Homemade CNC Machine! (6 months of work in 8 minutes)
Detailed walkthrough video of the DIY CNC machine: • DIY CNC Machine Detail...
Check out our website: actionbox.ca
We designed and built our own DIY homemade industrial grade CNC milling machine to use for personal projects. This homebuilt machine is made from epoxy granite and has an 8 horse power spindle, servo motors all around, and an automatic tool changer. The machine weighs over 3000kg and works perfectly. All designs are my own and 100% original.
We built this machine to help us produce better quality molds for our homemade plastic injection machine. Building this DIY CNC machine at home taught us a lot about milling machines as well as the physics at play, and we hope you find this video enlightening as well.
Enjoy and post your questions 😃
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Other Cool Machines We Built:
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We built a Wire EDM
• How We Made A Wire EDM...
We built an EDM Sinker
• Homemade EDM Sinker
We built a Plastic Injection Machine
• Homemade Plastic Injec...
We built an Anodizing Setup
• Homemade Anodizing Setup
We built CNC Router
• HOMEMADE CNC ROUTER.
#CNC #machineshop #DIY #epoxy #mill #engineering #machine
If you'd like to help make future projects like this possible please consider supporting them / us by becoming a channel member: kzhead.info/tools/HrFvnP1EEEZHNam_Nk_5rQ.htmljoin/join A big thanks to those who already support the projects!
Awesome video gives me another goal for when i finish one of my current projects 🤣
Is it possible to buy a copy of your project? I would like to build one of this for me too. 😃😃😃
@@ifzq0 I guess they made some mistakes / too much epoxy and not enough gravel in their mix/
How much does one manufacture such a machine cost?
what's the power supply the yellow box
We built a CNC mill in 4 weeks, also made a cnc router for creating the mold.. I suppose you made a car to pop out and buy some bolts? 👍 You guys are insane! Legends
Hahahahaha, This comment made my day. Thanks for your support, I appreciate it. Dave
I was thinking the same thing 😂😂
Got to know in very first minute "a cnc machine is required to build new cnc machine". Great work . Many congratulations
You have explained the most important basis for the concepts of machine and show it, rigidity and vibration. I think most KZheadrs don’t mention it well but you did. Congratulations and thank you buddy!
Thank you so much, It makes me happy to have my content appreciated. Feel free to help me out by sharing my video with a friend. Cheers, Dave 😃
Fine work! I like your creative approach and boiling down the physics of vibration mitigation into engineering fundamentals. Granite + Epoxy is a great idea for damping plus mass.
Thanks for this awesome compliment 😃. I’m glad you enjoyed the video. Dave
Why not bolt it to the floor? Then you dont need a bunch of epoxy or weight ( when you move)
A behind the scenes that goes into some of the challenges with squaring the rails and making sure plates were flat and all that would be cool. Also super impressed with the router you guys just "threw together" in basically a weekend 😂
Thank you! We made a video we thought would be informative while being entertaining. Apologies for missing some concepts. Glad you enjoyed so far 😃.
@@ActionBOX will you be filling in the blanks with future videos? Not trying to be critical just curious what this channel is really going to be about. I want to build some of the machines you have done videos on. Are you going to make them truly instructional or just entertaining. Either way is fine. I will watch them. But having watched 3 now I'm not going to be able to build any of these machines. The DIY titles are about YOU doing it for yourself, and saying you will include information on how I can do it too, which does get me coming back.... But are you really going to show me how to do it for MYSELF?
@@christopherleveck6835 I wouldn't lean to much on these videos if I were building a cnc machine like you say you plan on doing. They didn't do anything to flatten their surfaces or take into account some of the other important factors. Which is really unfortunate, as a little more effort into the build would have gotten them a very serious machine. I think these guys are mostly running this KZhead channel as a business for entertainment, so more looks than function.
@@johncall4525 I noticed that myself when they attached the column but im no engineer. I figured they were just going to make it all square and level by shimming it.
First video and you're already light years ahead from most diy cnc youtubers LOL
Thank You Sir! I appreciate the compliment, and I am glad you enjoyed my content. Don't forget to share with others who may be interested 😃. I would really appreciate it. Cheers
@@Rokmononov It is super impressive I'll get them that! It's a nice counterpoint to all the hot glue and zip tie machines 😆
@@adisharr Indeed, just what I was thinking...
Well, a 15k budget goes a long way. I think most other people with that kind of budget would just buy a tormach or similair. Nevertheless, its an amazing design and probably way better then a tormach machine
I agree
Excellent work guys! I've only created a home-brew "desktop" CNC unit. I figured I'd have to save to eventually buy the industrial version, but now after coming across your video, you've got me rethinking that plan! Totally love the bit holder / changer! Great video!
Yeah, I might do one of these next weekend 😁 you guys are just on another planet 👍 great job and a pleasure to watch. Thank you.
Haha thanks so much! We love reading these encouraging comments 🙌
Wow incredible. I could never imagine taking on a challenge like this! Thanks for making it!
Thanks for watching! It was definitely a long process, but you just have to overcome each problem one at a time until you have working machine. We've got some other cool machine videos coming soon so make sure to subscribe! 😃
Really love this build, great engineering skills. At first i thought no way they build a cnc milling machine... and then next thing "we also build this router in a week" Very nice, the toolchanger makes it really stand out, looks like it is inspired bij the HAAS toolchangers. How did you get the Z-axis to be perfectly square with the XY-plane? I am really curious, what accuracy does it achieve? Keep up the good work, this channel will blow up in no time!
Thank you very much! The tool changer was definitely a nice touch, and was actually quite complex to build. Squaring off the z to the other axes was a process, and I will describe it in my next video for sure. Glad you enjoyed and thank you for the kind words 😃
@@ActionBOX which video? I'm at that point in my own build I'm curious as to how you did it. Also interested in a couple of the other components. Are you releasing plans or drawings or parts lists of the stuff you used?
Many machines had umbrella style tool changers long before Haas was even a company!
@@gorak9000 they didn't claim to have invented anything. But it looks like a clean build. I'd like to see the rest of the build information. If they don't want to share, ok, but they are saying they are going to do follow up videos and then they don't.
Not answering the accuracy question and looking at the construction itself tells me that it is not accurate at all. Just bolting the linear rails to an unprocessed piece of steel is not the way to go.
First homemade machine...totally professional!!!! Congratulations!!!
Thank you very much!
Awesome build, I have watched tons of home made cnc but this is totally different. Thank you for sharing the video.
Thank you very much, glad you liked it. Feel free to share the video if you think it could benefit others 😊.
As a machinist thats been wanting to build my own i owe you everything. Now i just have to commit. Plz dont stop your videos, your gonna be huge!
Once you get started the ball will keep itself rolling 😉. Just take that first step, it's a fun project. Glad you enjoyed the video, and feel free to help me out by sharing on a forum or group where others may be interested 😃 . Cheers.
@@ActionBOX i read your this comment when i am hesitate to start my new manufacturing project ...actually i am not that familiar to technical field(practically) ... but i am creative thats my power and now i am going to jump in it😁
@@mr.perfect1067 good luck, that is how I started
First let me start be saying that every video you guys have put out is amazing. I'm super impressed with everything you've built so far, even the EDM machines that didn't work that great. I would love to see more a detailed video on this CNC build. Especially the squaring of all the axis and what it took to get all critical surfaces flat. But what I would like to know more about it the controller that you used. I'm currently in the process of designing my own CNC mill and would like to know more about the controls. I'm familiar with Mach 3 but I'm not a big fan of it and would like to find something better.
We will be building another machine in the future, and will focus on adding all the details while filming. Glad you liked the video. Cheers
Maybe a used Siemens would be nice but I think it’s hard to get in it and connect it to self made system. Probably u need proprietary motors or sensors or a diagnostic tool to set up parts
This is SO cool! I've been seriously pondering the prospect of retrofitting an older Matsuura VMC with a modern control. Need to find myself a bigger shop space.
That’s amazing what you built and very inspirational! Nice work!
Thanks! We've got a ton of of big projects in the works. Subscribe to get notified when we release them!
May I congratulate you on an outstanding CNC build. Good choice too in going with the Masso CNC controller. I personally know the company owner and he puts his heart and soul into his brand. All the very best. Cheers, Aaron.
Thanks a bunch, I appreciate your comment. I have a few other unique machines in the works right now which I hope to publicize before the summer. Any chance you think your friend would sponsor my videos with some masso equipment? I can put in a dedicated and very good word as I love the products. Cheers, Dave
@@ActionBOX Hey Dave, I'll screenshot your request and send it to him (Jatinder). No harm in asking, but I would also send him an email. Cheers, Aaron.
That idea of incorporating resin with flakes is brilliant!
Thank You. Glad you liked it. Do me a favour and share in a forum or group where others may be interested. I am trying to reach out to more of the DIY community. Thanks in advance 😃
Must admit I am so jealous. 1 about the build you made that is absolutely awsome and about what I would ask you to help me with some documentation website or wherever I could find data on how to build a tiny 5axes cnc 2nd your dad helping you is a blessing. Hope he is proud of you and you show him some love.
I found your channel because of the diy shredder video. You're so underrated, I really like you diy videos about the machines. Keep it up I hope to see more of that kind!
Truly a impressive build. I love the level of thought that went into your design.
Thank you very much! Im glad you liked it 😃. Help me out and share this video if you know any places that others would enjoy the content. Cheers 🥂
Wow you guys came out of the blue swinging! Great video! Super inspiring and makes me want to work harder! I've had a lightweight 5 axis design I've done about half the CAD for but I'm always put it off! One day!
I’m really happy to hear this. Glad we can inspire. Feel free to help me out and share my video with a friend or two. Cheers, Dave
@@ActionBOX Already have! Y'all are gonna have a big channel on your hands if you keep it up!
@@isaacsgarage931 Thank you 😃
few youtubers are really kind as they provide code to run such machine along with how to build. those wbo cant buy this still can dream that they will build it one day.. but you are also helping as your way of making things is perfect..you are more an artist then an engineer..... who creat such beauty.
Thank you, I really appreciate this comment 😃
Excellent! Hats off to you on this project, top notch creativity and work. I hope to own a CNC Milling maching of my own one day once I have a more appropriate amount of space... with all the parts, communication within the amateur machinist community, and improved technology readily available to the public at prices within reach I keep coming to the same conclusion that building my own makes more sense than buying one. Plus there is a tremendous sense of pride you get with building your own machine (if done well of course haha) and so much knowledge to gain along the way. Being intimately familiar with your machine and its capabilities is also priceless, no better way to know/learn this than building it from scratch! Thanks for sharing your project! Seeing this get finished just spreads motivation and creativity to everyone who appreciates this stuff. I love how you just toss in the fact that you built a CNC router like it was no big deal... that is awesome all on its own!! Props to you, I love it! Excellent excellent excellent job!!
Sign me here please !
I built a desktop CNC back in 2017, using plywood, a dremel knock off, nema17 motors, arduino, acme screws, hardened steel rods and linear guides, but this, this is what all we have tried to build a CNC want to achieve! Awesome!
How did the Nema 17 engine behave? (Translate portuguese to english language, sorry)
@@JoaoNascimentoBrito don't worry about your english, I speak Spanish actually The nema17 motors work fine for the kind of work, the CNC was only to make PCBs and cut plywood They depend on the driver too, I was using some A4988 clones I think they work best for laser cutters and 3D printers
@@robertobrenes5283 I'll try to build a simple CNC using Arduino One. Gracias!
@@JoaoNascimentoBrito good luck, GRBL is good, I would like to rebuild my cnc using other board and Marlin
I've never seen something like this in KZhead! And I've have seen a TON of videos about CNC/Plasma/Laser, they don't come close to the level of SKILLS and CRAFTSMANSHIP I see here! Please, you must share your knowledge. Amazing videos and you got a new subscriber (and deserve a whole lot more) !!!
Thank you so much 🙏, this comment made my day 😃. Feel free to help me out and share my video on a forum or group where others may be interested (I don’t know too many). I’m hoping to get sufficient backing to help me keep going with this. Thanks again 😊
Nice job man! We want to build our own cnc mill and you encourage us! Congratulations and greatings from Argentina.
I just love this. To make this CNC machine, we first had to build a few other CNC machines.
haha we learned a lot in the process! Glad you enjoyed the video 😃
Lovely to see. As someone that built a 2 ton concrete machine in his own garage a few years ago, I'd love to know how you got the plates flat and square to each other in the first part of the build? The rails will simply flex to the metal they are being attached too, so if the plates are not perfectly flat and square, your rails will also not be.
Great question. I’ll make a follow up video and focus on covering these questions. Cheers
Thumbs up guys, very well done, excellent job. Surface roughness should be magnificent on this machine. I would only mate the base a bit wider but ..... you made the machine and we admire you for this! Please give us an idea of the total material cost.
I love that "You are the best, Dad!". And other parts too!
Hum that looks like the machines our metal workshop used to use we replaced it with bigger several years ago. Building one your self now that cool as hell. Counter weight and stone plastic those where nice to learn of.😋
Nice work! I like how you just threw the rocks in. I think too many of us (me included) go nuts with trying to find the perfect epoxy granite mixture, ha ha.
To each their own. I was on a time budget so I didn't care to have a suboptimal mixture. The perfect ratio is primarily used to save money by using less epoxy anyways, so it is probably wise to do so, but was not feasible for my timeline. Glad you enjoyed the video 😃
There is a LOT of rigidity lost with this method. The ridigty in EG comes from the filler material, not the binder(epoxy). I get that there was a timeconstraint in play here, so some compromises must be made, but this method of throwing in the rocks seems kinda....um....wastefull? Even though i disagree with the method, i have the greatest respect for "getting stuff done", so thumbs up for that! :)
@@thomasegjoergensen Not sure wasteful is the biggest issue, when the first DIY epoxy granite machines were being made there was a lot of time and effort that went into the best aggregate mix _in order to improve rigidity._ From a machinists perspective, if the machine isn't rigid it makes a fairly good but small footprint router, the other thing I'd be concerned with is because of the 'rocks' rather than an optimal aggregate mix, how much and which way is the base going to move as the epoxy continues to cure. As for a quick build, good job I'm just doubtful of the long term value of the build.
First completed part looks like a hangboard. A training device for climbers. IOW, if that is the case, then the part could be used to make a mold, or be the most overkill hangboard in history :) Really nice machine you have built. Helps having the right equipment at hand :)
You are indeed correct, it is a hang board, and in my next video I will be showing how to make a silicone mold to duplicate these easily now that we have a plug. Indeed it is the world's most overkill hang board at the moment 😂. Share my video if you think there are others who would be interested, and don't forget to subscribe to catch the silicone molding 😃.
This right here! This right here is enginuity. First diy cnc I've seen where vibration damping was a major design consideration. Well done guys!
Thank you so much, your comment means a lot to me 😃. Feel free to help me out and share with a friend or two. Cheers, Dave
@@ActionBOX definitely will. Are you guys hiring? 😅 I'm an engineering student that's fallen into this rabbit hole and actually wouldn't mind working in a shop like this for free 🤞🏽. This is the kind of space I'd love working in
@@zeroT720 Sure, we could always use help and reward you accordingly. Please contact me via our Contact us page on KZhead. Include your user name so I know its you. Cheers. Dave
This has to be one of the most impressive things I’ve ever seen
Well done , great solid build . Pity you didn't mention the machine leveling , ball bar , backlash and pillar perpendicularity measurements that all larger machines need to be and stay accurate . Also the cost of the machine with such good components may be in the tens of thousands - you can buy a pretty cool used machine for 5-10k . Having your own design and specifications does leave development options you otherwise might not have though.
Great point! I will include this information in future videos.
@@ActionBOX could you share the cad plans please?
I'd rather find a way to update the controls (if possible-with evolving tech possibilities daily) on an old Japanese machine from the 80s/90s, however he will have the knowledge base to repair/upgrade/replace while I'd have to call someone and spend mega $$.
I once saw the Japanese manufacturer leveling their base into micron. From cnc milling to cnc grinding and final step on human manual scraping(They called it shifting ,take all day man hour doing that).
If you are handy with controls (which you would have to be of you are building a cnc machine) you can always buy old iron and update the controls. I bought a mid 80's Bostomatic for $1200 (with punch tape reader and some mouse chewing damage) and updated to modern controls... twice. First Mach3, then UCCNC. Not taking anything away from the build in the video, which was really nicely done.
this is a work of art , congratulations
Thank you 🙏. It was a long project, and I am happy that others can benefit from watching it. Glad you enjoyed 😊
This was so amazing to see. Now if i only had all the pieces to assemble for my own
Thank you! It takes time, but definitely possible.
Really Nice job.. I am a cnc machine operator and spend my days by a makita.. a old but thrusting machine but all I do (almost all) I could do on this machine .. amazing how you did this .. 👏
Thank you very much!
Rails put on painted surface? Some important details hidden on video, or supposed to be done just for the video
This is really inspiring U should be proud of being the first channel that makes diy cnc and being a ressource for others i love ur work and i really injoyed Keep up
Thank you, your words mean a lot to me. Feel free to help me share the video with others whom are interested. Cheers.
woah, that really takes a DIY cnc machine to the next level. Nice job!
Thanks a bunch 😃. Feel free to help me out and share with some friends. I would appreciate it 😊
Love the dad crocks & the 1.5 ton column lift >;D love the epoxy experiment and hope to see more updates from you sir!
More to come! Thank you for your support 😃
This was really well done. The one thing I wonder about is the durability of the epoxy base. It's not a homogeneous material. The epoxy has many sharp corners internally cause by flowing around the shapes of rocks. This creates 1000s of stress risers inside the block which can lead to crack formation and propagation. Machining steel imparts huge loads and stresses on those blocks. I guess only time will tell. Good job nonetheless.
carbon fibers to the rescue! for the next machine...
Well that a well known technique that have already shown that it works...
The actual forces involved in machining are very low. No where near what would be considered a huge load or stress.
Actually epoxy granite is used on commercial special purpose equipment as well. As a rule of thumb the machines are fabricated to be easily strong enough to do the task then shipped to the customer. Upon arrival and commissioning they are filled up with the compound. This is done to save shipping costs as air freight on a 15 ton machine is a lot more expensive than a 6 ton. The Epoxy is also quite elastic and as long as the gravel is clean, dust free and dry proper adhesion occurs. The gravel is far more likely to break down than the epoxy. It functions like a anti chatter boring bar. Chatter is not stopped at the first instance but it's resonance is and the finish only has a single small mark. The stuff you are thinking about is where the compound is used as a structural framework that carries load (Steel set in Concrete). Done on VERY LARGE machines usually cheaply built a long time ago. An example would be a lathe with a short bed needing to machine a very long shaft for a short diameter. Build a block and base in the concrete at the required distance from the spindle and there you have a very temporary long bed. This was also used for home built equipment in the days of hard steel tools and was quite crude.
Very cool build! Light years ahead of the tormach sitting in my garage. For the 15k and time spent with design and building, I still think you would be better served with buying a used industrial machine lije an older haas or fadal and retrofitting the controller.
Perhaps, and I had thought of it, but I had no way of bringing those machines to my house for cheap 😂. They are so massive that transporting them is very expensive.
Next fucking level. This is insane. I thought there were a couple of things that I personally might have done differently, but this is still just off the wall. You can tell all of the planning, design, and work that went into it were not lacking. And the epoxy/stone mixture? For an economical, efficient solution, it's legitimately genius. I am absolutely going to remember that. Thanks for the video! Keep up the awesome work: I really look forward to seeing what you continue to do.
Thanks Caleb 😃. I really appreciate this comment. Glad you enjoyed the video 😊
You are a crazy man! Greetings from Russia from the operator of cnc milling machines. Keep doing this thing. You are the best!😃
Spasiba! Glad you’re enjoying the videos. We’ve got more great content coming soon! 😃
Great job! I am speechless. I wish you were my neighbor!!
If I was your neighbour you might not be able to sleep at night. These machines are loud 😜. Thank you so much for your supportive comments. I hope you can help me share this video with others who may be interested. Cheers.
You did a good job with DIY cnc.
Thank You my friend.
Impressive! To build but also design & incorporate, components for mechanical, electrical, pneumatic functions is amazing, be great to hopefully make it available to others to utilise? Great work!
Genuinely an impressive build
Congratulations, you have done something very close to a project I've nearly started many times. I think there are some things you could have done differently to make this better, but I'm curious as how well your design works as is. If you need help with cad cleanup, I'm good at looking over work/ design reviews.
Thanks for the compliment. What would you have done differently? I am curious. I will definitely reach out when help is needed. Its always good to know another capable individual who is willing to help. In the meanwhile, feel free to help us out by sharing with a friend who may be interested. We are trying to increase our views and channel recognition. Thanks in advance 😊. Dave
@@ActionBOX since you asked ... I would want more chip guards and covers for any sensitive components, these can be hard to design in as an afterthought. Chips find their way into every thing. The epoxy granite mixture is a science of its own, I think there is some improvement to be had there. The saddle and table looked a little flimsy compared to the base and column. Scrapping all the surfaces that joint parts so they are flat and produce orthogonal axis motion, or at least having them finish machined. Cast iron T slot tables can be bought from scrapped cnc machines, and would have a nice surface to mount rails to already, probably the best /cheapest option for a table. All in all, I think you did a good job, and you shared it with the world, so thanks.
Wow, amazing build! Thanks for sharing. Did you fly cut or grind the mounting surfaces for the rails prior to the epoxy casting?
No I did not.
And just like that you made a machine that would cost you so much to buy assembled. That's the true spirit of manufacturer, they do their tool themselve, What a beautiful work, I'm subscribing!
Thank you so much 😃. Don't forget to help me out by sharing with some friends who may be interested. Cheers, Dave
You've won a ticket to my subscription list well done great project!
Thank you 😊
when you work on the material try to get the tools/cutting sides as close to the spindel as possible this will inprove tool lifetime and it will give you a nicer surface finish also you may be able to have an higher feedrate (this is becouse you will get less vibrations at the cutters if it is closer to the spindel) realy awsome build tho
Thanks a lot. I am not a trained machinist, I do this for fun, so I will learn with time. Glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for your support 😃. Feel free to help me out and share this video with others who may be interested. Cheers, Dave
Looks like you've made a great piece of kit (I'm quite jealous!). I don't know if you realised, but your rocks in the epoxy looks like it also helped to prevent exotherm... that is to say, are large quantity of epoxy generates heat from the reaction, which then speeds up the reaction generating more heat (which can spiral out of control into a fire). It looks like the rocks maybe locally reduced the volumes of epoxy reducing exotherm, obviously good news but just something to bear in mind in the future if you use large quantities of epoxy again. Great project and great video though
they were keeping the containers in a bath of ice water and you think they didn't know about this?
@@darkracer1252 it's not in ice water once it's poured, storing it in a cool place is nothing compared to once it's mixed with hardener, so they may or may not be aware... my irl job is working with large quantities of epoxy and it does cause fires if done incorrectly, so just thought it was worth mentioning to let them and/or the audience know the risks involved (it can't hurt to inform people 👍)
Probability about epoxy catching fire was useful to me thankyou,i never realised it,i was thinking to mixup epoxy without the gravel in large quantity for a totally different purpose though.
A new channel that will get thousands of subscribers soon, for sure. I'm particularly interested in all tips that could help me to make my own small CNC lathe. Please, show me such a project, as detailed as possible.😉 Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Sounds good, I have a DIY Lathe on the project list, so it will be released in the future. cheers.
You have a bunch of new fans on the forum canadian hobby metal workers. Thanks for the inspiration.
Send us the link. We want to see it 😃. Thanks so much for sharing and helping us grow 😊. Cheers, Dave
This is incredible! What's the deal with the controller? Is that something off the shelf?
It's called the Masso. Thanks for the compliment, more content to come soon so make sure you subscribe 😉.
So this is where the legends meet!
@@DynoRC Woowww, Indeed. @SeanHodgins we should definitely collaborate on a project.
@@ActionBOX Oh wow! Having looked those up, that's a really impressive looking solution. Due to the surplus machine market where I live there's a lot of argument to retrofitting modern controls to a used machine, and the Masso controllers look like a great option.
@@mekilljoydammit they definitely are 😃
Awesome, definitely complicated.
Thanks, I see you build CNC machines as well by your profile picture. Hope you found this video entertaining 😃
Really nice job guys! Thanks for sharing
Thats a DIY mill done right, absolutely incredible!
Thanks Colin 😊
"CNC is so expensive" "So we decided to build our own with the budget of $15,000" Guess I grossly underestimated how expensive CNCs are.
I was very happy with what I got for the price I paid 😃 . Do you have any plans to build a machine as well?
@@ActionBOX Is your time worth nothing? How much was all that other equipment? Free help? Its a great project, but calling this 15k is disingenuous.
@@jasongamer8649 Thank you for your input
My desktop CNC mill, which was built for light prototyping/2.5D/PC-board milling work and has a working area of roughly 12"X x 18"Y x 6"Z inches, was about an $5K investment between the machine itself, building a custom controller box for it, building a high-precision spindle (>0.0002" runout) for PCB work, and rigging it out (e.g., adding things like cable drag chains which don't come with the machine but make it much, _much_ easier/safer/better to use). CNC done relatively correctly is substantially more expensive than, say, building a 3D printer. (I'm building a 3D printer right now and it's super easy compared to CNC machining - I used my desktop mill to make parts for my 3D printer out of aluminum plate, and the 3D printer controller is almost a toy by comparison with the Gecko G540 driving my CNC's motors.) And that doesn't even get into the tooling, and a full set of tooling for a CNC mill can easily exceed the cost of the CNC setup itself. Just the collet chucks for a big CNC like Action Box built can be $150+ each - hell, mine are tiny (ER11) and cost like $10+ a pop if I want a useful level of precision.
With budget 15,000 why don't buy used machine?
But this really makes me wonder how accurate and precise the machine is, since it doesn't look like the surfaces where the linear rails and the interfaces between the y-Bed and Z-bed seem to be precision surfaces. How can you guarantee that every single axis is square to each other?
You can never "guarantee", you can only be as precise as your measuring equipment. I used a dial indicator to 10 micron resolution, and was within several ticks off over a 40cm measured distance. This isn't perfect, but its far better than most other home made machines which do not take this into consideration. Cheers
@@ActionBOX If you ever find perpendicularity of the colum to bed a problem I would suggest using some jack screw to shim the colum and then fill the gap with epoxy, I've seen it done and it yielded great result!
Love the clever and intelligent way the Parts n Materials were crafted ....Manufactured!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video. 😃 Feel free to share with others you think will also find it interesting. Cheers, Alan
Really nice job. You guys rock!
Wow, you guys are truly amazing. Did you both take engineering classes? That spindle looked so sweet. How well is the machine holding tolerances? I would love to use some of your tools. Excellent video
Thank You. Neither of us studied engineering in undergrad! The machine holds tolerances extremely well, especially in softer materials such as Al. Thank you for your compliment 😃
@@ActionBOX Where did you get the spindle?
what CNC software do you use? How did you do the control screen? Great Job!
Masso controller takes care of most motion control.
Type of controller are you using for the touchscreen can you reference where you bought it
I don't know if you knew this ahead of time, but one of the biggest names in precision grinding, Studer, literally uses granite mixed with expoy in a composite they call "Granitan" to cast their machine bases. You actually used one of the best possible materials for vibration damping that's been in use for 30+ years lmao.
Thanks for sharing 😃. I was aware that the mixture is used in industry, but not that it is used by this company. Cheers.
This is dope! I'll be checking out your other vids in search of the plans.
For sure. Make sure you share the video in the meanwhile
Nice job! Any chance you made the designs open source or share a parts list for people who might want to try their hand at making their own one of these? I've been looking at Tormachs and old Haas machines but they're either too beat up or way underpowered for the price.
If this video gets substantial interest (aka 100k views or more) then I would be very interested in producing a second video with more details on the physics and mechanical engineering principles that I decided to employ. I would also clean up my CAD designs and post for everyone to work off of. That being said, these videos and files take a long time to prepare, so I will only do it if there is great interest. Glad you found use from this video. Cheers, Dave
@@ActionBOX Second for more details! This video is such a tease! Great job!
Well, video is at 183k views now... where are the plans? 😁
@@ActionBOX You got your 100k views, NOW WHERE IS OUR BOM?! 😝 great vid, it shows how people can DIY cool stuff
You’re looking at the wrong place. Try your local shops. Sometimes they even give it to you for free just to make room for new machine. One can buy a nice VMC for 5k easy. Some company doesn’t like going through the hassle of auctioning off machine but if you come in and offered to take it off their hands and pay for rigging.
Astonishing work! Well done!
Thank you!
People like you are really inspiring. I'm in the process of learning Arduino. It's so sad how these big companies rip us off, charging us tens to hundreds of thousands for things we can build ourselves for a fraction of the cost, and the nice thing about building things yourself is, you can customize it in any creative way you see fit, like for example, I would rig it with some moving IR sensors and linear mechanical arms to automate the tedious task of manually squaring and finding the axial zero, also a hydraulic press underneath the magnet with ejector bars so you don't have to struggle to get it off the magnet when it's static, and to get it onto the forklift more easily... Just some things to save you the manual effort
Those are great suggestions, and yes, it definitely pays off to build your own if you are willing to learn and put in the effort. Don't forget to share with at least one friend who is interested (if not more). It would really help me out 😃, Dave
Bro you cant compare this machine with industrial machine. Yes you can build you own machine, depending on how much you want to spend determine how good of a machine you can get but saying that big manufacturer is over charging you is a bit much because you're paying for years of development and researches. It took them 20 hours to complete this part when a Mori or Haas can complete the same part in less than 1 hour could be faster after the first part and fine tuning the program.
I'm actually really curious about your previous machine, it looks unique, any build logs from that one?
Hey, no Videos of that one actually. It is unique because the spindle moves along the x and Y axes, increasing the travel per footprint by 4. In other words, for the same table area the machine takes 4x less space in a room. Glad you enjoyed the video, Please help me out by sharing with a friend or two. Cheers, Dave
@@ActionBOX I recently came across dmu 80 monoblock, which has the same structure as you previous machine, I don't know if it's still in one piece but you could upgrade it to 5 axis. I've been working on a 5 axis build and I'd estimate it would cost you about 2-3 grand to do that. I can elaborate more on the parts if you're interested.
@@jonjon3829 I had actually built a trunnion table for that machine, but had a hard time programming the tool path for the 4th and 5th axes. I would love for you to share your concepts with me, and I would appreciate any further knowledge on easy implementation of those axes. Cheers, Dave
@@ActionBOX My comment got deleted. I'll just send you an email then.
@@jonjon3829 sweet, I got it. I’ll look into it in a couple of hours and get back to you. From the quick preview of the links you sent it seems like you have done quite the extensive research already. Cheers, Dave.
Can you post your CAD file. Very good build!
I will once I reach 100k views 😊. Glad you enjoyed it.
Impressive work, rock solid build (literally) and nice ATC!
Glad you like it! Any plans of building your own? Cheers, Dave
This was very impressive, incredibly well done! 👍
Thank you very much!feel free to help me out and share with one friend or group who would be interested 😃
Amazing Work! Any chance of a build breakdown? Would love to know what servos, rails, spindle, controller etc was used. What is the accuracy of the machine as it currently sits?
Video is in the making. Will work On it further after the holidays. Cheers, Dave
@@ActionBOX yeah I'd like to see a build list of those components too.
My goodness, when you say "Best DIY CNC Machine" you aren't kidding.
Hahaha, thanks I appreciate this comment 😃.
Great job, thanks for sharing.
Oh wow! Super talented! Awesome machine!
Nice Build, We Need The Drawing Files and Dimensions, Kindly Provide links if possible.
@actionbox , Do share the Files , will be of much help !!
I will go through and clean up all my files once this video proves that it is substantially popular (100k+ views). Help me out and share if you know any groups who may be interested. Cheers 😊
@@ActionBOX Greetings from Romania! I would like to get in touch with you guys, i am a young man that is in search of building something like this, if there is any possibility i would apreciate it very much, making my own CNC mill its a dream of mine😇
@@tamashan4044 Thats awesome, feel free to shoot us an email. We are always open to chatting and discussing ideas 😊
@@ActionBOX Will you be able to share the file now, how can I give you my email address ??
you rock and how much cost ~ the materials for that?
Hi, the Machine will cost around $15k USD to replicate. That being said, many tools such as the T-slot milling bit were only needed once, so if you build several machines you only need to pay for it one time and use it on all machines. If you plan on building more than one mill then you can bring the cost down. That being said, I recognize that the average hobbyists is really only in need of a single machine at most.
@@ActionBOX Thanks for being so open about the cost!
@@ActionBOX Thanks for this! I thought you said $50k in the video and I'm glad to see it was way less.
@@BeronSailerio yeah no worries. Do you have any other questions? Im prepared to answer whatever about the machine 😃
@@evanlane1690 Yeah, $50k wouldn't justify building one, but at $15k It was a great project and still saved me lots of money. Plus I know exactly how my machine works now so troubleshooting it will be fairly easy in the future 😆. Do you have any plans for building a machine?
dude that is insane. the functionality you have respect. and inspiration
Thank you so much 😀. Have I convinced you to build your own? 😜
@@ActionBOX xD pretty much yes. i have been procrastinating on a cnc router. all i need is a power supply, screws and material. i have everything else to finish the build. but man. this cnc looks so friking nice. i cant imagine the functionality it gives.
@@ActionBOX not to mention , this truly is the best diy cnc out there.
@@pr00009 Thank you, I appreciate that comment 😃. Dont forget to share with one friend or group who may be interested. It would really help me 😃
Thanks for your explanation of cast iron versus epoxy. That was eye opening.
Thank you, I’m glad you found it useful 😃. Cheers, Dave
What width of linear rails did you use?
35mm linear rails.
could you please link the parts you used IE spindle, servos, ballscrews, rails
I plan on releasing the CAD designs and BOM in my next video. Share this video meanwhile to help me gain attention. Cheers. 😁
I'm looking forward to that. I think I wanna build this and that router table you made as well. I'll be watching more videos
@@hankautomotive Awesome, I assume you are subscribed, so you will know when the next videos come out.
Subscribed when I watched these videos will be looking for more info. I've tried getting into cad design just don't have a good enough computer to to anything to big but will get there. And would love to build something like this at some point.
@@hankautomotive You will get there. Time and Will will serve their purpose. Im glad I was able to inspire. looking forward to your comment in my next videos 😉
FANTASTIC! GREAT JOB:) Thx for sharing.
Cheers, Glad you enjoyed 😊
I can't be the only one who thought "We took our raw steel to the water jet cutter" statement was going to be completed with something like, "with a water jet cutter we designed and built from our "other" machines we've designed and built, a half hour ago!". I'm was honestly shocked your team DIDN'T build and design the water jet cutter; because you all are so AMAZING! 😎👍 Brilliant channel and I look forward to seeing your channel and community grow!
Thank you 😂. I have started a water jet DIY build but am currently tackling the problem of the high pressure water stream containment. It's not too easy to come up with concepts to make these machines small enough for home use 😃. More to come, thanks for all your support
@@ActionBOX YES!!! 👏👌👍This GREAT! Please keep designing, building and then sharing your work with the world! The world NEEDs your help to break the chains of exploitation, and devaluation of what it means to be human (vs a human "capital"/cattle) around the world! 🙏
@@artrock8175 Thank you 🙏
Would have been great to get your component choice/decision/source
Thanks Eric. This seems to be a common request. I promise to create a followup video detailing all the specifics and reasons for why I did what, and add a BOM/list of suppliers. I hope you enjoyed the video otherwise in the meanwhile 😃
Absolutely incredible. My only piece of advice is if you ever need that much epoxy again try to buy it in a 50 gallon drum. Here in Chattanooga i use a company called Advanced Plastics, and they’ll deliver the drum and it usually saves me about 75% off the price if I were to buy it individually by the gallon. Not sure if that’s a nationwide company or whatever but you’ll be able to find somebody in your area that will sell you the type of composite material you want, and a large enough quantity so that you get it cheaply, and they will deliver it. most of the materials I use cost around $1500-$2000 per 50 gallon drum but according to what type you’re using it can be cheaper or much more expensive. All depending on the properties needed and the type of material.
That’s awesome advise. It would have saved me a ton of money. I’ll probably be building an improved machine soon so I’ll keep that in mind. Cheers, Dave
Thanks for sharing this video. Congratulations on the result. The CNC machine looks very nice, accurate and fast. Is the design also available?
this is wild. Great work.
Thanks 😊
Truly awesome build!
Great project, you guys rock!
Thanks! 😊
WOW, really well designed and built. Incredible DIY skills.
Thank you 😊
WOW this is the second video of yours that I have watched, you guys are incredible !!!!! I'm glad you were reccomended to me :)
Thanks you 😃. We appreciate that 😊