“Indeed, the world of web has quad trillion tons of information but when you want to build anything you need all the intricate little details. There are already a number of good DIYs, Tutorials and YouTube videos on the topic but I was unable to dive into the details needed to build this project. Hence after its completion I am posting everything that is required. I will try to keep this walk through very simple and basic so that even a reader from non technical background would be able to replicate this project.
What is it all About ?
The idea behind it is very simple, first we select an image or text (that we want our machine to draw on a piece of paper). Then it is converted into a machine code with the help of a software. It is then streamed from a computer to Arduino which in turn talks to the stepper motors and tells them how much to rotate their respective shafts so as to get the code again transformed into an image or text as the original file.
Why build this project ?
Whether you are a hobbyist or an enthusiast, you want to explore capabilities of this machine or just want to build it for fun, this project will teach you a lot of things. Also if you are planning to build Arduino based bigger, better and more precise CNC, then this project is worth considering as it covers some basic aspects like how CNCs work, how to convert images/ text to Gcode, stream Gcode, configure stepper motor driver, power management and more. However, for a serious CNC enthusiast there are many more things to be explored & that aren’t covered here intentionally to keep this instructable very basic and simple for everyone to understand. I will be posting few links where ever possible to encourage readers to dive even deeper into the subject. Although it’s not extremely necessary if you just want to grasp the basics.
Disclaimer:
I am not a CNC professional, this instructable is a result of knowledge gained from books, Internet and experimentations. All the experiments and activities presented here should be tried with caution, safety and at own risk. I shall not be responsible for any damages as a result of any activities contained within this instructable.”