My 'Initial' X-Carve Setup

After a few months of having the X-carve up and running, I have got some time to talk about my current setup and some recent upgrades.

Several years ago during my college years, I started out with the ambition of building a CNC machine from scratch; using MDF as the build materials, Makerslides as the liner rails, 1/4-20 threaded rods as the lead screws, NEMA17 stepper motors to drive the machine, and a Netduino running a custom CNC controller to control it. Once I got 2 of the three axis built, I realized how imprecise the machine was, and how little time I had to code, debug, and update a custom CNC controller. While this was a fun adventure, I wanted to get to making things and needed to speed up the process.


I had been following the shapeoko 1 and 2 and was in the process of purchasing the necessary parts when I heard rumors of a new machine being released by Inventables. The announcement of the X-Carve was exactly something I was looking for, and waited many months to get my parts, I started to put together my modified X-Carve. 

X-Carve Setup (4/1/2016)

Items used in this build: (purchasing through these affiliate links helps me to hack on)

CNC Z-Axis Tool Setting Touch Plate Probe Compatible With Mach3 and Other Router Mill

Raspberry Pi 2 Model B Project Board - 1GB RAM - 900 MHz Quad-Core CPU

JBtek 4 Channel DC 5V Relay Module for Arduino Raspberry Pi DSP AVR PIC ARM

DEWALT DWP611 1.25 HP Max Torque Variable Speed Compact Router with LED's

uxcell 5 Pcs 600V 15A 12 Positions 12P Dual Rows Covered Barrier Screw Terminal Block

For most of my journey, I followed the instructions laid out by Inventables. Here are the highlights of the parts that I went a little rogue with... 

Work Bench

• 48x48" Table
• MDF Top
• 2x4 construction
• Pull out drawer for electronics and computer

Pull out drawer for electronics and laptop

Mechanical 

• X Carve 1000mm (silver makerslides)
• Tapped with help of this 3D printed guide
• 3D printed spacers/supports in Y-Axis 
• Added 5 of these printed in ABS, spaced evenly along 1m piece
• Y-axis Guards
• 1/8" ply covers held with (2) t-slot inserts and M5x8mm bolts

1/8" plywood y-axis covers (view from front)

1/8" plywood y-axis covers (view from back)

• MDF waste board
• 30" x 30" x 0.75" thick (workable area - surfaced using 1/2" bit)
• threaded inserts every 6 inches
• ~24"x ~6" x 3/4" MDF pieces under waste board for supports

View of right side

View of left side

Electronics

• NEMA 17 Stepper motors (0.9 deg/step)
• Dewalt 611
• 3D printed dust shoe

3D Printed Dust Shoe (v3 1.5" hose)

• TinyG v8 Motion controller
• 3D printed holder for fan

TinyG v8 Board with Fan cooling

• Rasperry Pi 2 running JSON server to wirelessly control x-carve
• Relay controlled plug for vacuum and spindle control (on/off)
• Terminal blocks connecting motors to controller

Terminal blocks and relay controlled plug

• CNC Z-Axis Tool Touch Plate Probe 
• This thing is amazing. I highly recommend getting one! Just hook it up to the z-min end stop and you will have accurate z depths!

My Build Notes

• Want at least 12 foot cable for steppers
• Eccentric spacers are much easier to work with than the eccentric nuts
• Insert x-axis supports before installation
• Terminal blocks make moving/changing electronics easy
• Waste board size of cutting area makes sure entire thing is surfaced flat
• Relay controlled vacuum and spindle is awesome!
• Safety note: turn off power switch on spindle whenever changing bits!!

If you have any questions or would like more details, please add a comment and I will update the post accordingly!