Will Davis
Projects / CNC router

Beckhoff-controlled CNC router

A 3-axis CNC router that I designed and built from first sketches through to prototyping, controlled by Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 over EtherCAT with machine safety in TwinSAFE.

Status
Prototyping, integration next
Control
Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 and TwinSAFE, EtherCAT I/O, stepper drives
Design
SolidWorks, control panel design
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Full machine assembly exported from SolidWorks, including the control enclosure. Geometry is simplified for the web.

Mechanical

I did the mechanical design in SolidWorks, then fabricated and assembled the frame and axes myself. It's built on aluminium extrusion with linear rails and ballscrews, and a gantry carrying the spindle.

Electrical

I designed and wired the control panel around Beckhoff hardware, with EtherCAT I/O and stepper drives for the axes.

Safety

The machine safety is programmed in TwinCAT 3 TwinSAFE. The machine is in prototyping, with integration of the rest of the control software next.

It's the same toolchain I use at work, which makes the router a useful test bed for trying out function blocks and EtherCAT devices, including my own custom STM32 EtherCAT slave.