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Design and Analysis Mini CNC Plotter Machine 1
Design and Analysis Mini CNC Plotter Machine 1
Submitted by
1. Saikat Mondal 2. Rohit Roy
3. Purnendu Mondal
of
June 2024
Swami Vivekananda Institute of Science & Technology
Affiliated to
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology
CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL
The foregoing project report entitled “Design & Analysis of Mini CNC Plotter” is hereby
approved as a creditable study of an engineering subject carried out and presented in a manner
satisfactory to warrant its acceptance as a prerequisite for the degree for which it has been
submitted. It is understood that by this approval the undersigned don’t necessarily endorse or
approve any statement made, opinion expressed or conclusion drawn therein, but approve the
report only for the purpose for which it is submitted.
1……………………………………………..
2……………………………………………..
3……………………………………………..
i
FORWARD
We hereby forward the project report entitled “Design & Analysis of Mini CNC
Plotter” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of
Technology in Mechanical Engineering.
The project report has been prepared under my guidance at Swami Vivekananda
Institute of Science & Technology, Dakshin Gobindapur, Kolkata- 700145.
_____________________________________
_____________________________________ _____________________________________
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We, hereby, take the opportunity to express our profound gratitude to our guide Dr. Suman Das,
Department of Mechanical Engineering, SVIST, Sonarpur, for their active supervision, resourceful
guidance, constant encouragement, fruitful criticism throughout the course of this investigation
without which it would not have been possible to submit the project report in time.
We would also like to express our thanks to Dr. Suman Das, H.O.D of Mechanical Engineering
Department and all faculty and staff members of this Department of Swami Vivekananda Institute
of Science & Technology, Sonarpur for their invaluable suggestions, encouragements and
technical help.
Finally, we want to express our deep sense of regard to our parents and our family members for
their constant inspiration during the course of this work.
Saikat Mondal
(Roll No 24100720008)
Rohit Roy
(Roll No 24100720012)
Purnendu Mondal
(Roll No 24100720013)
___________________________________________________________________________________
iii
PREFACE
In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, the intersection of hardware and software
continues to redefine the boundaries of innovation. The realm of computer numerical control
(CNC) machining stands at the forefront of this evolution, offering unparalleled precision and
efficiency in manufacturing and prototyping processes.
The project you hold in your hands represents a culmination of our endeavor to explore and
elucidate the intricate world of CNC technology, specifically focusing on the design and analysis
of a Mini-CNC Plotter.
Our journey into the realm of Mini-CNC Plotters began with a curiosity-driven exploration of their
capabilities and potential applications. As we delved deeper, we uncovered a rich tapestry of
concepts spanning mechanical engineering, electronics, computer science, and beyond. Through
meticulous research, prototyping, and iterative refinement, we endeavored to distill this
complexity into a comprehensive guide that serves as both a learning resource and a practical
handbook for enthusiasts, hobbyists, and professionals alike.
Furthermore, we delve into the intricacies of software development for CNC control, demystifying
the algorithms and protocols that facilitate precise motion control and path generation. Through
practical examples and hands-on tutorials, we empower readers to harness the full potential of their
Mini-CNC Plotters, unleashing a world of creative possibilities in digital fabrication and design.
We invite you to embark on this journey with us, as we unravel the mysteries of Mini-CNC Plotter
design and analysis, and chart a course towards a future where imagination knows no bounds.
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INDEX
______________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 1: 2-5
1.1 Introduction
1.1 Objectives
Chapter 2: 6-10
2.1 Literature Review
2.2 History of CNC
2.3 The most famous CNC Machines
2.3.1 CNC Milling
2.3.2 CNC Lathe
2.3.3 CNC Routers
2.3.4 CNC Plasma Cutter
2.3.5 CNC Electric Discharge Machine
Chapter 3: 11-19
3.1 Methodology Used
3.2 Main Components of mini-CNC Plotter
3.3 Interface
3.4 Sketching Unit
3.5 Sub-system of CNC Plotter Machine
3.5.1 Mechanical System Design
3.5.2 Electronics System & Wiring
3.5.3 Computer & Software Tools
Chapter 4: 20-22
4.1 Experimental Design
4.2 Calibration
Table 1
Chapter 5: 23-25
5.1 Results and Discussion
Chapter 6: 26-29
6.1 Future scope of work
6.2 Conclusion
References 30
Appendices 31
Design and Analysis Mini CNC Plotter Machine
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CHAPTER 1
2
1.1 INTRODUCTION
CNC is a mini computer is used to control the machine tool functions from stored in information or
punched tape input or computer terminal output. CNC can be used to perform the principal functions
as machine tool control, in process compensation ,improve programming and operating function. The
world has become a high technology with a lot of things becoming smaller and thinner. The fast-
growing development of technology and manufacturing, Industrial requirement such as good and high
precision quality has helped in developing the CNC machine plotter all of those can be achieved
through machines that can be controlled by computers such as Computer Numerical Control (CNC)
machine. To implement CNC plotter machine, several concepts must be understood such as:
understanding fundamentals, Machine Mechanical design, CNC machine hardware, software
developing, test each one of three axis stepper motors and connecting CNC Machine with the software
tools and test it, Figure 1 bellow shows the steps that has been used to implement this project. Three
axes of CNC plotter machine can do movement starting with three primary axes which are X, Y and
Z axis. The Z axis is being paralleled with the X-axis (Micheal W. Mattson, 2010). Figure 1 shows
the steps to implement this paper must be understood fundamental of the plotter machine, Machine
design by solidwork software, implementation Machine hardware and wiring connection,
Development software, test each one of three axes stepper motors, finally connect machine with Easel
software tools and test Machine.
1.2 OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this project are to design the CNC Plotter Machine and to develop open source
software and hardware to control it.
The objectives of the project "Design and Analysis of Mini-CNC Plotter" are as follows:
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- To develop the electronic control system, including stepper motors, drivers, and a microcontroller, ensuring
seamless coordination between hardware and software.
2. Software Integration:
- To implement or customize firmware (such as GRBL) that effectively manages the Mini-CNC Plotter's
operations.
- To develop or adapt software for generating and processing G-code, enabling the plotter to accurately follow
designed toolpaths.
- To ensure compatibility between the plotter’s control system and commonly used CAD/CAM software.
5. Cost Efficiency:
- To design the Mini-CNC Plotter with cost-effective components, making it affordable for hobbyists,
educators, and small businesses.
- To explore ways to minimize production costs without compromising on quality and performance.
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7. Innovation and Future Research:
- To identify potential areas for innovation, such as integrating advanced features like automated tool changing
or adaptive plotting.
- To lay the groundwork for future research and development in the field of compact CNC machines,
contributing to ongoing advancements in digital fabrication technology.
By achieving these objectives, the project aims to create a versatile and reliable Mini-CNC Plotter that serves
as a valuable tool for both educational purposes and practical applications in various industries.
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.
CHAPTER 2
6
2.1 LITERATURE REVIEW
In this section, a brief summary of the research carried out by various authors on CNC plotter
machines is mentioned.
[3] Rahul Somalwar2, Namesh A. Kale3, Ashish J Nandeshwar4 and Antariksh V 2020 “Short
paper on CNC PCB milling machine”. The goal of the research paper is to reduce the cost of
CNC machines and meet the growing needs of large-scale industries in minor applications. This
research gave an idea on how to develop, assess, and install a low-cost CNC-based PCB milling
machine that can be employed in small firms.
[4] Aneeta Pinhiero, Beljo Jose, Tinsemon Chacko, Nazim TN 2016 “Wireless CNC reseach
paper Plotter” The goal of this research paper is to develop a small three-axis CNC plotter
machine. This research paper gave the clarity about the concept of a wireless CNC plotter that
can be used for PCB layout and drilling.
[5] M. Bhavani, V. Jerome, P. Lenin Raja, B. Vignesh, 2019 “Design and Implementation of
CNC Router”. The objective of this article is to develop and build a CNC plotter machine-based
router machine for wood engraving. This research gave an idea about the design and fabrication
of a mini–CNC Plotter Machine that can be used for engraving.
[6] Tim Von Hahn and Chris K. Mechefske, 2022 “Machine Learning in CNC Machining”.
The goal of this research paper is to discuss the implement machine learning in manufacturing
process of CNC machine and the difficulty in building an algorithm for the CNC machine
operation. This research paper gives us the view about the challenges and best practices that
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will enable the efficiency use of ML in CNC operation.
The idea of numerical control began when the automation of machine tools originally incorporated specific
concepts of programmable logic. In the beginning, the first machines were constructed in the 1940s. But more
advanced machines came along in the 1950s. These new NC machines were built based on existing tools that
were modified with motors designed to move machine's controls. These first mechanisms were soon improved
with both analog and digital computers.
After World War II, specifically in 1949, John Parsons found methods to improve aircraft by creating
stiffened skins for them. This led to important Air Force research projects, which conducted at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). After the research phases, an experimental milling machine
was designed at MIT. Professor J.F. Reintjes with his team of researchers were involved in this project.
In the 1960s and 1970, a very familiar form of a CNC machine started taking shape. Digital technology
then entered the fray, and automation in production processes became more efficient than ever.
A CNC milling is a machine process that uses computerized controls and rotating multi-point cutting tools to
progressively remove material from the workpiece or cut different materials such as metal, plastic, glass, and
wood, and produce a custom designed part or product.
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2.3.2 CNC Lathes
CNC lathe is a CNC machine that used to cut workpieces as they are turned. CNC lathe can make exact cuts
rapidly by utilizing different apparatuses (see Figure 2). The result is a beautifully finished product so that these
machines are very successful in the exactness they offer contrasted with manual lathe. They are used by many
industries to include automotive, electronics, aerospace, firearm manufacturing, sporting, and much more
A CNC router is very similar in concept to a CNC milling machine. It is a computer-controlled cutting machine
related to the hand-held router used for cutting various hard materials, such as wood, composites, aluminium,
steel, plastics, glass, and foams. CNC routers (shown in Figure 3) can perform the tasks of many carpentry shop
machines such as the panel saw, the spindle moulder, and the boring machine. They can also cut mortises and
tenons. CNC router diminish waste and increment efficiency, creating different things in a considerably shorter
measure of time than utilizing different machines.
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2.3.4 CNC Plasma Cutters
A CNC plasma system is a machine that carries a plasma torch, and can move that torch in a path directed by
a computer. The procedure of plasma cutting includes the cutting of a material utilizing a plasma burn. This
strategy is most ordinarily used to cut overwhelming materials, for example, steel and different types of metal.
CNC plasma cutter is shown in Figure 4.
Electric discharge machining, or EDM for short (see Figure 5), includes making a particular shape inside a
specific material by utilizing electrical releases, or starts. The material is expelled from a particular workpiece
by a progression of repeating electrical releases between two anodes. These anodes are isolated by a dielectric
liquid, which regularly gets an electric voltage.
Fig. 5: EDM
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CHAPTER 3
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3.1 METHODOLOGY USED
3.3 Interface
Interface Unit contains many components that help in programming and interfacing the input device into the
sketching unit. These components include:
1. Two Stepper Motors
4. CNC v3 shield
5. Arduino Uno R3
Sketching Unit is the output unit and it comprises a drawing pen or pencil and will be controlled by the three
motors.
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3.5 Subsystem of CNC Plotter Machine
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3.5.2 Electronics system and wiring
This section will discuss the electronic parts and wiring which is needed for designing and building
our CNC plotter machine. So, the main electronic component required are one Arduino UNO R3, one
CNC V3 Shield with A4988 Driver Module with Heatsink for Arduino, stepper motors, D.C.
power supply, pen holder, some wires and USB to serial adapter.
Stepper Motor
A stepper motor is a brushless DC electric motor that divides a full rotation into a number of equal steps (see
Figure 9). Stepper Motors represent the heart of CNC plotter. Two stepper motors are used for x and y axis for
precise control over drawing pen (sketching unit) for object sketching. They have important role such that they
control the size and type of speed, accuracy, CNC router precision etc.
The axis of CNC machine (x, y & z) is based on the right hand coordinate system (rotation is counter clockwise
about the axis of rotation as shown in Figure 10).
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Stepper Driver
Stepper motor drivers (as shown in Figure 11) are specifically designed to drive stepper motors, which are
capable of continuous rotation with precise position control, even without a feedback system. They offer
adjustable current control and multiple step resolutions, and they feature built-in translators that allow a stepper
motor to be controlled with simple step and direction inputs. In this project we use two drivers for the two
stepper motors.
Servo Motor
Servo motor controls the up and down movement of drawing pen in z axis direction It controlled by sending an
electrical pulse of variable width, or Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) and this can be achieved using the
microcontroller. It determines the position of the shaft, through the control wire, which represent the z axis.
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CNC Shield
CNC shield V3.0 can be used as drive expansion board for engraving CNC machine. It has 4 slots in the board
for stepper motor drive modules that can drive 4 stepper motors. Each stepper motor need two IO port only,
that is to say, 6 IO ports can quite well to manage three stepper motors as shown in Figure 13. It is very
convenient to use with the microcontroller (Arduino) such that it is placed above the Arduino.
Arduino
Arduino Microcontroller (Here Arduino Uno is used as shown in Figure 14) controls the position of the
stepper motors with the help of program instructions. This microcontroller is an open source platform based
on both hardware and software that very easy to use. It has 14 digital and 6 analog input/output pins that can
incorporate into various expansion boards.
Arduino programs are written in C++ programming language with a compiler that produces binary machine
code.
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Circuit and Wiring
The wiring of the various components of electronics system is represented in the Fig. 16 shown below. The
microcontroller of Arduino board is connected to the computer system through the USB serial port. The Stepper
Motors of three axes (X, Y and Z) are connected with CNC shield driver board as Figures 9 and 10 shown
above. D.C. Power supply is provided for all the components of electronics system.
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3.5.3 Computer and software tools
Arduino IDE
"The open-source Arduino Software (IDE) makes it easy to write code and upload it to the
board"(https://www.arduino.cc). It is simplified C/C++ functions language- based programming can
be download functionality with a rich set of library functions. After download and install on pc can
be write the program by C language and from tools and port must be choose the port connection
between computer and Arduino through USB. After this step can be verify the program by error
checkingand the message is done compiling when it finished and no error. After this step can be
upload the program on the Arduino. Figure 17 shows Arduino software IDE.
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Easel software
To make the CNC plotter machine plote and write needing a software tools to design the graphs and
then convert this graph to G-code because CNC machineoperate and understanding G language, this
tools can be achieved by easel software tools, this software must be setting material dimensions X is
235 mm, Y is 215 mm, Z is 1 mm and set Bit to 0.15 mm because Z axis is pen. Throughthis software
can be set positions of X, Y and Z axes, also can be control on thespeed of CNC machine mm/min
from feed rate. Figure 18. showing the toolsof easel software.
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CHAPTER 4
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4.1 CALIBRATION
After finishing the complete build-up of the machine, it is necessary to calibrate themovement of the axes.
Stepper motor calculations equation is:
Test code for stepper motor is used where steps per revolution is 200 steps were allowed for the motor
to move. On running the code, it is found that the motor is travelling 40 mm which is indicating that
the stepper motor takes 5 steps to cover 1mm. This is calibration for both X and Y axes.
4- Open new project and setting material dimension as X=235mm, Y=215mm and Z=1mm.
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Table 1. Shows the technical specification of plotter machine where:
Plotting Area: the total travel in X and Y axes.
End Mill: represents the tool geometry (as in cutting machines).
Material dimensions: the length, width and thickness of the work. It should be noted that Easel software acts
as it's a cutting process, so all dimensions and End Mill (tool diameter which is pen width) need to be entered.
Feed rate: Machine (Motors) speed.
Angle rotation: an option to rotate the project.
Time of simulate: total machining time which can be calculated by dividing feed rate on tool path length.
Table 1.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
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CHAPTER 5
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5.1 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
After the testing and calibration, a plotter machine was ready to operate. The plotter machine is
implemented and manufactured as planned, therefore it can plot and write,this plotter machine starts
to collect data from programming that is derived from computer aided design (CAD) and computer
aided manufacturing (CAM). The programs produce the computer file and will then extract the
command to run the device. The program will be transferred via Arduino and then loaded into the
plotter machine to start machining. After calibration and testing, the plotter machine was fully
functional ready to work. Fig. 19 shows the plotter machine after implementation with minimum cost.
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Plotting of Geometric shapes: Fig.21 show geometric shape has been plotted byplotter machine.
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(a)
(b)
Fig 21. Comparison of geometric shape (a) original shape (b) plotted shape.
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CHAPTER 6
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6.1 Future Scope of Work:
The future scope of work for this project encompasses several potential areas for further
research, development, and application. Here are some key directions that could be pursued:
- Higher Resolution Components: Explore the use of higher resolution stepper motors and
more precise linear motion systems to achieve finer plotting details.
- Automated Tool Changing: Design and implement an automated tool changing system to
allow for multi-tool operations without manual intervention.
- Cloud-Based Control and Monitoring: Develop cloud-based solutions for remote control
and monitoring of the plotter, enabling users to manage operations from anywhere.
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5. Integration with Other Technologies:
- Hybrid Machines: Explore the integration of the Mini-CNC Plotter with other digital
fabrication technologies such as 3D printing, laser cutting, and engraving to create
multifunctional devices.
- IoT Connectivity: Implement Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity for enhanced data
collection, monitoring, and integration with other smart devices.
- Interactive Learning Platforms: Create interactive online platforms that provide tutorials,
simulations, and collaborative projects for learners at different levels.
- Customization for Specific Industries: Customize the design and functionality of the plotter
for specific industry needs, such as textiles, electronics, or biomedical fields.
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components to extend the lifespan of the plotter under various operating conditions.
- Redundant Systems for Reliability: Implement redundant systems and fail-safes to increase
the reliability and uptime of the plotter, particularly in critical applications.
- User Community Engagement: Build and engage with a community of users and
developers to gather feedback, share experiences, and collaboratively solve challenges.
6.2 Conclusions:
In this paper, we used the concept of a low-cost plotter machine, which is easily controlled by
the computer and suddenly stopped and paused by clicking on the computer. This small
machine can be easily transported and assembled everywhere as required. The board size of
this device is 40X40 cm. Stepper Motor will run on this standard for board size. If we have an
increase in the size or length of the lead coil, it will be free to make the large size of the design
on paper.
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References:
1) Espalin, D., Muse, D. W., MacDonald, E., & Wicker, R. B. (2014). 3D Printing
multifunctionality: structures with electronics. The International Journal of Advanced
Manufacturing Technology, 72(5-8), 963-978.
2) Hashim, N. S. (2012). Design of mini machine (Doctoral dissertation, UMP).
3) Jayachandraiah, B., Krishna, O. V., Khan, P. A., & Reddy, R. A. (2014). Fabrication of Low
Cost 3-Axis Router. International Journal of Engineering Science Invention, 3(6), 01-10.
4) Tunc, B. (2015). BUILDING A HOMEMADE 3D PRINTER. Matter, 2(1), 211-214.
5) Wei, Q. (2013). Design and analysis of a small-scale cost-effective milling machine.
6) Mattson, M. (2009). programming: principles and applications. Cengage Learning.
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intelligent—a review of the technologies. Computers in Industry, 57(2), 141-152.
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spindle. International Journal of Machine Tools and Manufacture, 47(6), 1003-1010.
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Cost-Effective Mini CNC Plotter; International Journal of Computer Applications (0975 –
8887), vol 178 - no 48.
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Appendices:
List of figures:
Fig. 1: CNC Milling 8
Fig.5: EDM 10
List of tables:
Table 1 22
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