CNC-3018Pro cheap CNC milling machine

Introduction

Aim to do graving and milling PCB boards.

Maximum size of the material: 300 x 180 x 50 mm³.

Cutters

The supplied engraving cutters are a really bad choice.

Vinyl

Drag Knife

• Blade holder for
• Graphtec Vinyl Cutter Plotter CB09 Klingenhalter 15 Stk. 45° Klingen
• Blade Holder Summa Vinyl Cutter Blades For Summa Blades Vinyl Cutter
• 5x30°+5x45°+5x60° CB09 Klingenhalter Plottermesser Für Graphtec Schneideplotter

Heat Transfer Vinyl (Wärmeübertragung Vinyl HTV)

Application Instructions (HOME IRON):

1. Set iron dial between Wool and Cotton
2. Cover design with cover sheet (Teflon Sheet)
3. Place on a flat, hard surface (ironing board not recommended)
4. Press iron with medium/firm pressure (do not slide iron)
5. Press each section of the design for 10-15 seconds, apply design at 305 °F
6. If area of design lift after application, apply cover sheet and repress for 10-15 seconds
7. Peel carrier cold
8. Cover completed design and press for 5-10 seconds

Software

Software for controlling the machine (3axis)

• CH340SER
• Grblcontrol(Candle_1.1.7 ) is used to send the command to the CNC mill using premade G Code.
  • https://github.com/gnea/grbl
  • https://github.com/Denvi/Candle
  • https://cncphilosophy.com/candle-grbl-software-tutorial/
• Baud rate: 11500

G Code

• https://jscut.org/jscut.html#
  • Works only with closed paths; thus use Stroke to path to generate closed loop.

• Inkscape Gcodetools
  • The default origin is the lower left corner of the image. Set the origin (orientation points) into a suitable place
  • Check the origin at the Candle!

• Inkscape GCodePlot

• CadToCNC

• Online
  • GCode creator https://sameer.github.io/svg2gcode/ and github at https://github.com/sameer/svg2gcode
  • Gcode viewer https://ncviewer.com/

• Python
  • svg-to-gcode 1.5.4

• Carbide Create

Svg to STL and to GCode

• https://svg2stl.com/
• https://anyconv.com/svg-to-stl-converter/

GCode short tutorial

Simple svg file with two closed paths

Some commands

• G21 Metric system
• G90 Absolute mode. All movements are relative to a fixed zero or machine home location.
• G1 Linear interpolation. Move in a straight line to a specific location. The speed is the feed rate (F).
• G3 Circle: The target coordinates at the end of the movement. I, J – The arc’s center point coordinates relative to the starting coordinates.

• M2 End of code.
• M3 Spindle on clockwise.
• M4 Spindle on counterclockwise.

Generated by JsCUT

Problem; No open paths. Could be fixed by manipulating the gcode afterwards.

G21         ; Set units to mm
G90         ; Absolute positioning
G1 Z2.54 F2540      ; Move to clearance level

; Operation:    0
; Name:         
; Type:         Inside

; Path 0
; Rapid to initial position
G1 X40.8960 Y-24.8468 F2540
G1 Z0.0000
; plunge
G1 Z-3.1750 F127
; cut
G1 X40.8051 Y-24.9034 F1016
G1 X40.6768 Y-24.9809
. . .
G1 X40.8960 Y-24.8468
; Retract
G1 Z2.5400 F2540

;
; Operation:    1
; Cut Depth:    3.175
; Rapid to initial position
G1 X16.9248 Y-11.6624 F2540
G1 Z0.0000
; plunge
G1 Z-3.1750 F127
; cut
G1 X16.9581 Y-11.6253 F1016
. . .
G1 X16.9248 Y-11.6624
; Retract
G1 Z2.5400 F2540
M2

Generated by svg2gcode

No z movement. No end mark. However, "users can now specify a G-Code sequence to run at the beginning/end of a program and when the tool is turned on/off."

G21
G90;svg#svg1 > g#layer1 > path#path1
G0 X0.04645099999999763 Y0.13227800000000317
G1 X0.11730768492817545 Y0.1655076085116844 F300
. . .
G1 X0.0464510000000161 Y0.13227800000000342 F300;svg#svg1 > g#layer1 > path#path2
G0 X15.828818999999998 Y16.684519000000005
G1 X15.958402417724608 Y16.436593348144537 F300
. . .
G1 X15.828818999999998 Y16.684519000000005 F300

Generated by Inkscape

The first test is short and simple. Does all the things I want.

M3
(Header end.)
G21 (All units in mm)

(Start cutting path id: path2)
(Change tool to Default tool)

G00 Z5.000000
G00 X15.828841 Y16.684450

G01 Z-0.125000 F100.0(Penetrate)
G03 X18.692664 Y11.495468 Z-0.125000 I96.722379 J49.996752 F400.000000
G03 X21.465422 Y7.194707 Z-0.125000 I53.645546 J31.541811
. . . 
G03 X15.828841 Y16.684450 Z-0.125000 I1.837010 J-3.751889
G01 X15.828841 Y16.684450 Z-0.125000
G00 Z5.000000

(End cutting path id: path2)


(Start cutting path id: path1)
(Change tool to Default tool)

G00 Z5.000000
G00 X0.046473 Y0.132209

G01 Z-0.125000 F100.0(Penetrate)
G03 X1.990544 Y2.288690 Z-0.125000 I-1.107281 J2.952747 F400.000000
G02 X9.092465 Y19.860171 Z-0.125000 I71.366306 J-18.623402
. . .
G02 X0.046473 Y0.132209 Z-0.125000 I-41.512153 J291.572431
G01 X0.046473 Y0.132209 Z-0.125000
G00 Z5.000000

(End cutting path id: path1)

(Footer)
M5
G00 X0.0000 Y0.0000
M2

References

• https://cncphilosophy.com/3018-cnc/
  • Great