International Journal of Applied Engineering Research ISSN 0973-4562 Volume 12, Number 17 (2017) pp.

6553-6558
© Research India Publications. http://www.ripublication.com

Implementation 3-Axis CNC Router for Small Scale Industry

R.Ginting1, S. Hadiyoso 2 and S.Aulia3

1,2,3
Telkom Applied Science School, Telkom University, Indonesia.

2
Orcid: 0000-0002- 2086-2156

Abstract embedded algorithms with the aim of producing high

performance CNC machines with low cost has been widely
This paper discusses the design and realization of complex 3-
practiced. Research about realization of low cost CNC
axis CNC machines based on microcontroller which combined
machine by Jayachandraiah [3], discusses the development of
with spindle drill. This machine can be used for Cutting,
a low cost 3-Axis CNC router. This research [3] is main
Engraving and Marking on wood, acrylic and PCB objects.
literature review on hardware dan mechanic design. Research
Design picture that have been made on the PC sent to the
by Paulo [1], realizes a 3 axis CNC machine as well as a
microcontroller using serial communication then CNC
LabVIEW-based application program as an instruction giver.
perform execution on object according to point coordinates.
The paper does not specifically specify the use of the CNC
Drill spindles will create patterns on objects automatically
machine. Other realization of CNC machine by Ali [4],
according to the design drawings. After testing, the CNC
present a controlling system for CNC machines to mill and
machine can be used for cutting, engraving and marking on
drill PCB board also performed by [5-7]. Object of PCB result
wood, acrylic and PCB to 2D or 3D objects with 98.5% of
of milling and drill and detail of test result not shown in paper.
carving accuracy and 100% of depth accuracy. This machine
Research on the development of algorithms for CNC machine
works on a object with maximum size of 20 x 20 cm.
control by Desai [8], in his paper discussed the development
Keyword: CNC, Microcontroller, Cutting, Engraving, of algorithms for interpreters and interpolators and then tested
Marking on CNC machines for linear as well as circular interpolation.
Other fundamental research by Awari [9], conducted a study
for the Selecting parts for low cost CNC milling machines that
INTRODUCTION
can be used in Small Scale Industry. The realization of CNC
Working with automatic mechanical equipment demands machines by Pawar [10] to draw objects. The main purpose of
precise, accuracy, speed, consistency and flexibility. In this this work is to make efficient, reduce errors, and also increase
case it takes the help of embedded computer applications to the accuracy of the production. However in that paper has not
do the job. One of the mechanical equipment combined with been discussed in detail these parameters.
microcomputer that has been widely used is a CNC machine
From the review of the studies described above can be
(Computer Numerically Controlled). CNC machines are used
concluded that research on CNC both hardware manufacture
for mechanical work such as cutting, engraving, drilling and
and algorithm development is active in order to produce a
others. The computer technology used to control, parse and
good performance CNC machine but still at a low cost.
execute [1] certain objects based on user command. In the
Therefore in this paper is discussed a design of cheap 3-axis
manufacturing industry, the use of CNC machines greatly
router CNC machine based on microcomputer as its main
affects the increased production [2][3].
control. In this CNC machine mounted spindle drill that can
In Indonesia, CNC machines have not been developed so that move automatically by stepper motor. This CNC router
they are imported directly from other country. This has an machine can be used as a tool to form 3-dimensional objects
impact on the industry that is difficult to develop because the such as cutting, engraving, marking on wooden, acrylic and
price of CNC machines still expensive. The challenge is how PCB objects. This paper also discussed in detail the results of
to make CNC machines with good performance but low cost testing the CNC performance parameters.
so that it can contribute to the acceleration of domestic
manufacture industry.
RESEARCH METHOD
CNC machines are popular and widely used in the industry is
The first step in the operation of CNC machine was
a CNC that can form objects on acrylic, glass, wood and plate,
calibrating the tool, it was aimed to know whether the stepper
mostly using laser, knife, or drill as cutting media. Research
motor and any other system were working according to the
on the manufacture of CNC machines and fundamentals of
program that has been configured. Followed by setting the

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© Research India Publications. http://www.ripublication.com

UGC / Arduino IDE / board formed as

Image Design CNC Machine
Xloader software designed

Figure 1: Block diagram of CNC machine design

starting position of the spindle drill on the CNC machine according to the design. The whole system block diagram that
using Universal Gcode Sender software both automatically has been designed is shown in Figure 1.
and manually by hand spinning. Spindle drill speed can be set
up to a maximum speed of 12000 rpm (rotation per minute).
After the CNC machine is calibrated, the design with the Mechanical Design :
*.gcode extension format was uploaded using Universal The main tools in mechanical design consist of multiplex
Gcode Sender to Arduino Uno with serial communication. board, stepper motor, linear bearing, ball bearing, linear shaft,
The microcontroller will read the data as a command and leadcrew and nut, coupling beam, power supply and spindle
provide logic to the A4988 motor driver. The data received by drill. Figure 2 is a 3D design of CNC machine made using
the motor driver was used to drive 3 Nema 17 X, Y and Z axis AutoCad software.
stepper motors, so that a pattern will be formed on the object

stepper
motor
spindle drill
Z
section place
for the object
formation
Y
X
Figure 2: CNC machine viewed from top left corner

Electronic Design:

Image
Hardware Scheme of CNC

Serial data

PC Motor
X Axis

Motor Motor Spindle

Driver Y Axis Drill

Motor
Z Axis

Figure 3: Block diagram of electronic design of CNC machine based on microcontroller with some supporting softwares

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© Research India Publications. http://www.ripublication.com

The electronic system used on microcontroller based CNC Arduino Uno cooler to avoid overheating that could damage
machine was the power supply which used as a voltage source the component. 48V 10A power supply was used as a voltage
on personal computers and CNC machine. Personal computer source for spindle drill, the voltage that goes into the spindle
was used as a device to run some software such as Xloader, drill was set using a motor controller. The 3 Nema 17 stepper
Universal Gcode Sender, and Arduino IDE, also to send motors will move the spindle drill in the direction of the X, Y
design file to Arduino Uno microcontroller using serial and Z axes, so that the object can be formed in the wood
communication. 12V 10A power supply was used as a voltage board according to the design. Display of microcontroller
source for A4988 driver motor to run the 3 Nema 17 stepper based CNC machine that has been built can be seen in Figure
motors which controlled by Arduino Uno microcontroller, and 4.
12V fan voltage source was used as a driver motor and

(a) (b) (c) (d)

Figure 4: CNC machine display. (a)Front view (b)Back view (c)Corner right view (d)Top view

(a) (b) (c)

Figure 5: (a)Image design. (b)Cutting process. (c) Cutting result.

(a) (b) (c) (d)

Figure 6: (a)Image design. (b)Engraving process. (c)Engraving result. (d)Engraving result.

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© Research India Publications. http://www.ripublication.com

The followings are the specification of microcontroller based system was tested on a wood with 20mm thickness, using
CNC machine that has been built: 3mm vbit 600 and endmill drill bit, 12000 rpm spindle speed
and 1mm and 0.5mm marking depth. Image design using
Dimension (XYZ) : 33,5x31x44cm
Vetric Aspire 8.5 software, sample design using writing
Cross sectional area : 26x26cm
combined with carving pattern. In addition to wood, the
Workspace area : 20x20cm
marking also tested on a PCB to create the electronic circuit as
Material : Multiplex board 12mm
shown in Figure 7.
Spindle drill : Air cooled 500 Watt
Stepper motor : Nema 17 12V 1,7A
Driving system : Leadscrew 8mm
Controller : Arduino Unomikrokontroller
ATMega328p
Driving motor : IC A4988polulu
Function : cutting, engraving,and marking
Supply : 220V /50-60Hz (a) (b)
Interface : USB port
Figure 7. (a) Marking result on wood board. (b) Marking
Software : Universal Gcode Sender, Xloader
result on PCB.
and Arduino IDE

3.4 Accuracy Test

The accuracy test was conducted to determine the level of
RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
precision of CNC machine in making shape. This test input
To be able to test the CNC machine in doing cutting,
was a 6 lines design with 50mm length, which will be formed
engraving and marking into the wood board, the first step that
on a wood with 1mm depth. using 3mm vbit600 drill bit,with
must be prepared was making the design form. Then prepare
12000 rpm spindle speed.
the wood board in size of the design form and then clip above
the CNC machine cross section so it won’t change position
during the workmanship. Upload the design using Universal
Table 1: Accuracy Test
Gcode Sender software into the Arduino using serial
communication. Line No Design Measurement Result Accuracy (%)
1 50 mm 50,5 mm 99%

Cutting System Test 2 50 mm 51 mm 98%

Cutting is a technique for cutting wood using a drill bit with a 3 50 mm 50,5 mm 99%
shape according to the design. The cutting system was tested 4 50 mm 50,5 mm 99%
on a wood with 20mm thickness, using 3mm endmill drill bit,
5 50 mm 51 mm 98%
12000 rpm spindle speed and 20mm cutting depth. Image
design using Vetric Aspire 8.5 software, design example is a 6 50 mm 51 mm 98%
square shape with 6x6cm width. Cutting test process can be
seen in Figure 5.

EngravingSystem Test
Engraving is a technique of carving on wooden material
surface with different depths, so images or letters can be
recognized. The engraving system was tested on a wood with
20mm thickness, using 3mm vbit 600 drill bit, 12000 rpm
spindle speed and 7mm engraving depth. Image design using
Vetric Aspire 8.5 software, design examples using writing
combined with engraving pattern. Engraving test process can
Figure 8.Accuracy Measurement
be seen in Figure 6.

Marking System Test From testing result on Table 1, it was obtained a test result in
Marking is a technique of carving on material surface with the a form of 6 lines with 50,75mm length in average and 98.5%
same thin depths. Usually marking was used to put a mark or accuracy level.
a brand on a metal or a non metal material. The marking

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© Research India Publications. http://www.ripublication.com

Depth Measurement Table 3: Speed Test

The measurement was conducted to determine the level of
precision on the depth of CNC machine when working. No Design Time (s)
Testing in Figure 8 was creating 7 lines each of which has
5cm length and 2mm depth using a 3mm endmill drill bit with 1 Line 7,1
a spindle speed of 12000 rpm. 2 Circle 10,9

Table 2: Depth measurement 3 Triangle 10,5

Line No Depth in design Measurement Result 4 Square 12,2

1 2mm 2mm 5 Rectangle 13,4

6 Pentagon 13,5
2 2mm 2mm
7 Hexagon 13,6
3 2mm 2mm
8 Heptagon 13,7

4 2mm 2mm 9 Octagon 15,2

10 Nine facet 15,4

5 2mm 2mm

6 2mm 2mm Table 3 shows that there is a time variation for the engraving
process on a wide range of 10cm length2D shapes. From the
7 2mm 2mm 10 tests in Table 3, it can be deduced that the more angles in
the formation of the object will slow down the work process,
because the X, Y and Z axes on CNC machine move more
Table 2, shows that the line carving produced by the CNC simultaneously resulting in slower movement of the axis.
machine with 2mm depth has a precision accuracy of 100%.

CONCLUSION
The CNC router machine was successfully built using
ATmega328p and IC4988 microcontrollers combined with 3
Nema 17 stepper motors, with 20x20cm cross-sectional area
and using 500 Watt Spindle Air Cooled drill type.The CNC
machine can be used for cutting, engraving and marking on
wood to form 2D or 3D objects with 98.5% carving accuracy
and 100% depth accuracy. The process of synchronizing the 3
stepper motors was controlled using GRBL library and
Universal Gcode Sender Software.

REFERENCES
[1] Paulo, Rogério, and Maria., 2010, “Prototype CNC
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