Clamp-Miller is a CNC programming utility that generates a CNC program for manufacturing custom clamps for a CNC router. It asks the user for a few mechanical parameters and then generates a CNC program consisting of G-Code. A CNC router can then run the CNC program to cut out the clamp from a piece of material stock.
To run the application locally:
- Install Ruby 2.x and Bundler 2.x on your local machine
- Clone the application source code to your machine
- In a terminal, navigate to the source code's root directory, ./Clamp-Miller/
- Install dependencies by running
$ bundle install - Navigate to the ./web/ directory and start a local server by running
$ puma server.ru - In a browser, navigate to localhost:9292
- Fill out and submit the form. You'll see a G-Code program that you can copy and upload into a CNC controller. If your CNC controller runs GRBL, there are several options for uploading your CNC program described at https://github.com/grbl/grbl/wiki/Using-Grbl
This guide assumes that you have basic technical experience in setting up a CNC router and running a CNC program. If that doesn't describe you, please consider finding a makerspace that has a CNC router and a community where you can learn!
Once you have generated a CNC program, consider whether your CNC machine manages spindle control manually or through G-code. The generated CNC program only controls feed motions and feedrate speeds. If the spindle on your CNC machine is managed by G-code, you will need add code at the beginning of the program to turn on the spindle with something like S1000M03 and turn it off at the end of the program with M05.
You'll also need to set up the coordinate system on your milling machine before you can run the CNC program. Follow these set-up rules:
- Use a 1/8" ball end mill as the cutting tool
- Set X=0 and Y=0 on the lower left corner of the workpiece
- Set Z=0 at the top of the workpiece
- Ensure that no point on the top of the workpiece surface extends more than 1/8" above Z=0
- When running the CNC program, start with the tool at X=0, Y=0, and Z=0
Here is an image of a setup for machining a clamp. The outer profile of the clamp is being machined, and the slot and height adjustment hole have already been machined. 3 smaller clamps on the right are fixturing the workpiece to the workholding table.
Once you have generated a CNC program and set up your CNC router, you can upload the CNC program to your CNC controller and run it. In my case, I uploaded it over a serial connection to an Arduino running GRBL
Contributors are welcome! To contribute to this code base, please create a pull request to https://github.com/nickedwards109/Clamp-Miller