Building a CNC Machine

For the past four years, I have been organizing a special celebration for our school community called STEAM Day. Along with my other responsibilities for the day, I write a grant to the Idaho STEM Action Center to purchase some equipment to introduce to the students. I try to select something to inspire the students to pursue making, inventing, and using their STEAM skills outside the classroom. This year I chose to purchase two CNC machines to demonstrate ways people fabricate things in industry.

Fortunately, the Idaho STEM Action Center, along with visionary companies in Idaho such as Cable One, provide funding for about 60 STEM awareness events across the state. I found out in mid-March that I received about $1000 funding to purchase two CNC machines.



CNC stands for computer numeric control. This means a person can create a design on the computer and using compatible software, transfer the design into a code that the CNC machine reads to engrave the design into some material. The CNC machines I purchased use step motors and a drilling motor as opposed to lasers or other ways to cut. This type of fabrication is called subtractive manufacturing because the design is cut away from the original materials.

The machines I purchased needed assembly. A couple of students from the fifth-grade Math Olympiads group volunteered to help. Another student, who heard what they were doing asked if she could help also. I made arrangements for the group to meet after school last week. During that time the students, with little help from me, were able to assemble a small CNC machine and get started on a mid-sized machine. In reality, they are probably both small. The photo below shows the group assembling the mid-sized machine.


I am helping the group assemble the router but letting them follow the directions to build the rest of the machine. I found out I needed to add some dry lube to the threads of the rod used to raise and lower the router. After school, I sent my husband to the hardware store to pick up the dry lube while I went to a meeting. He wasn't sure exactly what I needed so he bought me two options. 


Continue to follow me to find out more about the CNC machine adventures.


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