Electronics, Software, Why?

I decided to start building a CNC machine. The primary reason is that a CNC machine is the ultimate tool when it comes to making one-off parts and prototypes. Sure I have a Dremel, but what if I had a Dremel controlled by a computer to make precise cuts all by itself? So after researching DIY CNC machines for the past year, I decided to start buying parts to play with. So I got a stepper motor controller off Ebay!

Ebay Special: 4axis CNC Stepper motor controller with TB6560 chips.

I got an old computer from my parents to install Ubuntu and EMC2. After playing with the settings in EMC2 I got it to work, no thanks to the Chinese manual. I also got 3 steppers off ebay.

Ubuntu, EMC2, 3 steppers, stepper controller and power supply.

Everything works great! Specs are:

• Software: EMC2
• Stepper controller: 4 Axis, TB6560, 2 amp per channel, ebay special
• Steppers: NEMA 23, 120 to 128 oz/in, 2A, 2.2V, 1.8 deg/step, FH6-1809 01
• Wires: ORG A, BRN A-, GRN B-, BLU B, BLK Common, WTH Common
• Power Supply: 36V, 9.7A