accurate it would be with it?
Well, here’s how it looks cutting aluminum with 5mm DOC, 1.2mm WOC, at 3000 mm/min feed rate. It literally eats the aluminum, and with a finishing profile pass, I got the accuracy of part within 0.02mm in the X and Y direction.
And as for steel, here’s how it looks cutting steel with 2mm DOC, 0.4mm WOC, at 800mm/min feed rate. Cutting steel is much harder and complicated than cutting aluminum. It needs suitable cooling and spindle RPM and torque, which this hardware store Makita router certainly doesn’t have. But still, after the finishing profile passes and with some appropriate profile offsets, I managed to get the steel part within 0.03mm of the target size. If I may say, that’s pretty impressive for a desktop DIY CNC machine, which can be built relatively easy if you follow this step-by-step guide.
3D Model and STL Download Files
You can view the 3D model of this DIY CNC Machine directly on your web-browser with Onshape.
You can get the 3D model of this DIY CNC Machine, as well as the STL files for 3D Printing from Cults3D.
Here’s the original HTMCNC 3D printed CNC Router:
Bill of Materials
Below is the complete list of components needed for this DIY CNC build.
The given dimensions are for the exact same size as the CNC I demonstrated building with 450x350mm work area.
You can also check out my e-store HT-Mechatronics where you can find the following components as a kit, so you can easily order everything you need for this CNC build.
DIY CNC Build Kit for HTMCNC Aluminum CNC Router
Aluminum plates and bars Kit for HTMCNC Aluminum DIY CNC Router
| Component | Quantity | Purchase Links |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum Extrusion 2080 – 600mm (Y-axis, Custom Length) | 2 | Amazon | AliExpress |
| Aluminum Extrusion 2040 – 600mm (X-axis Base, Custom Length) | 3 | Amazon | AliExpress |
| Aluminum Extrusion 2040 – 700mm (X-axis Gantry, Custom Length) | 2 | Amazon | AliExpress |
| Aluminum Extrusion 2040 – 200mm | 2 | Amazon | AliExpress |
| Aluminum Extrusion 2040 – 100mm | 2 | Amazon | AliExpress |
| Linear Rail HGR15 – 600mm (Y-axis, Custom Length) & (X-axis, Custom Length) | 4 | Amazon | AliExpress |
| Linear Rail HGR15 – 300mm (Z-axis) | 2 | Amazon | AliExpress |
| Ball Screw SFU1605 – 500mm (Y-axis, Custom Length) | 2 | Amazon | AliExpress |
| Ball Screw SFU1605 – 600mm (X-axis, Custom Length) | 1 | Amazon | AliExpress |
| Ball Screw SFU1605 – 300mm (Z-axis) | 1 | Amazon | AliExpress |
| Shaft Coupler 8mm to 10mm | 4 | Amazon |AliExpress |
| Angular Contact Bearings – 7001 P5-DB A-Pair | (4 pairs) | Amazon | AliExpress |
| M12x1mm Locknut | 4 | Amazon | AliExpress |
| Radial Ball Bearing – 6000 – 2RS | 4 | Amazon | AliExpress |
| Corner Bracket 28x20x28mm (with suitable T-slot nuts and M5 Bolts) | 20 | Amazon | AliExpress |
| Corner Bracket 20x20x20mm (with suitable T-slot nuts and M5 Bolts) | 10 | Amazon | AliExpress |
| M5 Sliding T-nut | 100 | Amazon | AliExpress |
| M5 Hammer Head T-nut | 100 | Amazon | AliExpress |
| M4 Sliding T-nut | 50 | Amazon | AliExpress |
| M4 Hammer Head T-nut | 50 | Amazon | AliExpress |
| Stepper Motor NEMA23 | 4 | Amazon | AliExpress |
| HEX Socket Head Bolts M4x12mm – 16 M4x14mm – 50 M4x16mm – 16 M4x20mm – 16 M5x12mm – 8 M5x16mm – 50 M5x20mm – 28 M5x35mm – 8 M6x20mm – 8 M6x25mm – 8 M6x35mm – 20 M6x40mm – 24 | / | Amazon | AliExpress |
Disclosure: These are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Assembly
You can follow the following video for a complete step-by-step guide on how to build this DIY 3D Printed CNC machine.
Rigidity and Accuracy
This article is still under construction. Please check tomorrow.
The holes for the bearing blocks are in a square pattern but my blocks have more of a rectangle pattern? They were advertised as hgr15 like in the bom, is thier alternative files for me to print or do I need to figure out how to modify them?
Hey, I’m sorry I didn’t quite understand your question.
Please use the forum to ask question there where you can also include screenshots for better understanding.
Here’s a link to the forum: https://community.howtomechatronics.com/
can not view the 3D model on Onshape.
Hey, I fixed the link, check it out now.
Great work Dejan