$24.95
 25 x 25 Dual Leadscrew MachineA simple and solid machine that was designed to give the largest cutting area for the lowest cost. |
Simple parts
25 x 25 machine with stand.
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Construction
These plans were written for those who have a minimum of tools and only modest shop experience. The plans include detailed step by step directions with dimensioned drawings of all parts. Parts were designed to be straightforward to build. This machine is made of stock sized boards (1x4, 2x4, etc.) that are cut to length and drilled. A power miter or chop-saw will cut parts quickly and cleanly. Full scale templates of many components are included. These can be printed on standard 8-1/2" x 11" paper. The measures are in fractions of inches, not decimal inches, so carpenters' measuring tools will serve well. 
Machine is made of standard
sized lumber (1x4, 2x4, 1x6, 2x6). Cut layouts for the 1x4 and 2x4 boards are also included, so the stock can be cross-cut with a minimum of waste. |
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Building Cost
The cost for the All Thread version of this machine, not including the trim router and stepper-drive package is ~$300. This roughly breaks down as follows: Bearings ~$50 Pulleys and belt~$50 Home center components (wood, pipe, hardware)~$200 These are inch sized components. Stepper and drive packages start at $270. Trim routers start at $80. The cost of the leadscrews and leadnuts will range from less than $20 total with all axes using hardware store All Thread, to over $50 for each axis, when precision Acme is used. Directions for these options are included. The leadscrews can be changed after the machine is built. The machine can initially be built with All Thread, and later be upgraded as need and budget warrant. |
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Steppers and Speeds
NEMA 23 steppers move each axis. This is a standard size that is available in many stepper and drive packages. The prototype machines used the Xylotex and HobbyCNC steppers and drives with torque ranges from 269 to 425 oz.in. Other systems can be used. However, steppers below 250 oz.in. are not recommended. The speeds range from 30 inches per minute with 5/16-18 hardware store threaded rod, to 200+ ipm with multi-start Acme leadscrews. The machine uses a trim router. Its power is compatible with the wooden construction and the popular steppers and drives. |
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Options
The plans include directions for a stand, which is made of 1x4 boards.  The stand permits the machine to be swung down, and rolled away for storage. Also included are directions for a basic version of the machine that can be used alone with no table bed or stand. 
Basic CNC machine body.
This unit can sit directly on top of the stock, so it is capable of cutting any sized stock including floors. |
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Scaling
The machine has a cutting area of 25 x 25 x 6 inches, with a footprint of 33 x 38 inches. It was designed to be as inexpensive and simple as possible while using standard 36 inch leadscrews. These considerations limited the size, but the machine can be enlarged. However, the systems in this machine are not as robust as those in the 24x48 rack/leadscrew machine, which was designed to cut more aggressively. Units This machine uses USA home center parts; therefore, it is sized in imperial units. Here is a PDF page that lists the metric sizes of the home center parts. The page also includes a tool list. Table of Contents of the plans. (PDF) Notes and Corrections |
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These plans do not include directions
for the software and electronics because the suppliers cover this information for their own products.
These plans do give directions for deriving the Step per Inch values that are needed to configure the software for this machine. The machines were all designed to use NEMA 23 stepper and drive components such as those from Geckodrive, Xylotex and
HobbyCNC.
Mach3 and TurboCNC are popular controller software options. Other software and motor suppliers can be used. The above vendors work with the Do It Yourself market. They have help forums and documentation. |
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Compliments
Hi, Dave, For a living, I write "how to" assembly manuals for an electronics manufacturing company, so I can appreciate the amount of time and effort you have put into these plans. It's never easy to describe a process without unintentionally confusing the reader. These plans are excellently written, you sir have done a wonderful job. |
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Clicking the Buy Now button in the table below will forward you to PayPal via the downloading service.
You do not need a PayPal account to use a credit card with PayPal. The Digital Download page gives more information about downloading the plans. |
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The file size is
14,643 KB (14.6 MB) The plans are downloaded as one PDF. The file name is 25x25_13x13_plans.pdf |
$24.95
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25x25 Plan
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The 13x13, 25x25 and 24x48 digitally delivered as
one PDF. |
The file size is 25,275 KB (25.3 MB) The file name is 24x48_25x25_13x13_plans.pdf |
$34.95
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Three Plans
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All five plans, digitally delivered as one PDF. |
The size is 32,351 KB (32.4 MB) The file name is 5_plans.pdf |
$39.95
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Five Plans
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