Making a CNC Router - Part 1

This video is part 1 in a 4 part series on building a new CNC Router. This video covers the design and components that I have decided on using.
Link to the playlist with the rest of the build videos:
• TAOW's CNC Router Build
This has been a massive project for me, I started it over a year ago and it has taken the whole of lock down to get to this point. I hope you enjoy it!
Loads of people have asked for the CAD files. I was planning on releasing the finished CAD with the last video as I am regularly updating it as I make changes to the design but since so many people are asking here is a link to the unfinished CAD:
a360.co/3exLDRg
The design is not finished yet, still lots to add, and I'm not sure if the link will update as I update the design, but a final version will be included in the last video.
Intro: (0:00)
Why build a new machine?: (0:35)
The Design: (3:35)
CAD: (6:48)
Components: (7:55)
Cost breakdown: (10:18)
Please consider supporting me on Patreon for early access to videos and to help keep quality content like this coming: www.patreon.com/TheArtOfWeapo...
Check out my instagram for more updates: / theartofweapons
All music was used with permission from the creator and is royalty free.

[@rorydonaldson2794]

No apologies needed for a lack of 'building' in this video. I really enjoy all the detailed information in the design and seeing some CAD designs and such. I eagerly await the next episode in this series

[@gannonremington9167]

sorry to be so off topic but does anybody know of a tool to get back into an instagram account..? I was stupid forgot my password. I love any help you can give me.

[@rylandtrenton5919]

@Gannon Remington instablaster :)

[@gannonremington9167]

@Ryland Trenton I really appreciate your reply. I found the site through google and im in the hacking process atm. Seems to take quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@gannonremington9167]

@Ryland Trenton It worked and I now got access to my account again. Im so happy:D Thank you so much, you saved my account !

[@rylandtrenton5919]

@Gannon Remington you are welcome :D

[@d3rsch0rsch]

I´m blown away! Whenever i see videos from guys like you my mind switches from: "I´m a decent DIYer" to "I don´t know nothing at all!"

[@laser8389]

Seeing your shockingly amazing hand-drawn designs and then your handwriting on the budget sheet was, as someone with no room to criticize in the handwriting department, very funny. Oh yeah, and the design process was really cool.

[@xiridiano1]

Hi, I have been a professional cnc machinist in the USA for 37 years. And I have to say that you deisgn is the best I have seen in a long time. Thank for sharing your hard work. Blessing

[@WinstonMakes]

Always glad to see hobby machinists moving up in the world. Cheers, mate.

[@taow]

Cheers Winston! Glad you enjoyed

[@jjones503]

Mad respect to any man who works his way up from the basics.

[@jeffnc]

4:02 Man, your drawings are great!

[@petrichors]

Man, I'm really happy for you. Can't wait to see the new full build working. Cheers

[@Dapstart]

I've always loved your videos, and seeing how much you've grown as a creator makes me weirdly proud. I'm happy to have seen you go from making slingshots out of plastic bottle caps to making your own CNC machine. The pure audacity of this project makes it awesome :D

[@taow]

You might notice some of the really nice slow motion b-roll of my milling machine. Thanks to my recent Katana video doing pretty well I have finally been able to invest in a new camera for this channel! I bought a Panasonic G9, which has been my dream camera for a while, and should help to massively increase the quality of these videos. Check out more clips like those on my insagram: instagram.com/theartofweapons/ This has been a massive project for me, I started it over a year ago and it has taken the whole of lock down to get to this point. Part 2 is finally out! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJqXlIelgNlppJo I hope you enjoy it!

[@Rinke03]

Wow congrats!

[@fredio54]

I love my GH5 - good choice :-)

[@brandongaysr.4922]

I have watched you grow for years now. You are a very talented man. Although I am older than you and have 12 years of machine and metal working experience I still learn things from your videos. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Others can learn so much from you.

[@uspockdad6429]

Wow! Your video on building a home built forge. This is outstanding. Keep up the great work.

[@MrMinecrafter720]

I am so happy I've found this. Planning on building a cnc for under 1k, and I've just got to 4:26 and saw that you've built this for my budget, so I'm definetely gonna take inspiration from these.

[@markh2005]

Interesting! Im looking forward to seeing this built and running!

[@maxwelzig]

I am really looking forward to this series!

[@VagabondTE]

It's not just your building skills that have improved. Your video skills have had a major upgrade as well. Excellent work

[@jmsmith1767]

Looking forward to seeing the Cnc machine completed!

[@M4DHUSKY]

No apologies needed, great and proper prep. for this machine, i love it.

[@dalebardsley2675]

Congrats on the upgrade and undertaking such a build on your own, your braver than me 👍🏻

[@waynes517]

Incredibly interesting vide, even 2 years later. Thank you for uploading. Off to part2 :)

[@arjunrev9656]

I'm MTT graduate but have never applied that knowledge in my usual sector. You motivate me to revise my basic fundamentals skills. Thanks

[@oscarpeters5309]

Seems this uploaded faster than expected! great video as always

[@ShawnyDsMusic]

Wow man! Wonderful video dude. Looking forward to your videos.

[@2Sneaky4You]

Damn those paper designs are works of art!!!

[@jc8153]

TAOW: So I designed this with pencil and paper Me: He did not design with with pencil and paper TAOW: 4:29 *Shows his design with pencil and paper at* Me: The mad lad actually designed this with pencil and paper.

[@markyu70]

I had to use Solid Works :( I had no working pen around, hadn't write for years, so all pencils were bad.

[@graveurgraveur2691]

Great! Looking foward to your next video.

[@fierceflyer5]

Can’t wait for the rest of the series

[@taow]

Loads of people have asked for the CAD files. I was planning on releasing the finished CAD with the last video as I am regularly updating it as I make changes to the design but since so many people are asking here is a link to the unfinished CAD: a360.co/3exLDRg The design is not finished yet, still lots to add, and I'm not sure if the link will update as I update the design, but a final version will be included in the last video.

[@hams_718]

Very impressed by those drawings! Great job

[@pinkponyofprey1965]

Kewl! You're back and you have made progress! :D Great series ahead !!!

[@kalleyxx]

i remember watching your videos years ago, you hadnt even hit puberty lol. still knew you were brilliant, watching this just reaffirms my beliefs. good shit bro

[@taciolps]

I loved your project, congratulations.

[@MrManta2012]

I agree with you. The X-Carve is agreat machine to learn about CNC. The instructions are thorough and you can watch the videos to put it together. I bought some parts and made it do what I wanted it to do. now I want to built a nema 34 version. great videos.

[@ericbeckers2673]

I going to follow this build. Good luck!

[@ifell3]

Good to see you coming back with a good video set. Will be keeping a close eye on this one, sorry I didn't watch all the way through just got back from camping!

[@Artnovetor]

Projeto lindo demais parabéns 👏👏👏

[@taow]

Part 2 is finally out! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJqXlIelgNlppJo

[@jackparker365]

Great looking machine. I am building a near identical machine, all steel except for 25mm thick alloy Z axis plates. My gantry is steel also and I mounted my Y axis carriages both in front of the gantry more inline with the spindle. This way the gantry can run further back to make more use of the rear of the bed. And the spindle can still get to the front of the bed. Love your pencil drawings and cad design. I did one free hand sketch then the wrest is in my head lol I’m subscribing for sure 🤟

[@noxxious5.098]

BROO I used to watch all your slingshot videos back in the day made from HDPE and Aluminum You have come so far

[@jeremyvonk6853]

I am designing a similar cnc router. I can't wait to see how you assemble the tube steel frame. I have several questions about getting the frame square and level. I can't wait for the next installment!

[@dsaworxcarpentrysolutions9155]

Dude! Nice work 💯

[@janhbrenna4264]

Wow the pencil design was awsome. Im in the middel of a build with almost the excact parts, (except motors nema 24 closed loop, and Steel gantry) rest of the parts is the same. Cant wait too get it done. Good luck with rest of the build z looking forward too see how it preformes

[@littlehobbyshop]

Nice job! Looking forward to the next instalment. I'm looking at building a PrintNC myself at some point which is not hugely different to your design. My only stumbling block right now is how to achieve a flat surface on the box section for the rails. My thoughts right now are to use an aluminium spacer which will be easier to mill but still not quite sussed out how I'll do that in my garage yet so I'm looking forward to seeing how you do it.

[@woodbyalex7009]

Super cool progect I'm daing to see the next videos of the mashin

[@GRAHAMAUS]

Nice job -- I'm starting a similar design myself, hence watching what others have tried. My only comment is that the brackets that connect your ballscrew nuts to the travelling uprights seem a bit small -- the stiffness and strength of the Y-axis will depend on those. It'll be interesting to see how that works out.

[@GuruMuhendis]

Dude, this channel is so fucking underrated. I am glad that I have encountered with this great channel.

[@themechanic1788]

great job 👍👍👍

[@someotherdude]

Wow! There are sooo many guys out there doing similar things and with similar YT channels, but you really have that extra 'oomph', just the quality of design and build, choice of projects, presentation, everything. I hesitate to ask the obvious, but having looked in vain for part 2, 3 and 4.... well suffice it to say I'll be back looking for the rest. I know it will take a long while. Many guys are out there trying to build bigger CNC routers with more rigidity, but what you have done so far looks better in many ways. Have you considered the designs that stand the entire table on it's side, like a 'panel cutter' you might see in a lumber store? Huge space saver; that gets around a big problem with these machines. They take as much room as a full size pool table. I've never seen a break-action crossbow, but it makes perfect sense and yours is a beautiful execution of this idea.

[@highpointfurniture]

great work

[@magmadz8860]

keep going bro great job

[@sachinpnsachu1587]

Waiting for the next part

[@user-hw7ho1xg3y]

I'm Chinese. I like machinery. I was the first to comment on this video. Very happy. I hope to meet more friends here.

[@rando5673]

Hey man, I know this comment is 2 years old but I hope you read this and that you were able to make some friends :)

[@toddsmash]

Hey TAOW, Been watching your channel for several years now and its so encouraging and inspiring to see the progress you've made as an engineer (not sure if that's your line of study....I remember you referring to your "exams" a while back). You've come a huge distance and I'm really glad I found your channel. That internship was especially good to hear about. Keep up the good work mate. I look forward to your next upload.

[@andrzejasocha1495]

Great project 👍 I'm making my own machine and I know how mamy works it takes.

[@kylek29]

Excellent build drawings, will be following this. Do you happen to remember which manufacturer you bought the ballscrews and rails from? Aliexpress / China can be a hit or miss, so it's always good to know which sellers have decent hardware.

[@bucketbuster4077]

Hey @TAOW you already have those aluminium extrusion in MacMasters extension shop, in the insert tab. It will speed up your process of modeling components Btw, those sketches are sick mate. Great job

[@stewart9134]

Very nice drawings👍

[@jafo117]

Great story telling and content especially the budget constraint. Would love to see more drawing content and high level design thinking. If you're not doing this already, you can sell your cad and pencil drawings. Have you considered going with a masso g3 cnc controller? Great stuff again TAOW!

[@taow]

Cheers! Glad you enjoyed, I will make sure to include more design thinking in the future episodes of this build. I'll have a look at masso if it ever comes time to upgrade from Mach3 but for now its doing well for me.

[@debihsofiane3229]

Awesome

[@djmjr77]

Pretty cool, it looks like you designed the x axis so the spindle can access more of the work area by riding over the y rails slightly, or am I imaginging that?

[@vahpr]

Very nice! Just curious, how much time would you estimate you have in Fusion doing the drawing/design? Your hand drawings are true artwork!

[@perspectivex]

He tells you at 7:04

[@thanhnhanhuynhnguyen3652]

Great as always! Im also building a 1,6x1,8m, a bit different from your since i make the whole frame from Aluminum except the legs. May I ask which vendor did you get the extrusion from? I plan to order it from China but afraid it would not be so rigid. Great drawings by the way

[@Bobby11]

Already quite long? i enjoy your videos so the longer the better :)

[@wobblysauce]

Same.

[@sqwert654]

Nice. My own design is 80% done. All done on Fusion360 too lazy to do paper first ;) Iám going with the same router, but its holder will be symmetrical in an attempt to reduce chatter and control the forces on vector changes.

[@JackT9595]

Looks brilliant, I think educating savvas did a video where he cleaned those linear bearings and improved there performance. His channels great for CNC content of you haven't seen it.

[@1floggedhorse]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHupnJpnhZmigZY

[@PiefacePete46]

Great video thanks. Curious... when the time comes to move up from the NEMA 23's, will you go to NEMA 34's or are you thinking of exploring one of the closed-loop alternatives? Liked and subscribed.

[@TinyWorkshop]

Fill the steel tubing with epoxy granite.... it will make an HUGE difference in rigidity

[@jordyvranken6578]

if only i could do half of the things TAOW is capable of, id be a very happy man

[@heycarlo1]

Congrats on your internship, i dare say your cv was just a link to your YT channel!

[@madebyciro]

Amazing work. Would you consider making the CAD files available?

[@mendebil]

pros: compact design beefy spindle easily cuts steel cons: Low rigidity on x axis (ballscrew on opposite side of the load) Low rigidity on y axis (the plate sticking down will flex under lateral force) Low speed for its size (small lead drivescrew) Frame steel parts have very high margin of error so precision is random If you use a dial indicator to measure deflection under load (500 mili Newtons or less) I guarantee you will redesign the whole thing

[@shyowl3453]

seems similar to what im looking at doing shortly, building a cnc just is so much cheaper than buying one, yes it may not be as strong but you can upgrade over time rather than dumping 5-10k down the drain, I simply dont have that kinda money laying around so build it it is

[@tristanpatterson3843]

Verry nice, subbed. Are you going to make the plans available?

[@Mitokafander_Production]

You took the effort in making the distance of the spindle from the x gantry as short as possible. I'm thinking why not put the linear rails on the x gantry on top and/or below the X gantry instead of them being on the side? That way you would potentially reduce the distance further about one linear rail and block height. Or are there some forces in play that require the x gantry linear rails to be mounted this way specifically?

[@etch3130]

You should strongly consider using a real spindle, the palm router ones just aren't as longlived. Aliexpress has thousands of them will acceptable runout. Edit: You should also look into hand scraping the precision surfaces.

[@taow]

Yeah I'm going to probably upgrade once I've finished the mechanical build, just too expensive to buy it all at the moment!

[@tonywatson987]

Impressive project and a great way to hone your newly acquired skills. A thought... would it not be better to attach the leadscrews directly to the axis instead of the hangers that you currently have in plan? I'm thinking of the possible strain inducing flex which would not be good for accuracy/repeatability.

[@luisfrodriguez6641]

I think the same way... I've been designing a similar machine (hopefully someday I'll build it) and decided to go with direct coupling for this reason

[@grfnprjx]

Have you looked at OpenBuilds and some of their kit machines? how do you think it compares to what you've designed?

[@kowalskimichael]

The biggest issue I see...I think there is a reason why almost every “commercial” cnc puts the y axis mounted upside down or sideways. With your design, the y axis rails and ballscrews, everything is exposed to chips. It seems like a major design flaw. You could easily fix this. Otherwise it looks pretty cool!

[@kowalskimichael]

Also should probably get a Chinese watercooled spindle. They are cheap and really impressive compared to a standard $100 router

[@philohan95]

8:19 Im a bit skeptical about how you connect the Y ball bearings to the carriage. I think the long arm like that is going to be a significant bottle neck in tolerance. There will be a large torque on those arms. I think you'd want to have the screw and rails as close as possible.

[@rayly7291]

I agree, the design is skechy. But if he can achieve the needed tolerances while building this machine there is nothing wrong with an arm like that.

[@fociidannick]

My cnc was around £500 self built i used mach3 usb breakout board ad dm542 drivers, nema 23 motors run at 36v. The machine is made out of steel box as its dirt cheap and aluminium plate

[@idankk]

This machine deserves a better spindle than the DeWalt. Maybe design the Z axis so it'd be easy to put a water/air cooled spindle down the line?

[@CaseyHavenor]

Are you going to post the CAD drawings so others an build a machine as well? I'm in the middle of designing a CNC machine as well. :)

[@michaelmckenna9123]

Bro this is one sick build.. I love the look of it but I'm struggling with the electronics side of my build. I'm using 2020 Extrusions myself for now and mine is going to be roughly about 1000x1000mm as well. I was going to go for 1200 size but I bought an X Axis 1000mm so I've decided to hgo the smaller route which will hopeful;y give me about 8/900x8/900mm OF A WORKING AREA which for a 1st time build will be fine I think. Do u have a video or plans with a video that is up online where I can get the information for the electronics side of the build bcos how to work out power supply etc is doing my nut in bro.. LMAO.. I'm seriously struggling atm pal. Amy help u could give me would be so appreciated.. Keep up the brilliant work too my friend.. Salute from IRELAND

[@tinfoilhatsarethenewblack8788]

I am planning on building my first CNC. I got access to a water-jet in my university so i am planning on TIG-welding a frame using 3mm water-cut sheet metal. Originally i planned to use linear rails as well, but the cheap ones need a lot of readjustment and cleanup and I also don't want to spend a lot of money on expensive ones. Instead i thought of using 6206 Ball Bearings on 30mm steel-pipe as my linear rails, what do you think ? Is this possible ?

[@eylonemuskson4177]

@TAOW "Obviously the Chinese import rails and ball screws are gonna be very inferior" This shit still winds me up. - Chinese company makes cheap inferior product to appeal to those who can't afford expensive, highly processed products - Westerner buys cheap product from China because nowhere in the West makes anything similar, at such good value. - Westerner constantly complains about how "Chinese products are inferior" You paid less, for something that _IS_ less. And you then equate that to meaning Chinese products are crap? Stop being a cheapskate then and buy a better product. If everyone in the world only bought expensive, hand-maid products, then I guarantee Chinese producers would tool up quick and start producing things we can't afford, but are left in awe at. Stop equating your cheap choices; to being indicative of all that China can produce. THAT being said, the video is fantastic and your design is incredible. Thank you! :|

[@DeepRafterGaming]

Did you also cover the costs of screws, bearings etc somewhere. Because those things can get somewhat expensive as well..

[@evanovski]

Will you be making these plans available?

[@ChriFux]

any info, when pt2 is gonna come out?

[@PaulMillhouse7]

This is awesome. I will stay tuned for the other videos. Are you willing to provide your assembly? I can look you up on Fusion 360. I'm considering doing something similar in the near future. Instead of box sections I think I would use 80/20 extruded aluminum sections which would hopefully be accurate enough (and lighter than steel) as I would be building from scratch. Input appreciated however.

[@taow]

Cheers! Once I've finished the build I might share the final machine assembly for everyone to download, as it is at the moment there are far too many errors. You can definitely build a solid machine using aluminium extrusions but I think a steel frame is cheaper and easier for me, and will hopefully be more rigid (but obviously heavier).

[@PaulMillhouse7]

@@taow True that. Well if you have the place for it the base weight doesn't really matter if it doesn't matter do you :) I was just thinking about a way to avoid the machining operation.

[@nixie2462]

Looks nice, but the Z axis looks flimsy with just the plate to hold the motor so far ahead from the rail blocks.

[@taow]

Yeah I agree it looks like it could be a bit flimsy, I might add some more bracing after I've finished it

[@jeffdeluca1153]

where did you purchase the aluminum extrusions. 8020 and Misumi are super expensive piece by piece

[@jlssculpturedesign8140]

Hello ,enjoying your video .would you know if the Original WorkBee Z1+ CNC Machine 1500x1500 (work area) is worth it . I see alot of people modifying their machines . I say roughly this would cost just under £2000 with. Dewalt router ,mdf boards ,etc . Was thinking if best to get a cheap one with screw thread type instead of belt and extending it buying the rails etc. I can build the frames ,electrics not confident and software

[@kimpoindexter1481]

I am building my machine now. Is it possible to use a single 25mm ball screw on one side for the y axis? Thanks

[@johncherry7693]

I need that list I want to build one just like it

[@genericaccount9222]

Those drawings are so good they look lie cad printouts

[@user-gm7ub1yn2k]

謝謝！

[@janeqmx]

Hi. Where did you buy extrusion for X Please?

[@Z-add]

as a former engineering student we had a class where they taught us handwriting for engineering drawings. hours spend on learning to write ABCs and 123s. we had to draw and write everything by hand. no computers allowed.

[@ErtsenPlayGames]

If u want to make it stiffer and resistant to vibration just pour concrete with fibers and reinforcement steel rod inside the prophiles . It is common in professional cnc that cost few hundret $ but now mostly they use epoxy granite (epoxy resin with rocks sand etc the same mix like in concrete but epoxy repleace cement) becouse it harden super fast in comparsion to concrete

[@sqwert654]

I was looking into using carbon tubes instead of aluminium profiles

[@ErtsenPlayGames]

@@sqwert654 to expensive and dont work best. The best way to make super accuracy cnc is to use granite yes granite or epoxy granite. The best in the world cnc are made using epoxy granite for the base or if small using real granite. The best in the world lathe are made using granite and air bearings :) U can use granite on x and y ...it is so stiff that u dont need to wory about weight , only one place where it can bend is screews or mounting etc so it is possible to achieve 0.01mm accuracy (or better) with mirror like finish becouse of no vibration :)

[@genologic210]

dam the voice change you really grown up

[@commonsense3652]

looks similar to the PrintNC open source cnc machine.