instructables

Mini CNC Laser Wood Engraver and Laser Paper Cutter.

by Maggie Shah

This is an Instructables on how I made an Arduino based Laser CNC wood engraver and Thin paper cutter using
old DVD drives, 250mW laser. Playing area is 40mm x 40mm max.

Isn't it fun making a own machine out of old things?

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Step 1: Parts and Materials Required

Arduino Nano (with usb cable)

2x DVD drive stepper mechanism
2x A4988 stepper motor driver modules (or GRBL shield)
250mW Laser with adjustable lens (or above)
12v 2Amps power supply minimum
1x IRFZ44N N-CHANNEL Mosfet
1x 10k resistor
1x 47ohm resistor
1x LM7805 voltage regulator (with heatsink)
Blank PCB Board
Male and Female Headers
2.5mm JST XH-Style 2pin male connector
1x 1000uf 16v capacitor
Jumper cables
8x small neodymium magnets ( which I have salvaged from DVD lens mechanism)
1x 2pin plug in screw terminal block connector
Zip ties (100mm)
Super Glue
Epoxy Glue
Wooden plyboard
Acrylic sheet
Some M4 screws, bolts and nuts
Laser Safety Glasses

LASER SAFETY GLASSES are must needed in this project.

Most of all the parts salvaged or are brought from China through a site called BANGGOOD.

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Step 2: Taking Apart the DVD Drive Stepper Mechnaism

Two DVD driver mechanism are required, one for the drive stepper motor, a digital micrometer was used.
X-Axis and the second for the Y-axis. The distance along the screw was measured. The
total length of the screw using a micrometer, which
Using a small Phillips head screw driver I removed all turned out to be 51.56 mm. To determine the lead
the screws and detached stepper motor, the sliding value which is the distance between two adjacent
rails and the follower. threads on the screw. The threads were counted to
be 12 threads within this distance. Lead = distance
The stepper motors are 4-pin Bipolar Stepper Motor. between adjacent threads = ( total length / number of
threads = 51.56 mm) / 12 = 4.29mm/rev.
The small size and low cost of a DVD motor mean
that you can't expect high resolution from the The step angle is 18 degrees which corresponds to
motor. That is provided by the lead screw. 20 steps/revolution. Now that all the information
Also, not all such motors do 20 steps/rev. 24 is also needed is available, the resolution of the stepper
a common spec. You'll just have to test your motor motor could be calculated as shown below:
to see what it does. Resolution = (Distance between adjacent threads) /
(N Steps/rev) = (4.29mm/rev) / (20 steps/rev) = 0.214
Procedure for calculating the resolution of the mm/step. Which is 3 times better the resolution
CD Drive Stepper motor: required which is 0.68mm/step.

In order to measure the resolution of the CD/DVD

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Step 3: Assembling the Slider Rails for the X and Y-Axis

For the sliding rails I've used 2 extra rods for the better and smooth performance. The main function of the slider is
to slide on rod freely with minimal friction between the rod and the slider.

It took me some time to make the slider glide freely on the rod.

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Step 4: The Main Frame for the Stepper X and Y

Using some Acrylic sheets I had made two of the main frame for the stepper and the sliding rails. The stepper
motor has spacers between the main frame and its base, and it is necessary for the Axis.

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Step 5: Attaching the Sliding Rail With the Main Frame

First using super glue I've tried adjusting the proper draw more current than usual in running condition. It
position of the rails, where they should be so that the takes some time in adjusting.
follower makes proper contact with the stepper
thread. The contact should be proper not too tight or Once its was adjusted, using Epoxy glue I fixed them.
not too slag. If the contact is not proper between the
follower and the thread, steps will skip or motor will

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Step 6: Wiring of Stepper Motors

For the stepper motors I've used old usb cable, because it has 4 wire inside and have a cover on it, and it is more
flexible and easy to work with.

Using continuity mode in Multimeter determine determine 2 Coil, Coil A and Coil B.

I made 2pairs of wire by selecting colours, one pair for the Coil A and second for the Coil B. Soldered them and
used heat shrink tube on it.

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Step 7: Combing the X and Y Axis

X and Y co-ordinates movement.

I've attached the slider of X and Y-axis together in perpendicular to each other, using some spacer between them.
And also attached a thin metal grill above it as a working bed. Neodymium magnets are used as work piece
holder.

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Step 8: The Electronics

PARTS USED FOR THE DRIVER ARE:

Arduino Nano.
2x A4988 Stepper motor drivers.
1x IRFZ44N N-CHANNEL MOSFET.
1x LM7805 Voltage regulator with Heatsink.
1x 47ohm and 1x 10k resistor.
1x 1000uf 16V capacitor.
1x 2.5mm JST XH-Style 2pin male connector.
MALE and FEMALE Header Pins.
1x (20mm x 80mm blank PCB).

In GRBL the digital and analog Pins of Arduino are reserved. The 'Step' pin for the X and Y axes is attached to
digital pins 2,and 3 respectively. The 'Dir' pin for the X and Y axes is attached to digital pins 5 and 6 respectively.
D11 is for laser Enable.

The Arduino gets power through the USB Cable. The A4988 Drivers through external power source. All ground
share common connections. VDD of A4988 are connected to 5V of Arduino.
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The laser I've used runs on 5V and has built in constant current circuit. For the constant 5V source from the
external power supply LM7805 voltage regulator is used. Heatsink is compulsory.

The IRFZ44N N-CHANNEL MOSFET works as an elelctronic switch when receives digital high signal from pin
D11 of Arduino.

NOTE: 5V from Arduino nano can't be used beause the laser draws more than 250mA and the Arduino Nano is
not capable of delivering that much of current.

Configuring Micro Stepping for Each Axis.

MS0 MS1 MS2 Microstep Resolution.

Low Low Low Full step.

High Low Low Half step.

Low High Low Quarter step.

High High Low Eighth step.

High High High Sixteenth step .

The 3 pins (MS1, MS2 and MS3) are for selecting one of the five step resolutions according to the above truth
table. These pins have internal pull-down resistors so if we leave them disconnected, the board will operate in full
step mode. I've used the 16th step configuration for smooth and noise free. Most (but certainly not all) stepper
motors do 200 full steps per revolution. By appropriately managing the current in the coils it is possible to make the
motor move in smaller steps. The Pololu A4988 can make the motor move in 1/16th steps - or 3,200 steps per
revolution.The main advantage of microstepping is to reduce the roughness of the motion. The only fully accurate
positions are the full-step positions. The motor will not be able to hold a stationary position at one of the
intermediate positions with the same position accuracy or with the same holding torque as at the full step
positions.Generally speaking when high speeds are required full steps should be used.

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Step 9: Assemble Everything Together Into One

I've made a Laser stand out of a long thin metal strip and some Plastic L brackets with some supports. Everything
is then mounted on a wooden ply board using M4 screw, nuts and bolts.

Connection of stepper motors to the driver is also done.

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Step 10: Laser Assembly

The laser I've used is Focusable Laser Module 200- laser wasn't overheating so I din't used it. Connect
250mW 650nm. The outer metal housing work as a the laser wire terminal to the laser socket on the
Heatsink for the laser diode. It has focusable lens for driver board.
the adjustment of laser dot.
You can get one Here
Using two Zip-ties I've mounted the laser with the
stand. Heatsink for laser also can be used, but my

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Step 11: Adjusting the Stepper Driver Current

To achieve high step rates, the motor supply is will change the current limit setting since the voltage
typically much higher than would be permissible on the “ref” pin is a function of Vdd. Another way to
without active current limiting. For instance, a typical set the current limit is to measure the voltage directly
stepper motor might have a maximum current rating on top of the potentiometer and to calculate the
of 1A with a 5 coil resistance, which would indicate resulting current limit (the current sense resistors are
a maximum motor supply of 5 V. Using such a motor 0.1 ). The current limit relates to the reference
with 12 V would allow higher step rates, but the voltage as follows: Current Limit = VREF × 1.25 So,
current must actively be limited to under 1A to for example, if the reference voltage is 0.6 V, the
prevent damage to the motor. current limit is 0.75A. As mentioned above, in full step
mode, the current through the coils is limited to 70%
The A4988 supports such active current limiting, and of the current limit, so to get a full-step coil current of
the trimmer potentiometer on the board can be used 1A, the current limit should be 1A/0.7=1.4A, which
to set the current limit. One way to set the current corresponds to a VREF of 1.4A/1.25=1.12 V. See the
limit is to put the driver into full-step mode and to A4988 datasheet for more information. Note: The coil
measure the current running through a single motor current can be very different from the power supply
coil without clocking the STEP input. The measured current, so you should not use the current measured
current will be 0.7 times the current limit (since both at the power supply to set the current limit. The
coils are always on and limited to 70% of the current appropriate place to put your current meter is in
limit setting in full-step mode). Please note that series with one of your stepper motor coils.
changing the logic voltage, Vdd, to a different value

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Step 12: Getting Ready!

Using four small Neodymium magnets lock the working piece on the working bed and set the X and Y-axis to initial
position (home). Power up the driver board through External power source, and Arduino Nano to Computer
through a USB A to USB Mini B Cable. Also power the board through a external power source.

SAFETY FIRST.

LASER SAFETY GLASSES ARE MUST NEEDED

3
2
1

1. external power source

2. USB mini B
3. USB mini B

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Step 13: GRBL Firmware

1. Download the GRBL 1.1, Here,

2. Extract on the desktop the grbl-master folder, you find it in the file master.zip
3. Run the Arduino IDE
4. From the application bar menu, choose: Sketch -> #include Library -> Add Library from file.ZIP
5. Select the folder grbl that you can find inside the grlb-master folder and click on Open
6. The library now is installed and the IDE software will show you this message: The library is added to
your library. Check the “libraries Inclusion” menu.
7. Then open an example called "grbl upload" and upload it to your arduino board

Step 14: Software to Send G-CODE

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Also we need a software to send G-Code to CNC for $11=0.020 (junction deviation, mm)
that I've used the LASER GRBL
$12=0.002 (arc tolerance, mm)
LaserGRBL is one of the best Windows GCode
streamer for DIY Laser Engraver. LaserGRBL is able $13=0 (report inches, bool)
to load and stream GCode path to arduino, as well
engrave images, pictures and logo with internal $20=0 (soft limits, bool)
conversion tool.
$21=0 (hard limits, bool)
LASER GRBL Download.
$22=0 (homing cycle, bool)
LaserGRBL constantly checks for COM ports
available on the machine. The list of ports allows you $23=1 (homing dir invert mask:00000001)
to select the COM port which your control board is
connected on. $24=50.000 (homing feed, mm/min)
Please select the proper baud rate for the connection
according to your machine firmware configuration $25=635.000 (homing seek, mm/min)
(default 115200).
$26=250 (homing debounce, msec)
Grbl Settings:
$27=1.000 (homing pull-off, mm)

$$ - View Grbl settings $100=314.961 (x, step/mm)

To view the settings, type $$ and press enter after $101=314.961 (y, step/mm)
connecting to Grbl. Grbl should respond with a list of
the current system settings, as shown in the example $102=314.961 (z, step/mm)
below. All of these settings are persistent and kept in
EEPROM, so if you power down, these will be loaded $110=635.000 (x max rate, mm/min)
back up the next time you power up your Arduino.
$111=635.000 (y max rate, mm/min)
$0=10 (step pulse, usec)
$112=635.000 (z max rate, mm/min)
$1=25 (step idle delay, msec)
$120=50.000 (x accel, mm/sec^2)
$2=0 (step port invert mask:00000000)
$121=50.000 (y accel, mm/sec^2)
$3=6 (dir port invert mask:00000110)
$122=50.000 (z accel, mm/sec^2)
$4=0 (step enable invert, bool)
$130=225.000 (x max travel, mm)
$5=0 (limit pins invert, bool)
$131=125.000 (y max travel, mm)
$6=0 (probe pin invert, bool)
$132=170.000 (z max travel, mm)
$10=3 (status report mask:00000011)

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Step 15: Tweaking the System

Here comes the Most Difficult part of the Project.

-Adjusting the laser beam into the smallest dot possible on the work piece. This is the Trickiest part which
require time and patience using trail and error method.

-Tweaking the GRBL settings for $100, $101, $130 and $131

my setting for the GRBL is,

$100=110.000

$101=110.000

$130=40.000

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$131=40.000

I tried engraving a square of 40mm sides and after so many error and tweaking the setting of grbl, I get the proper
40mm line engraved from the both X and Y-axis. If the resolution of X and Y-Axis are not same the image will
scale in either direction.

Keep in mind not all Stepper motor From DVD Drives are the same

It is lengthy and time consuming process but the results are so satisfying when tweaked.

LaserGRBL user interface

Connection control: here you can select serial port and proper baud rate for connection, according
to grbl firmware configuration.
File control: this show loaded filename and engraving process progress. The green “Play” button will
start program execution.
Manual commands: you can type any G-Code line here and press “enter”. Commands will be
enqueued to command queue.
Command log and command return codes: show enqueued commands and their execution status
and errors.
Jogging control: allow manual positioning of the laser. The left vertical slider control movement
speed, right slider control step size.
Engraving preview: this area show final work preview. During engraving a small blue cross will
show current laser position at runtime.
Grbl reset/homing/unlock: this buttons submit soft-reset, homing and unlock command to grbl board.
On the right of unlock button you can add some user defined buttons.
Feed hold and resume: this buttons can suspend and resume program execution sending Feed
Hold or Resume command to grbl board.

Line count and time projection: LaserGRBL could estimate program execution time based on actual
speed and job progress.

Overrides status an control: show and change actual speed and power override. Overrides is a new
feature of grbl v1.1 and is not supported in older version.

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Step 16: Wood Engraving

Raster import allows you to load an image of any kind The setting for engraving is different for all materials.
in LaserGRBL and turn it GCode instructions without
the need of other software. LaserGRBL supports Define the engraving speed per mm and Quality-
photos, clip art, pencil drawings, logos, icons and try lines per mm
to do the best with any kind of image.
Video Attached is the time-lapse of the whole
It can be recalled from “File, Open File” menu by process.
selecting an image of type jpg, png or bmp

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT2riik5lXM&t=14s

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Step 17: Thin Paper Cutting

This 250mW Laser is Also capable of cutting thin papers, but the speed should be very low i.e. not more than
15mm/min and laser beam should be properly adjusted.

Video Attached is the time-lapse of the whole process.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBW1UL7eVQQ

Step 18: Vinyl Cutting and Making Custom Stickers

I have made some Custom vinyl sticker. Boarder © Special thanks to the GRBL Developers :)
speed changes with respect to the colour of the vinyl
used. I hope you liked this project, let me know in the
comments if any queries,
Dark colours are the easy to work with while the
Lighter colours are some tricky. I would like to see photos of your CNC machines too!

The above Images demonstrate how to use vinyl Thanks!! for Your support.
sticker which are made using the CNC.

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