CNC Router Plans and Projects

It can be handy to move the axes by hand rather than by jogging, especially during job preparation. A variety of knobs on the axes make this easier.

Control knobs work well with some steppers. Knobs with a 1/4 inch bore and a set screw are easily attached to the stepper's shaft.

Knobs similar to these old style volume knobs are available from Radio Shack.

A disk that is cut with a hole saw makes a serviceable knob; simple CNC cut knobs also work well.

The g-codes for the knobs are linked at the bottom of this page.

As shown on the right, the center hole of a knob can be drilled larger so it will fit tightly over the hub of a pulley.

A slot cut in the knob can be clamped shut with a screw and nut as shown next. The screw head and nut can be recessed in the knob.

These two "cookie" knobs use the same g-code. The top one was cut with a 1/4 inch round end bit, and the lower one was cut with a 1/4 inch a straight bit.

The center hole that is bored with the CNC work is slightly over 1/4 inch in diameter. It can be enlarged to the desired size with a drill.

These knobs are ~5/8 inch thick, but the g-code is for 3/4 inch stock. An initial roughing pass removes excess stock.

The final CNC pass leaves tabs that connect the knobs to the stock. The tabs can be cut with a knife or chisel after the job is completed.

This knob is cut with nine identical passes. A tenth pass leaves tabs that connect the knob to the stock. A center hole is marked but not bored.

The g-code is for 3/4 inch stock with Z zero at the top of the stock. X zero, Y zero is the lower left hand corner.

Thinner stock can be used, and the first few passes will cut air. Take care that Z zero is 3/4 inch above the table bed or the bit will cut deeply into the bed. The bottom of the cut is −0.8 inch.

The description for this knob with a link to its g-code is at the bottom of the Hold Down page.

The knob was designed to be cut quickly with horizontal roughing cuts, no parallel passes. Because of this, it is not highly finished, but it only takes a few minutes to carve.

The codes have been simplified to only use G01 moves. All arc and circular motion is broken into short line segments. This is done so the codes can be used with basic controller software.

These short segments will cut more smoothly with constant contour activated. (G64 in Mach)