Instead, I'll focus on the open source software that can be used to create designs for and run the CNC machine. I won't go into details on the CNC hardware assembly, as Nikodem has a series of videos that explain it in detail. The GRBL website has documentation for loading GRBL onto the Arduino board.

The machine has one stepper for the Z axis (up and down), one stepper for the X axis (left and right), and two steppers for the Y axis (backward and forward).

The GRBL controller receives CNC G-code (a text-based list of instructions for the CNC mill) and translates it into motion by driving the stepper motors. The CNC machine is built on an Arduino controller running the open source GRBL motion-control software. In the meantime, I 3D-printed the other parts. They shipped from overseas, so some of them took about a month to arrive. I ordered the necessary parts and started the wait. Its creator, Nikodem Bartnik, has a list of parts on the project's Thingiverse page along with links to download the 3D printed parts' STL files. While many of this CNC machine's components are 3D printed, several parts must be ordered to make it work. Unlike other milling tools, CNC machines can move on three axes: the Z axis moves vertically, the X axis moves horizontally, and the Y axis moves backward and forward. When I saw that the machine works with open source software and the controller is an Arduino running open source software, I knew I had to make one.ĬNC milling machines are precision cutting tools used in creating dies, engravings, and models. When I recently saw a new design for a computer numeric code (CNC) milling machine that mostly uses 3D printed parts, I was intrigued. I'm always looking for new projects to create with my 3D printer.

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