Design and Implementation of a Microcontroller Based Low Cost Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Plotter using Motor Driver Controller

Abstract

Sketching a picture is now also belongs to technology. Computer Numerical Control or CNC Plotter sketches picture controlled by a computer. CNC plotter is a 3D controlled machine which sketches a 2D picture of an object. It is used in different industry, workshop, factory where need to sketch any complex design or need to cut different metal in precise shape. The complete system of a CNC machine is large, costly and difficult to move from one place to another. In this paper, a low-cost CNC plotter is designed to mitigate the difficulties. To design this system three axis controlling unit is needed to control X, Y and Z axis position. X and Y axis can be controlled by two stepper motor and Z axis can be controlled by servo motor. To control this machine, a computer has been used to create and load G-code which sets the coordinates of X, Y and Z axis. Arduino IDE is used as the programming software and CAMotics software is used to generate G-code. Processing software is used to process GCTRL code to Arduino. G-code can be loaded to and the three motors operate as the instruction from a processor through motor driver.