My first cnc router of wood (MDF)

Hello all,

my first cnc router of wood (MDF) is almost finished. I used SketchUp to make the plans, this needs a lot of time, always when I thought its ready, I found something to make it better I watched a lot of YouTube movies and read different forums threads and so i build my own cnc router step by step.

Technical specifications:

Dimensions: 1,169 mm long (46.02 inch), 760 mm wide (29.92 inch), 743 mm high (29,25 inch)

max. travel way: X-Axis 750 mm (29.53 inches); Y-Axis 450 mm (17.72 inches); Z-Axis 140 mm (5.51 inches)
used travel way: X-Axis 720 mm (28.35 inches); Y-Axis 420 mm (16.54 inches); Z-Axis 140 mm (5.51 inches)

supported rails 20mm (0.79 inches) on all axis
trapezoidal thread 16x4mm on all axis

reference switch: X- and Y-Axis (inductive proximity sensor switch); Z-Axis none
limit switch: Y-Axis 2; Z-Axis 1; (X-Axis same as reference switch)

Nema 23 stepper motors

Kress 1050 FME-1 milling motor

I'm using SketchUp v8.0 with SketchUCam and Estlcam8, and last but not least LinuxCNC
After 2 month engineer (including watching YouTube movies, reading forums, looking for software,...) and 2 month building I milled this week the first time . I was happy to see the machine working, but I also was frustrated about the noise. I live in a apartement and don't want to annoy my neighbors. So I started to build a box around my router and consequently I have to build a dust extraction too.
The box is almost finished and only dampening materials / insulating is missing. Because the router is now in the box, I have to build the dust extraction, that's it for the next week.

Until next time....

greetings Thomas

Great Work

Kress company documentation says sound pressure level 78 dB(A) and noise power level 89 dB(A). My phone app decibel meter says the same, 77 dB(A) without cutting and box open, 62 dB(A) without cutting and box closed.

@tommylight: you're right, the most noise is coming from milling, not the milling motor itself. I'll make some insulating / sound dampening materials in it the next days to reduce the noise.

motor on, box open:



motor on, box closed:



Tomorrow I'm at work again and when I've finished the work, I'll take a professional decibel meter with home to measure the noise.
Yesterday I ordered 2 energy chain at ebay, i need it because the machine can't move in the box without cable mess
My project the next week ist to finish the box, building the dust extraction and the cable chain.
pictures following...

This is my first CNC:
After many mistakes it is working :

mount the router on some rubber feet , and the same with the case , and as andy says keep the box away from touching the walls . will help a great deal in isolation of noise .

sorry for my late answer, I was busy Thank you all for your help

@globaldynamix: nice video, looks very good and professional

@Andy: I made the box of particle board (hope is correct, in german "Spanplatte" or "Pressspanplatte"). Tomorrow will arrive my ordered damping foam.

@cncbasher: I have 3 mm rubber plates, I'll put them under the box and the router.

The box is almost ready, foam will arrive tomorrow and my dust extraction too...