CNC base and paper bed
We can route the two large flat pieces from plywood while printing the rails, wheel carriages, capstans and pen mechanism. The drawing area is 200 × 150 mm, with the paper surface at Z100.
Files and stock
| Part | Stock and size | Geometry |
|---|---|---|
| Base board | 12 mm plywood, 326 × 400 mm | DXF · STEP |
| Paper bed | 6 mm plywood, 240 × 190 mm | DXF · STEP |
Complete assembly STEP · GLB · Complete print quantities · Adapter dimensions
Use measured sheet thickness when preparing CAM. These STEP models assume 12 mm and 6 mm stock; revise spacer heights if those thicknesses change.
Router setup
The DXFs are top views in millimetres, centred on the part. OUTLINE contains the outside contour and the base's 52 × 52 mm motor-clearance opening. DRILL_THROUGH contains 4.4 mm base holes or 3.4 mm bed holes. POCKET_2_3_MM contains four 6.4 mm-diameter, 2.3 mm-deep screw-head recesses in the top face of the bed. NOTES is annotation and must be excluded from toolpaths.
Create your own CAM with the correct cutter compensation, workholding, tabs and cutting parameters for the router and material. Use a drill or cutter small enough for the 3.4 mm holes; do not force a larger cutter through those contours. Cut pockets and holes while the material is still held securely, then profile the parts. The downloads are geometry, not ready-to-run router G-code.
Printed parts and mounting
The print list specifies all 66 required pieces, including two end risers, one centre riser, four bed spacers and four corner feet. Print the rails, towers, carriages, capstans and pen lift from the same list. All printed parts fit a 200 × 200 mm printer bed.
- Fit four 8 mm feet below the base at X±150/Y±185. The board sits between Z−2 and Z10.
- Fit the X towers directly on the board at X±150 and Y23/Y83. These holes are outside the tower columns so the screw heads remain accessible.
- Place the 15 mm risers under the Y end feet and centre foot. Fit their captive M3 nuts before assembling the rail; the longer rail bolts engage those nuts.
- Fit four 16 mm spacers between the Y carriage and the bed at X±12/Y±16. The plywood bed's top remains at Z100. Recess the M3 heads into the bed pockets.
Starting M4 mounting allowance: eight M4×25 sets for corner feet and tower bases, four M4×45 sets for end feet/risers, and two M4×50 sets for the centre foot/riser. Use washers and nuts and verify the actual stack before tightening. The centre-foot heads sit in recessed pockets below the rail joiner. The common M3 rail and M3×30 bed fasteners remain in use.
Fit and first checks
The base window clears the reference Y-motor envelope. Deburr all edges and holes, square the rails, and move the carriage and bed by hand before fitting cord. Check that the bed stays flat and that fasteners clear the moving parts. Our geometry report checks the plywood and printed solids at nine X/Y positions; it does not establish sheet stiffness, physical fit or plotted accuracy.
Regenerate the complete machine with python cad/build_cnc_option.py. The source imports the shared model, keeping mounting coordinates aligned. Continue with the cord and pen assembly and RP2040 controller guide.