MTM Snap: A snap-together Arduino-powered desktop CNC milling machine.
Jonathan Ward from the MIT Center for Bits and Atoms has designed a snap-together, desktop-sized CNC milling machine. The MTM Snap (part of the Machines that Make project) is made from 1/2-inch high-density polyethylene (HDPE) – itself milled on a ShopBot – and can be assembled for about $700. This three-axis CNC machine can mill circuit boards, wax molds, and harder materials in a 5x3x1.75″ working area.
The MTM Snap is controlled by an Arduino board running grbl, a full-featured and robust g-code interpreter. A custom shield (designed by Nadya Peek) with three Allegro A3982 chips drives the machine’s stepper motors, and the whole thing is controlled from a simple GUI written in Processing. The advantage of this setup is that you can use the machine from pretty much any computer: desktop or laptop, Mac, Windows, or Linux. We use the CBA’s Kokompe tools for generating g-code files, but grbl should handle most files from other sources (like PCB-GCode).
You can’t yet buy the MTM Snap, but the machine has been designed to be as easy as possible to assemble yourself. All the design files are online if you want to cut out your own pieces on the ShopBot. The complete bill of materials is available, as are the documentation for the Arduino shield and software instructions.
If you’d like to see the MTM Snap in person, drop by the ShopBot booth at the Bay Area Maker Faire this weekend. It will be running off of an OLPC laptop.
May 21st, 2011 at 17:10:19
[…] A $700 desktop CNC milling machine Posted on May 21, 2011 by Edward Arduino Blog » Blog Archive » MTM Snap: A snap-together Arduino-powered desktop CNC milling machin…. […]
May 21st, 2011 at 19:52:14
How accurate is this thing?
And why does commercial use require a separate license?
May 22nd, 2011 at 23:09:28
Is there a detailed drawing of the spindle? Thanks.
May 24th, 2011 at 21:41:48
We are assembling the red SNAP at AS220 Labs in Providence as part of Fab Academy, it’s really solid and going to be a great CNC. We’ll be posting documentation on http://academy.cba.mit.edu
The licensing is because MIT funds the Center for Bits and Atoms, where it is being developed. This allows free use for academic and personal use but requires a license if you want to sell kits or builds of their design. I’m unsure about derivative works and possible use in manufacturing.
The spindle on ours is just the elliptical mounting plate and a (iirc) 25K rpm motor with the chuck attached. The chuck should be in the bill of material.
May 24th, 2011 at 21:45:14
http://mtm.cba.mit.edu/toolheads/spindle/makeit.html
May 27th, 2011 at 05:22:07
Now if you could make a modified version where i could print one on a Maker Bot or rep rap snap it all together complete at home manufacturing and prototyping setup?
May 30th, 2011 at 10:39:40
[…] x 1.75″ area. Design files and BOM are available if you want to make your own. [Via the Arduino blog] This entry was posted on Monday, May 30th, 2011 at 10:30 am and is filed under Latest […]
May 30th, 2011 at 22:11:23
[…] The MTM Snap was designed by Jonathan Ward of MIT’s Center for Bits and Atoms. It costs about $500, runs off an Arduino, is CNCed out of HDPE, and can mill a 5″ x 3″ x 1.75″ area. Design files and BOM are available if you want to make your own. [Via the Arduino blog] […]
May 31st, 2011 at 13:29:44
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June 2nd, 2011 at 12:51:49
[…] Arduino blog says: Jonathan Ward from the MIT Center for Bits and Atoms has designed a snap-together, desktop-sized CNC milling machine. The MTM Snap (part of the Machines that Make project) is made from 1/2-inch high-density polyethylene (HDPE) – itself milled on a ShopBot – and can be assembled for about $700. This three-axis CNC machine can mill circuit boards, wax molds, and harder materials in a 5x3x1.75? working area. […]
June 2nd, 2011 at 20:36:07
[…] :Arduino Blog, MTM Snap Posted in : Misc Gadgets Tags: cnc, cnc machine, CncMachine, diy, mill, milling, mtm […]
August 10th, 2011 at 04:32:41
smart design, great job!
August 29th, 2011 at 21:47:34
washer dryer sets…
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