MDF CNC Router plans / parts for home build beginners

[HiltonSteve]

Making the design scalable may or may not be an option, depends what happens with the linear slides and what they end up being constructed from but I will know more next week.

As for the stepper controller, would there be any interest in a handheld controller that took away the need for a PC?

This is the initial description - The handheld controller will read from a USB memory stick and execute NC files with no need for a PC at all (however currently a PC is required to edit the pin config / steps per unit etc file which is then uploaded to the device using a memory stick) only a problem if you don't have a PC!!!!. It will also allow manual data entry via an inductive keypad and jogging of the machine. It uses a 3.5" colour TFT screen and is designed to plug into a 25 pin break out board. It uses a 100Mhz processor for stepper timing which should be more than enough.

I have already seen a prototype which works very well.

Estimated price - £200-£250

It will look something like the attached image.