- Desktop CNC machine - .:| CNC 1 Stop Shop |:.

Why a desktop CNC machine? A desktop CNC machine is a cool device for any hobbyist. Just image that you like building a flying radio controlled helicopters, you could build so many parts, like the rotors. What if you like building and driving radio controlled cars or boats, yes you could use a desktop CNC machine to create parts ranging from a custom steering wheel, to custom rims for your tires. Why a desktop CNC machine? What if you are a small jewelry maker, and you sell your items at craft shows, now you could make rings, beads, pendants and so many other items.

I can think of so many different application for a desktop CNC machine, I even think of the fresh cool ideas, like if you owned a skate shop, you could custom carve images into boards, why just do decals? You could also rip out a surfboard either from a non-formed block, or reshape a surfboard blank. Opps once again, I got so excited that I just noticed, you would need a larger CNC machine to do surfboards. But you could build it very easily.

So what defines a desktop CNC machine? My definition is that a) it would fit on a desk, please do not say “Da”, b) would be, the output from the desktop CNC machine, is smaller then lets say one foot square. c) Would be that they use smaller stepper motors on the desktop CNC machine. d) The stock you put in, should be around a foot square or less. So what if you want one that is bigger or stronger, then call it a macro desktop CNC machine.

In this section on desktop CNC machines I shall go through a process of working on different desktop CNC machine prototypes, as I hope to find some ready made desktop CNC machine to review, put some link to other desktop CNC machine hobbyist’s websites which show you how they made theirs.

I would also like to open a forum in this section on Desktop CNC machines which will allow those who enjoy building these to have a place to discuss their successes, failures, stories, and links. I hope this becomes a popular forum.

I also have a new shopping cart which has a section for desktop CNC machines and other items. If you have an item that would help my visitors please just drop me an e-mail gbrown@cnc1stopshop.com

If you have read this far and still want to know, “What is a desktop CNC machine?” Well the basic concepts are like this, you have 3 axis on a desktop CNC machine, they are called X, Y and Z, that means, front and back, called “x” then left to right is “z” and up and down, is “z”. By using these names you can plot a position in 3D space, if you remember 8th grade math, you use to use yard on graph paper to find a path, or plot a course, well this is sort of the same process.

On a desktop CNC machine there is a spindle which is the mechanism which has a bit on it, and carves out the design you want the desktop CNC machine to do. The spindle is normally a router, trim router, or dremel. It is an excepted idea that the more power you put here the faster the desktop CNC machine can carve out it’s task. This is normally measured in inches per minute, AKA IPM, this is not square inches, this is path or linear inches, the amount of inches your desktop CNC machine’s bit can move. The desktop CNC machine’s IMP is also conditional on what material and how fine you want the surface to be, it will take longer to carve a path in steel then in wood.

If you want to get into using a desktop CNC machine you will need a few major components, a computer to run the software and to control the desktop CNC machine, the desktop CNC machine itself. If you are going to build the desktop CNC machine from starch please be aware that this can be a very over whelming task, you may want to first look at ready made desktop CNC machine kits, but if you decide to move forward and build one, ask you to go to our DIY section, and review the links which have do it yourselfers which have been so nice as to put up entire section on building a homebrew desktop CNC machines.

When building a homebrew desktop CNC machine, you will need to select a general design of the over all desktop CNC machine. You will also want to decide if you are going to build the desktop CNC machine controller board, or if you are going to buy a desktop CNC machine controller board kit, of buy a finished desktop CNC machine controller board. You will also need at least 3 desktop CNC machine stepper motors which will move your axis, I have written a small section on desktop CNC machine stepper motors, and we have a section on our shopping cart for desktop CNC machine stepper motors. The reason I said you will need at least 3 stepper motors for your desktop CNC machine is if you decide to go to a fun “next step” for your desktop CNC machine, you would want to add a 4th axis.

What is 4th axis? Well on the top of the platform which normally holds your stock to be worked with, would be another desktop CNC machine stepper motor, which would have some type of jaws or holding device which would rotate your stock so that you may get to all side, except the area where the clams, or jaws on you desktop CNC machine would be hold the stock. This is need to create rings, and true 3D items.
Without 4th axis, most will say you are working in 2.5D, they say this because on a desktop CNC machine without a 4th axis, you just can not get to the back of you stock.

I would recommend that if you are doing anything except printed circuit boards, that you at least buy the desktop CNC machine stepper motor for the 4th axis at the time that you buy the other 3, desktop CNC machine stepper motors.

I have been told that in the near future that there will be an easy to make, add a 4th axis, to your desktop CNC machine, project on an internet friends website, I will of course put this on this section as soon as it is ready.

Two more thing you should think about when designing you desktop CNC machine, which is, software, and how are you going to get analog real world data into your software? Let me tell you my application I got into this for.

I design Hawaiian hooks, oh if you did not know, I live on Kauai Hawaii, the most backward little island in the world, don’t ask, but it is very hard to get any supplies here. So back to the Hawaiian hooks, you can see them at http://www.on-hawaii.com I make these by hand, and I love making them, the first one, then I start getting orders, which includes stores who would like to sell these on a much bigger scale, I thought about sending them to China and having them made, but they want like $2,000.00 to set up a machine and carve it, and I was worried about the quality. So I decide to build a desktop CNC machine to make them.

To be honest I created this website because I have had such a problem with building my desktop CNC machine. I wish I was back in Chicago, which I know I would be able to build a team of people who could make a desktop CNC machine for me. What I mean by this is that I know where there are machine shops which would be able to do precision drilling, and I would have custom pieces built for my desktop CNC machine.

This is also the problem with most ready made desktop CNC machines, the problem seem to be that once you get a couple of desktop CNC machine kits, the other people in the team, want to make a great deal of money on their little piece of the desktop CNC machine.

So what can I do way out on a little island in the Pacific? Try as hard as I can, to make the most accurate I can. I would even like to use a larger CNC machine to create desktop CNC machine kits, but I would have a problem selling them because of the shipping charges from the middle of the pacific ocean. So for now I will just review other's desktop CNC machine kits.

I hope this section helps you, and that you will have fun creating your desktop CNC machine.