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Welcome to Red CNC! This Sourceforge project houses the Android software that goes along with the Instructable on how to build and run your own CNC machine.

This app allows you to read in a G-Code file, set up machine parameters, and execute machining jobs in conjunction with an Arduino, which controls the stepper motors.

Machine Details:

Red CNC is an attempt to build a completely open source 3 axis CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine. There are many plans available for constructing the physical machine, and this one builds off of some of those, but they stop there. There aren't many, if any at all, that also explain how to wire everything up, or provide tools for generating the G-Code for controlling the machine.

This project will be a complete end to end solution:

• Recommendations for Open Source software for creating models/paths


• Open Source (or at least free) tool to generate G-Code paths from models/paths


• Open Source job control software built for Android and/or Arduino directly


• Open hardware control of the machine using Arduino and EasyDriver stepper motor driver boards


• Create Commons licensed machine design and electronics schematics


• Complete step by step instructions from building to carving your first project

Design goals of the machine:

• Be inexpensive to build


• Use open source parts and software whenever possible


• Allow for scaling to many different sized machines, hopefully up to at least a 24x24x12 working area


• Allow for multiple functions:
  
  
  
  1. Routing - carve a 3D shape from foam, plastic, and wood. (Maybe metal too, but that will be out of scope for now)
  
  
  2. Laser etching/cutting - Use a laser to burn wood or cut paper. More power later?
  
  
  3. 3D plastic extrusion printing