Can I convert a 3D Printer into a CNC?

Can I convert a 3D Printer into a CNC?
Well yes, I did and this is the video. I turn an old Prusa i3 into a budget CNC with a spindle kindly donated by Banggood.
It's not a bad little machine for the cost and will cut wood, plastics, arcylric and even just about handle aluminium (with issues)
Note the following are affiliate links and I get a small percentage of the sale which helps support the channel.
The spindle from Banggood:
www.banggood.c...
Use this code for a 15% discount! BGMotor003
3mm carbide tool from Banggood:
www.banggood.c...
The CNC board from Banggood:
www.banggood.c...
Use this code for a 20% off discount! BGboard001
Good carpet tape from Amazon:
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Awesome Gorilla Tape from Amazon:
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Some of Banggood's awesome tools:
www.banggood.c...
Check out my blog for other projects like this
thewoodgineer.com
A big list of some of the tools and bits I use can be found here:
thewoodgineer....
If you’re a KZbinr, an awesome tool worth looking at is TubeBuddy!
Please try it out and if you like it remember to use my affiliate link: www.Tubebuddy....
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Thanks all!

[@TheWoodgineer]

Be sure to check out some of the awesome stuff Banggood do, especially if you're a maker and tinkerer! www.banggood.com/custlink/3GvvT8rgFp

[@biowaste179]

the reason why it cut the aluminum weird was because the tool was not tight enough in the collet and it slowly climbed its way out. also you moved the tool counter clockwise around the geometry which is called conventional milling. the machine would have a much easier time cutting if you cut clockwise around the geometry (climb milling). also a better surface finish.

[@biowaste179]

another thing to consider is your feed per tooth. there is a way to calculate feed rates for optimal cutting. its an equation that uses rpm, tool size, and number of effective teeth. if you get that correctly, it will run pristine. i gurantee it

[@TheWoodgineer]

Some good tips thanks! I’ve learned a lot since I made this abomination so much so that I’ve graduated to a bigger 1m x 1m workbee but the same principles still apply :)

[@TheGrantAlexander]

You said a lot of words I didn't understand, but you have a cute cat so I kept watching.

[@TheWoodgineer]

She saves many of my videos ;)

[@RossPotts]

@6:41. LOL! The bandages and red marker though…

[@LutherBuilds]

I was thinking if this were possible so I hopped onto KZbin and your video was the first one that popped up. I'm glad that it's somewhat possible, but my assumptions were spot on when it comes to the bed and Gantry being robust enough for 3d carving. Also my guess is that the sawdust wouldn't be good for all the exposed motors and electronics.

[@TheWoodgineer]

I think with the right time, materials and design it could work much much better - but for not that much money you can pick up a little 1419 CNC that will work much much better. I've got a few on my channel for the 1419 and its a great little machine but the 3040 machines out there would be even cheaper. The dust clogging up stuff is definitely a problem but you could seal it a few things with covers etc. If you do give it a try please do let me know and I'll check it out!

[@AndyCPugh]

This will make a good instructable!

[@TheWoodgineer]

On my to do list! :)

[@aayushsapra3982]

i think some inkscape extensions can be used, I use one to generate gcode for plotting / drawing with 3d printer

[@TheWoodgineer]

Yup I've used them before for a plotting machine, could have done it here but completely forgot at the time :D

[@danielguimaraesscatigno4236]

This video is so fun to watch that definitely deserves a thumbs up!!

[@TheWoodgineer]

Thank you so much!!

[@NomasterCreations]

Nice to see it come together. I know you were working on it for a while.

[@caroljames9026]

I wanted to do this to mine after watching your video sadly my skills are far insufficient...Guess I'll have to Shell out some bucks for one. Thanks for making this video it is very helpful in many ways!

[@TheWoodgineer]

Are you joking - my skills are less than useless :D Give it a go, you could probably do a better job than me :)

[@DeanMakes]

The flex in your GTSM ( gorilla tape spindle mount ( you should totally market that 😉) ) was no where near as bad as my old X carve 😅, looks great, it's crazy what's possible.

[@TheWoodgineer]

Kickstarter coming soon! ;)

[@Create2make]

Great video Chris, nice to see the woodgineer back again. It great to try and repurpose an already existing tool.

[@TheWoodgineer]

Thanks bud - it was either this or scrap it for parts :)

[@nunukula]

Thank you for this video! Was thinking about doing the same thing. Your honest and hilarious way of showing your gained knowledge, kept me from spending time on an endless project! Like your cat btw. :)

[@TheWoodgineer]

You can do it! :D

[@nunukula]

@@TheWoodgineer if I ever run out of projects...probably won't happen 😅

[@TheWoodgineer]

@@nunukula 😂

[@alanlewis586]

i think what happened with the aluminium was that it got to hot and a piece stuck in the bit. And also not every aluminium is ok to machine. Some can be really crap and just fringe out at the edges of the cut.

[@TheWoodgineer]

You might be right. I’ve got a new cnc now and it struggled with this stuff yet cut another piece perfectly

[@spendtimesavemoneydiy]

Great to see you making videos again! That cat is evil! Great video 👍🏼

[@MyNguyen-hz1gn]

Thank you. You save me so much time. Time is money.

[@TheWoodgineer]

Glad to help

[@TimberWood.Customs]

U don’t have to change the board, I used a 3D printer board to make my cnc

[@TheWoodgineer]

Yes but you are probably more skilled, while I’m an untalented and impatient hack 😂

[@TimberWood.Customs]

@@TheWoodgineer haha

[@daniellindholm]

I liked the video just because of the smile at 4:00

[@TheWoodgineer]

😄

[@reyalPRON]

Pretty sure your "variable speed controller" is a rheostat sir. The lineshift was due to belt slippage.

[@TheWoodgineer]

You may be right!

[@reyalPRON]

@@TheWoodgineer i believe so😇 a vsc and a rheostat are similar in effect but one is digital and the other is analog🍻

[@NomadMakes]

Great video mate! Steps pr inch... SI units FTW :D

[@JaraFPV]

And here I was thinking .. Ehhh I'll just buy the motor and 3d print a mount and look for firmware this and that .. Then I saw your video. I think I'll just have to buy a dedicated cheap CNC router machine 😂

[@TheWoodgineer]

It would be easier! :) (though perhaps not as much fun)

[@tomcroft3737]

Great video, just picked up one of those spindles from bangood myself and intend to turn an old tevo tarantula into a CNC, wish me luck :)

[@TheWoodgineer]

Oooh they have a little more rigidity so might perform a tiny bit better. Would be nice to see your results when done! :)

[@tomcroft3737]

@@TheWoodgineer just finished the conversion yesterday, I printed a 10mm adapter so I can properly mount the aluminium block to the original printer mounting plate. So far it's just engraved some acrylic which worked out great. Ill try to upload a video of it running or something :)

[@HighCaliberCraftsman]

Great job! Very interesting.

[@TheWoodgineer]

Thanks :)

[@OfficialNetDevil]

What about adding a webcam in place of the extruder to make a 3D scanner?

[@TheWoodgineer]

That’s not a bad idea but there are better rotary 3D scanners out there cheap. Check out the cyclops it’s open source and you can buy kits cheap :)

[@ManCrafting]

Technically a 3D printer is a CNC. So is a laser. So is a Cricut vinyl cutter. 😉. But I get what you’re saying.

[@TheWoodgineer]

I know, was trying to keep it simple :)

[@ManCrafting]

The Woodgineer titles are always a challenge to keep short. I think the deflection in the table made the Aluminium flex down when the bit hit down.

[@poweredBYGDKDIYengineering]

i thought nobody could have more tabs opened than my gf, i guess i was wrong

[@TheWoodgineer]

Little known fact - when you have more than 99 tabs open on chrome mobile it no longer tells you how many tabs you have open but just shows a smiley face :)

[@matthewframe1435]

Other then that good operation

[@TheWoodgineer]

Thanks :D

[@basvanempel3567]

How did you wire the powersuply to an outlet?

[@XDIY]

Well done!

[@TheWoodgineer]

Thanks :)

[@matthewframe1435]

You used a wood buffer for the tool head

[@TheWoodgineer]

:D

[@matthewframe1435]

Tape mother.fing tape use mounts

[@TheWoodgineer]

Sorry - I've seen tape used before but I've made some mounts now for my little CNC.

[@reforgedcriterion1471]

Duct tape didn't hold.. Ramps board has got to go!!!! haha at least you're honest about your capabilities.

[@TheWoodgineer]

I like to tell a story, even if it’s a story about my failures 😂

[@SmellyCatCreations]

lol from now on all videos have to include the kitty please

[@TheWoodgineer]

Sorry for the late reply! YES WILL TRY! :D

[@SmellyCatCreations]

@@TheWoodgineer good man