PrintNCMini - first cuts and some making-of impressions

Just finished my PrintNCMini.
Footprint is 500x500mm.
Dual carriages on all axes. All printable parts were replaced by aluminum.
Closed loop steppers with grblhal2000 board.
80mm 1,5kw spindle.
12mm Aluminum baseboard.
www.printncmini.com
#printnc #printncmini

[@josefseibl2932]

Thank you, very inspiring. I am in the process of planning a printnc mini myself. Your videos gave me the final shove to decide for a mini

[@mikko3d]

Great looking build! I hope you make more videos about it. I'm planning a pretty similar printnc mini.

[@texasbowhunter2509]

Beautiful Job...You can be PROUD of that one...

[@legionarms563]

is this ready? went to the site, its like it was abandoned.. details on this?

[@VTeslaV]

What are the steel cutting capabilities of the machine? I really like that the normal PrintNC is capable of it. I'm debating if I want to build the mini or not, I think the mini would be a better fit for me but the belt drive makes me a bit hesitant..

[@intelligenceservices]

what's left to do on the PrintNC Mini design? it looks rather straight forward.

[@okinawajapan1]

Fantastic! Well done. Great little version of the PNC!

[@Boblebe]

Great, Tanks for sharing the progect.

[@mikes1330]

would you consider sharing a BOM of your build? (btw I just bought the design file...)

[@SebastianMusser]

I recommend adjusting the cad parameters according to your length / width / …. and then just generate the BOM directly from fusion.

[@BuildItAnyway]

you have made great progress. Congratulations!

[@andresperezmerino9864]

@SebastianMusser It's wonderful to see how he works and cuts aluminum well. I would like to know if you could tell me the total measurements of the machine in X and Y. I searched for information on this issue, but on the project website there was no information on this version, Mini

[@SebastianMusser]

Hi! The frame is exactly 500mm x 500mm (outer dimensions). The cable chain adds another 80mm to the right side.

[@andresperezmerino9864]

@@SebastianMusser ¡¡¡Thanks for the quick response!!! I found a local supplier, with square tubes measuring 70x70x6 = €13.45 On the eje X I have a little margin, but on the eje Y I have limitations. With some 500mm tubes, what is the area that has fallen you? What husillos do you use? SFU1605? What are the measurements of the straps? Sorry for the interrogation

[@knightrider6478]

Helo, nice build. Can you please provide the specs for steel tubing, length for linear rails, ball screw and stepper motor used? Thank you !

[@SebastianMusser]

Hi, just check www.printncmini.com ! You can download the cad assembly there.

[@shrimpinpat]

I want to make my own CNC but the thing don't understand is for different passes how do I change the tool without losing positioning relative to my piece? Ive not used a CNC since like 07 in high school shop class

[@flyingmonkey3822]

Go try some slicing software like fusion 360 hobby version or Linux CNC. When you slice you can add these details in to the Gcode. If you zero the machine, and then start work at x=30 mm y=40mm and work over a surface that extends to x=50mm y=60mm then the number of steps to go from zero to the work are made by stepping. Having accurate repeatable end stops are part of the process, but you can also use a conductive touch probe that gauges z height AND probes the work piece

[@shrimpinpat]

@@flyingmonkey3822 I have some familiarity with fusion as I've made a few basic projecrs like hooks and boxes for things. If I send via like GRBL on an Arduino all should work the same? Thanks

[@flyingmonkey3822]

@@shrimpinpat yes, so if you’re slicing and the software starts with a down flute, then goes to a v bit, you’re going to stop at the end of the first job, go to zero, change the tool, rezero, and then start the second job. I don’t have a workflow that includes CNC myself, but that’s the idea. You should start with pen plotters if checking your gcode

[@shrimpinpat]

@@flyingmonkey3822 Do you think stops on my axis is beneficial to help with homing? The one im building doesn't use them but i could manage to add them i think. Thanks for the reply! Exited to get building!

[@flyingmonkey3822]

@@shrimpinpat yes, and the clickey stops are accurate to 1 mil which is surprisingly accurate. But the contact stops are even more so, and can be any two conductive materials. There are more styles like the capacitive stops, and IR stops… but they’re not as good. There’s a video floating around YT that compares them. You don’t need stops on both ends if your software supports “soft stops” which just defines a max number of steps it’ll go but … yeah

[@arbjful]

What type of end mill are you using at 4:37? I am trying to get rounded corners on my parts

[@SebastianMusser]

That’s a 6mm 45degree chamfering bit.

[@gac231]

Nice results!

[@GoldenTV3]

What is the z travel height?

[@SebastianMusser]

I think 140mm, BUT the z clearance (distance between baseboard and z plate) is 80mm.

[@juangutierrez974]

Is there a complete BOM for this? Where could I buy the tapped steel frame? (EU based). Thanks.

[@SebastianMusser]

Hi! checkout the printnc wiki or visit us in our discord server. Unfortunately you cannot buy a tapped steel frame - its a do-it-yourself project :)

[@CO2_laser]

hello, Where can I get the files for assembling such a machine? Thanks in advance

[@SebastianMusser]

Hello dejan! check www.printncmini.com or wiki.printnc.info/en/home

[@marcusschleicher]

Tolle Fräse, danke für das Video! Ich stelle mir auch gerade ein PrintNC zusammen, hat es einen Grund das Du einen Riemenantrieb vom Stepper zu Kugelspindel benützt? Wie sind die Dimensionen deiner Vierkantrohre? Ich habe 80x60x3 gewählt, ist das genug für einen 750x1000mm Arbeitsbereich?

[@SebastianMusser]

Servus Marcus. Das Video zeigt eine printncMINI, keine "normale" printnc. Meine Stahlprofile haben 50x50mm, fuer die grosse Printnc ist 80x50 Standard... deine 80x60 sind daher vollkommen in Ordnung. Die kleine cnc wurde konzipiert um moeglichst platzsparend zu sein, daher sitzen die Stepper auch in den Rohren (und somit brauchst du auch einen Riementrieb).

[@marcusschleicher]

@@SebastianMusser Danke!

[@xyzspec82]

Looking good 👌🏻🤓

[@MP-mu1kw]

Do you have the drawing files of the parts you have milled in aluminium to replace the 3dp parts?

[@SebastianMusser]

I do have fusion360 files

[@thedude6650]

Hey Seb, what grease do you recommend using on the linear bearings and the ballscrews?

[@SebastianMusser]

Hey dude, I use some standard white lithium grease !

[@micultimy91]

love it!

[@Faysalariss]

Looks good, would you mind telling me how much you spent to make it? I'm looking to do something similar but smaller(200x200mm) and want to see about how much I am looking to spend, thanks.

[@SebastianMusser]

Hey Faysal. I started about 12 months ago and everything together was maybe around 1000€.

[@Faysalariss]

@@SebastianMusser Thank you

[@NJUSAWEST]

Are you saying something about price ? And where you are? Thanks👍👍👍

[@SebastianMusser]

Everything together probably close to 1000. I am in the US.

[@NJUSAWEST]

One more thing, what comings whit machine? Im sorry if my inglish not correct.this is not my country.

[@NJUSAWEST]

If you live close, i can be there.

[@SebastianMusser]

@@NJUSAWEST you build the machine yourself.

[@NJUSAWEST]

@SebastianMusser would the electronics part be a part of the package, like the computer or the programs, or would i need to get the program myself?

[@mikeblenkin982]

You plan on selling the aluminum parts? Ship to Canada?

[@SebastianMusser]

No I don’t. But you can start with printed parts and then cut aluminum parts with it :)

[@mikeblenkin982]

Yep was gonna 3D print most of them then replace with aluminum. The aluminum Z plates is what I was thinking….

[@mikeblenkin982]

Did you do any milling on the steel tubing?

[@SylvesterOziomek]

Hidden motors look very nice and neat but that might lead to overheating and lowering life span. Personally I wouldn't hide them inside but since you already did I'd put some holes there to let the heat escape

[@SebastianMusser]

They don’t get hot at all. Checked that several times :)

[@SylvesterOziomek]

@@SebastianMusser ok then

[@nerviantone]

This is very cool.

[@MP-mu1kw]

Hey Seb, thank you so much for sharing this video. It is truly inspiring for folks who just want a small cnc that works. What is the thickness of the aluminium base you are drilling the holes into and did you face the surface or did you manage to find one that was already machined flat? Keep up the great work.

[@SebastianMusser]

Hey, thx for that! The baseplate is 1/2“ thick and I did not face it. It seemed pretty flat to me. BUT if I had to do it again, I would get a baseplate that is NOT bigger than the working area of my machine. If I would have surfaced my plate, i had ended up with a sink/ a dip in the middle.

[@MP-mu1kw]

@@SebastianMusser Thank you for your reply. I suppose having a bigger aluminium base than the work area would be beneficial if the entire frame is directly screwed onto the base. I think that would give the machine extra rigidity and even reduce the harmonic vibrations. I am not any expert but just learned a few things watching hundreds of cnc builds on YT.

[@SebastianMusser]

@@MP-mu1kw sure. Mass always helps.

[@MP-mu1kw]

@@SebastianMusser Curious to find out if it is necessary to use 2x linear blocks per rail on the y-axis. The x-axis steel tubing is screwed on top of one block instead of being positioned say in the middle.

[@georgbonn6367]

Gratulation, so weit will ich auch kommen ;-)

[@erel9763]

Hi, die Maschine sieht ziemlich stabil aus und beim Alu-fräsen hast Du keine Kühlung verwendet. Wenn möglich, könntest Du bitte die verwendeten Parameter hier bekannt geben? Danke im voraus. VG, Ercan

[@SebastianMusser]

Hi Ercan, Ich hab den gcode mit Fusion360 erstellt. Das Bohren der 5mm Loecher war eine "peck drilling" operation (0.25mm peck depth, 0.7mm chip breaking distance). Das Gewindefräsen war dann einfach eine normale "thread" operation mit einem 4.8mm Gewindefräser von Aliexpress.

[@blickblark]

Great job! What is the available cutting size?

[@SebastianMusser]

Ca 270x270mm!

[@ronsone8373]

Did you source all the hardware yourself?

[@SebastianMusser]

Yes I did.

[@ronsone8373]

@@SebastianMusser this would be my first cnc build did a lot of printers though... Thinking about buying those plans

[@SebastianMusser]

@@ronsone8373 you definitely should join the discord :)

[@andriosz]

Looks great 👍

[@LoLeinTroll]

Welche Bearbeitungsfläche hat die kleine denn ? Grüße

[@SebastianMusser]

Ca 260x260mm. Double carriages auf Allen Achsen kostet bisschen Travel. Mit single carriage sollte es ca. 310x310 sein.

[@theorangebaron1595]

Beautiful machine, would love to build one, how much would a build like this cost! Spending time to build a machine like this would be a dream for me.

[@SebastianMusser]

I think you can build it for less than 1000$. Check www.PrintncMini.com

[@joeygonzo]

@@SebastianMusser it's only a plan ?

[@SebastianMusser]

@@joeygonzo it will be released soon. But yes it’s a plan to build it on your own. There will be hardware kits available

[@imqqmi]

Very nice build! The thick alu tooling plate is great, much better than mdf! I have it on my 1500x700x200mm machine as well, incl. Tapped holes.

[@iniqy]

@@SebastianMusser is it still being updated a lot?

[@8BitLife69]

Wait, did you just tap all those holes WITH the CNC??? What kind of sorcery is that?!

[@samuelt321]

Threadmilling

[@8BitLife69]

@@samuelt321 Down the rabbit hole I go! Thanks! Awesome work!

[@SebastianMusser]

:).

[@alextrezvy6889]

Can this machine process steel?

[@SebastianMusser]

Yes, i cut steel with it.

[@alextrezvy6889]

@@SebastianMusser Great! Thanx for sharing! Your experience helps to overcome fear and uncertainty.

[@hikari005]

What capacity spindle you using?

[@SebastianMusser]

It’s a 1.5kw 80mm ER16 spindle.

[@fabog3732]

Which controller board are you using ? And nema 17 or 23 for motors ?

[@SebastianMusser]

I use the flexihal controller and nema17 closed loop steppers.

[@fabog3732]

How do you like the flexihal controller

[@electronicpresentationEP3D]

How much did this cost in USD

[@SebastianMusser]

Everything, including the controller and electronics enclosure was close to 1.5k usd. But I bought most of the parts in Germany and 2 years ago, so it might be more expensive now

[@electronicpresentationEP3D]

@@SebastianMussernot bad for what you got out of it

[@just_bright]

i just cant get past ordering the parts. Its so complicated

[@stylerxxl1]

Schönes Teil ! 🙂

[@ernestomendoza1973]

Bueno

[@tken93]

Surface quality and chatter seems worse on this than the normal PrintNC

[@SebastianMusser]

All cuts In this video are done by the big PrintNC which wasn’t dialed in 100%. So you cannot tell anything about the PrintNCmini from that

[@tken93]

@@SebastianMusser Then why does the video title say "PrintNCMini"

[@taizon08fks74]

vendemela 😢

[@maxomationmotorparts]

too fast

[@IvanGOrtolan]

More like UnprintNC

[@JarppaGuru]

hobbyist. feed is faster than rapid xD. if your rapid feed would be atleast same speed as you cut it would be faster operation lol

[@SebastianMusser]

Speeds are the same. That is one of the limitations of the fusion360 hobby license.