CNC Router
A CNC router is a computerized woodworking machine - basically a router mounted on a positioning system. While it may also be able to handle other materials than wood depending on the bits you use, a proper CNC mill is more precise for machining parts out of metals and other non-wood materials.
There is also an interesting new approach of handheld CNC routing coming out which may remove the size constraints that come with any fixed-frame machine.
Uses
You can make furniture or even build a house. For more ideas, check out the CNC Milling Ideas.
WorkBee
| MachineInfoBox Ooznest WorkBee CNC | |
|---|---|
| |
| Synonyms: | DE: CNC-Fräse, Portalfräsmaschine |
| Material: | wood |
| Used with: | 1/4" (maybe also 1/8"?) end mills |
| Access Requirements: | CNC Router IntroductionSome use of "" in your query was not closed by a matching "". |
| Firmware: | grbl |
| Software: | LaserWeb, Fusion360 |
| Manual: | product page, click "documentation" tab |
| Tutors: | NitramLegov Pakue Johannes Luzian LeoSome use of "" in your query was not closed by a matching "". |
| Similar (More or Less): | router, CNC mill |
We built the 1500mm x 1500mm version of the WorkBee CNC, which is based on the Openbuilds OX. It can cut sheet material of up to 27mm thickness on a work area of approximately 1250mm x 1250mm.
Details on setting it up can be found in issue #8 - maybe you would like to help?
Router
The router mounted to it is a Dewalt D26200 (GB). It came with a 1/4 inch (6.35 mm) and 1/8 inch (3.175 mm) collar, this are the sizes you need to consider when buying your router bits.
As 1/4 inch bits are difficult to obtain in Germany, we also ordered 6 and 8 mm collars.
The collars of the DW613, DW620 and DW621 also fit the router and are easier to get in Germany.
G-Code Sender
After creating the tool paths in a suitable CAM software (e.g. Fusion 360) they need to be sent to the router in real time via the serial interface (USB). Here is a list of tested G-Code senders that work with our setup:
Tips & Tricks
- to avoid tear-out at the edge of a sensitive workpiece, it may be worthwhile to surround it with some sacrificial material (like MDF) before routing [1]
Spoiler board
Ooznest recommends a 6mm spoiler board, our first one is 20mm thick. It is mounted to the frame using 4 drop-in T-nuts. Cutting into the boards will make it uneven, from time to time it is neccessary to surface the spoiler board again.
Further Reading
Other spaces with (somewhat) similar machines and good approaches/documentation:
