Hello RU-vidrs.
This is my attempt at a mini cnc plotter made from 2 old computer dvd drives stepper motors. The pen mechanism is very primitive, but it shows that my cnc gizmo works.
I followed directions of Zahid Ahmed, at "ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0PmR_1dx77s.html", and used his arduino sketch, gctrl.pde, and gcode files that he linked from his video page. This page at Instructables "instructables.com/Mini-CNC-Plotter-Arduino-Based/", also helped a lot. I looked at many other cnc contributers before building, to better understand the stepper connections, testing, drivers, etc.
The hardware used is an Arduino Mega 2560, an L293D stepper motor control hat, and a cheap servo.
I got a pair of L293D hats for about $10 on Amz. It's cheaper from china, but I couldn't wait months for delivery.
Software used is Arduino 1.8, and Processing 3 gcode sender.
I also tried the other gcode sender - UGS, but that did not work with the Mega 2560.
The sequence is:
1. Connect cnc plotter and power to the L293 hat
2. Plug in Arduino board to pc
3. Turn on power to L293 hat (I used separate 5V power)
4. Open Arduino, and load cnc_code.ino code
5. Upload to mega
6. Open Processing 3, and load gctrl.pde code
7. Press "run" button in Processing 3 to connect to L293 hat
8. In the Processing 3 comms window - press "p" to id the port used by Arduino.
9. Manually set your steppers' sleds to the zero positions
10. Press "0" in the Proscessing comms window to set the zero of the L293 controller
11. Press "g" to load the gcode file
12. If everything is OK, printing will start.
I used Inkscape 1.0 for making gcode files, but the resulting gcode needed a lot of editing to work with this plotter. Basically Inkscape outputs milling code, which I had to tediously edit for only x,y, and servo operation.
I copied and pasted the relevant sections from the working examples provided by Zahid.
There are other options for converting drawings to gcode, but they seem to be more complicated than Inkscape.
Next step is to build a bigger machine using printer steppers, for mechanical or laser milling.
Happy making.....Thanks for watching.
29 ноя 2020
