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X-Carve Control Box

Martin Barfoed

Project by

Martin Barfoed

General Information

I have made a control box for the X-Carve with connectors so it can be detached from the machine.
The front and back is milled in 3mm aluminum, the top/bottom is 3mm plastic.
All has been milled using the X-Carve.
Sides are 20×60mm profile.

Like this project
Material Description Price
Button Head Cap Screw

Button Head Cap Screw

Length: 8mm, Quantity: 10, Thread Size: M3

$2.49

Button Head Cap Screw

Button Head Cap Screw

Length: 12mm, Quantity: 10, Thread Size: M5

E-Stop Button

E-Stop Button

Type: Latching pushbutton

Panel Connector

Panel Connector (×4)

Pins: 4, Diameter: 16mm

Panel Connector

Panel Connector

Pins: 2, Diameter: 16mm

Power Entry Module

Power Entry Module

Connector Type: IEC60320,, Mounting Style: Bolt Flange

Pre-Assembly T-Slot Nuts Packs of 10 each

Pre-Assembly T-Slot Nuts Packs of 10 each

Pre-Assembly T-Slot Nuts Packs of 10 each - 25281-05 (x10)

USB Bulkhead Cables

USB Bulkhead Cables

End 1: USB B Female (Bulkhead), End 2: USB B Male (Cable), Length (approx): 30cm

This project's Bill of Materials is not complete.

$2.49
from Inventables

File Description Unit Price

Controlbox-top X-CARVE1.skp

Top plate as SketchUp

$0

Controlbox X-CARVE.skp

Front/back as SketchUp

$0

Controlbox-top X-CARVE.dxf

Top as DXF

$0

Controlbox X-CARVE.dxf

Front/back as DXF

$0

Wiring of X-Carve.pdf

$0

Download Zip

$0
from Inventables

1

Carve the front and back

60 minutes

Using 3mm aluminum cut the front and back.

The engraving of the X-Carve loge was done to a depth of 0.5mm. The small letters was engraved to 0.3mm depth.

Bits used are:
3mm, 2 flute upcut designed for aluminum
2mm, 2 flute upcut designed for aluminum
60 dg V-bit

Use ethanol as coolant

2

Put the Control Box together

180 minutes

Cut the side profiles 300mm long and cut M5 threads
Cut top and bottom plates 300×260mm
Mill the top plate fan hole using 1/8 in upcut bit.
Drill the top/bottom plate mounting holes.
Assemble the box. Remember to put the T-nuts in to the slots before closing the ends with the front/back plate.
Mount PSU, Arduino, connectors and relay
Connect all wires

Test that all works again.

Christopher McCoy
I like your design. Looking forward to making something similar.
Christopher McCoy
Todd Neale
Handsome control box - Question - do you need the relay if you're not connecting spindle, and or probe?
Todd Neale
Martin Barfoed
Thanks for the encouragement! The relay it only needed it you want to switch on/off the spindle automatically (via the g-code). If you turn the spindle on/off manually you do not need it. The probe is separate and does not have anything to do with the relay.
Martin Barfoed
Russell Holt
Excellent - Straightforward and clean in design & functionality! Russ from Coral Springs, Florida, USA
Russell Holt
John Hunter
Hey Martin, awesome looking control box. Would you mind sending me your wiring diagram? I'd like to try and replicate this type of unit for my X-Carve. Mainly I'm confused with the 24V connector on the gShield, as I have the 48V PSU and spindle to match. What pugs into it etc Thanks,
John Hunter
Martin Barfoed
Hi John I have added a diagram under the file section. The max voltage of the gSheild is 30V so you may need a step down if you want to power it from the same PSU as your spindle.
Martin Barfoed
John Hunter
Thanks a lot Martin, that helps me out a ton.
John Hunter
Steve Knop
I would like to build this but ......how do i use the digital files and get it into easel?
Steve Knop
Martin Barfoed
Hi Steve I did not use Easel for this project but V Carve so I didn't make an .svg file. However, I did post a .dxf file and I think you can find an online converter.
Martin Barfoed
Domenick Salvemini
Could you post your wiring schematic?
Domenick Salvemini
Martin Barfoed
You can find it in the "Digital Files section"
Martin Barfoed
Tony Lehto
What was the CAD-program you used? How to connect X-carve to it?
Tony Lehto
Martin Barfoed
Hi Tony I used SketchUp (free CAD program) to make the drawing. Next I exported the drawing as a .dxf file and took the file into V-Carve. Using V-Carve to make the G-Code. The G-Code was send to the X-Carve using Universal-GCode-Sender.
Martin Barfoed
Martin Barfoed
If you think V-Carve is too expensive, you can consider CamBam. I will shortly publish a video on programs for X-Carve and other small CNC machines on my YouTube Channel. Maybe you will find it useful. Good luck, Martin
Martin Barfoed
Martin Barfoed
Here you go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syvZL4lhpjc
Martin Barfoed
Tony Lehto
Thanks!
Tony Lehto
Isaac Neuman
Hello Martin - Thank you for the efforts to bring us a super project to make.
Isaac Neuman
Chris Byrne
Hello Martin, Looks great. I coincidentally bought the same panel connectors in Maplin in the UK and subsequently came across your excellent design. Could you tell me what relay you used please? Thanks, Chris
Chris Byrne
Chris Byrne
Hi Martin, Ignore my request. I can see the info now that I am looking on a larger screen. Thanks, Chris
Chris Byrne
Martin Barfoed
Got the relay from DX.COM http://www.dx.com/p/keyestudio-single-relay-module-compatible-with-arduino-black-407663#.VnG-3jbSm70
Martin Barfoed
Chris Byrne
Thanks very much.
Chris Byrne
Isaac Neuman
High Martin, Looking again at your setup - I did not see any fans there. Shouldn't the Arduino and G-Shield have a fan to extract heat ? Thanks.
Isaac Neuman
Martin Barfoed
Hi Isaac, I did not include a fan directly over the grbl shield as it does not get very warm. Current is running through the driver both when the machine is moving and when it’s not. How much depend on the setting of the potentiometer on the shield.
Martin Barfoed
Martin Barfoed
I recommend that you try running your machine and after some time feel how hot, or not, the drivers on grbl shield gets. If the get very hot use a fan – if not you can opt not to use one. I do get some circulation from the PSU fan but the impact on the shield is probably limited. BR; Martin
Martin Barfoed
Isaac Neuman
Thanks for the info Martin.
Isaac Neuman
Isaac Neuman
Hi again Martin In your wiring diagram I have seen you hooked the switches NO. If I want them to be NC - can I just hook them to the same pins or id there something else I need to do to have them NC ? Thanks
Isaac Neuman
Martin Barfoed
Hi Isaac, I would think that will also work. However, you probably will have to invert the input pin. It's $5 you will change.
Martin Barfoed
Martin Barfoed
See this copy/paste from the grbl wiki: $5 - Limit pins invert, bool By default, the limit pins are held normally-high with the Arduino's internal pull-up resistor. When a limit pin is low, Grbl interprets this as triggered. For the opposite behavior, just invert the limit pins by typing $5=1 .
Martin Barfoed
Martin Barfoed
Disable with $5=0 . You may need a power cycle to load the change. NOTE: If you invert your limit pins, you will need an external pull-down resistor wired in to all of the limit pins to prevent overloading the pins with current and frying them.
Martin Barfoed
Martin Barfoed
You can find the wiki here: https://github.com/grbl/grbl/wiki/Configuring-Grbl-v0.9 Br, Martin
Martin Barfoed
Isaac Neuman
Thanks Martin, I will probably stay with the NO option. Many thanks Isaac
Isaac Neuman
Angel Ars
Hi Martin. Really liked your video about CAD/CAM programs. I noticed that you didn't include Autodesk Fusion 360 in your review. I find it slightly more professional than Sketchup but was wondering what you think about it, pros and cons. Thanks.
Angel Ars
Martin Barfoed
Hi Angle Ars, Thanks for the encouragement. Actually a few days later I added another video "... Now w Fusion". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNug_IyfZDs
Martin Barfoed
Martin Barfoed
One of the viewers made me aware of Fusion and I took a look. Now I'm more or less only using Fusion - so I can not agree more with you in that it's more professional. Since then I have also made a few videos using Fusion for some simple projects.
Martin Barfoed
Martin Barfoed
Fusion Pro/com: Pro comprehensive, parametric, CAD, CAM and more in one go, super user community and access to help from Fusion employees - even as hobbyist - and more... Con Steeper learning for users not used to parametric CAD (like me). But I think the time invested is well spend. Br, Martin
Martin Barfoed
ivan palomo
you would sell me a box
ivan palomo
Eric Mogensen
Quick question what kind of blade did you have on the miter saw when you cut the Aluminum extrusions in that video. Thanks, Eric M
Eric Mogensen
Martin Barfoed
I use this: Festool 493201 Alu saw blade 210x2,4x30 TF72
Martin Barfoed
hannozero
Hi Martin, i noted that you are using aviation connectors for step motors and limit switches but not grounded through the cable's shield, did you get any interference without ground star point in your control box?
hannozero
Martin Barfoed
You are right , I did not ground and never experienced any problems. The small size and short wiring is probably part of the reason
Martin Barfoed
lee fletcher
We have purchased a machine with the exact same set up but a box made of wood, Problem we are having we purchased a Zprobe but have no idea where we need to connect it, Can anyone point me in the right direction?
lee fletcher
Martin Barfoed
Normally the probe is between A5 and GND. I added a wiring diagram to the file section for you ref.
Martin Barfoed