Construction of a 3-axis CNC Router for didatic applications

Abstract

A CNC machine represents major advances for a technology institution, such as the practicality of manufacturing parts with complex geometries, faster production and the ability to assist in the application of research projects in other areas of knowledge, such as biomedicine. The machine will be provided with low-cost equipment, using free applications, instrumentation and control systems already used by teaching resources so that it will work in a multi-disciplinary way. A very common example of these machines is the CNC Router, similar to a CNC milling machine, but small in size, but which is capable of roughing parts such as wood, acrylic and low hardness metal parts, according to the power of the spindle. To move, it is normally carried out by three axes (X, Y and Z), through mechanical and controlled by a computer, using specific software, which generates a G-code based on a drawing of the part. Therefore, this project aims to develop a CNC Router machine, for didactic applications and which will also serve for future research on the topic covered, as an example allowing to study in detail the entire construction part, machine elements, such as also develop programs in the G-code language to manufacture parts, understand the functioning of the instrumentation, in addition to general training content, such as the study of rotational movement and advance speeds. To validate the tests, parts were measured using a Coordinate Measuring Machine CMM, which presented validated results in relation to the cost of the equipment and the software used.