Author Archive

Up Cut vs. Down Cut Router bits

Whether you have a normal router, or a cnc router, you’ll still need to choose which bits to use in order to cut your material. There are many types of router bits, but most of them can be put into one of two categories. Up cut bits and down cut bits.

How to cut line art with CNC machines

Generating G-Code for line art is a simple process that can be perfected with a little practice and the appropriate software. CNC machines are spectacular for cutting line art, whether you are doing a one-off piece or mass production. Line art can mean anything from actual line art, to simple mechanical components that can be […]

Selecting the material for your CNC machine

CNC machines can be built out of a variety of materials. If you’re going to build a CNC machine, it’s up to you to choose the best material to do it with. One of the main things that will determine the best type of material to build your CNC machine with is what you’re going […]

The difference between a mill and a router

Three axis CNC machines generally fall into two separate categories. Some CNC machines are routers while others are mills. These two types of CNC machines are for very different purposes, and as a result of that, are designed and built differently. For this article, the term ‘router’ is referring to the type of CNC machine, […]

Spindle vs. Router

Hobby CNC machines typically use either a spindle or a router. While these two devices appear similar, they each have distinctly different characteristics.

Vectric’s Cut3D Reviewed in Detail

Before using a CNC machine to mill out a piece of artwork or a machine part, you’ll need to have a valid set of G-code instructions to feed your CNC machine. Many people use CNC machines to mill pieces of art that are generated with CAD packages such as Autodesk 3ds Max, or Maya. Unfortunately, […]

Best hobby CNC control software

You can have a CNC controller be as simple as a parallel port from your computer, or as complicated as a dedicated synchronized multi-axis board. But no matter what you choose, you’ll need some sort of software to control it. This article will show you the more popular options to actually control your CNC machine […]

Cheap CNC Motion Control

After you have your motors and motor drivers ready to go, you’ll need to have a way to actually control the motion of your motors. CNC motion controller may seem like a simple problem, but the fact that your motors will need to run in a highly coordinated fashion along with the fact that that […]

Choosing the Right Stepper Motor Driver

Choosing the right driver for you stepper motor is important because it will allow you to get the maximum amount of performance out of your motor. There a few types of drivers available, each with their own characteristics.

Choosing the Right Stepper Motor

Choosing an appropriate stepper motor for your CNC project is important. If you choose a motor that is too small, you may experience very slow maximum speeds and torques, and even missed pulses. On the other hand, if you choose a motor which is too big, it may require a powerful and expensive power supply […]