Z Axis Prototype

Following on from the GRBL on a Boarduino post earlier we have started on the machine to attach it to!

After considering all sorts of options including a selective laser sintering 3D printer we have decided to start with a standard CNC Router with a bed of 1x0.5m. With this we will be able to cut, amongst other items, large model aircraft parts from carbon fibre sheet which we have had a number of requests for.

We have built the first prototype for the z axis and have already scrapped it for a lower friction, stiffer, longer travel version!

Images below:

grbl, Windows XP and Boarduino

A quick note / tutorial to help anyone trying to find out the same information that I was!


I am looking to set up a CNC system and have chosen to go down the grbl route and use a boarduino. The first hurdle of getting grbl on to the boarduino using the hardware I have on my desk. A lot of sites made this sound a lot harder than it was in the talking about AVR programmers and all sorts


EDIT: The hex file supplied below has an error - the motor drive pin doesn't work. I have created a new HEX file which I will upload when I have tested it.


I have provided a summary after the jump:

Stepper Motors

We have been messing about with a ChipKit and stepper motors from floppy drives and it has been very interesting. Only problem is we cannot find a project for them. The torque generated is very low so they cant really do any work. The best idea so far has been to stick a Christmas decoration on top but that seems a little, er, unimaginative! Any suggestions would be great.


If you are interested you may want to have a look at these resources:
http://www.stepperworld.com/Tutorials/pgUnipolarTutorial.htm
http://www.rapidonline.com/pdf/82-0192.pdf - for home built motor controllers
http://www.horrorseek.com/home/halloween/wolfstone/Motors/stpint_StepperMotorIntro.html
http://www.solarbotics.net/library/pieces/parts_mech_steppers.html






We built an ugly as sin home built motor controller shield with a  L293 chip which works ok but gets really hot after a while. If we find a project for this we may utilise something a little more elegant. Either that or a bunch of equally poorly soldered transistors!