In this project, I explore the setup, operation, and ’tricking out’ of a desktop 3018 class CNC router.

My Introduction to CNC - 3018 Desktop Router⌗

In this video, I setup the machine and try to cut out a part using CNCjs. I quickly learn that it’s not the easiest thing in the world, makes a huge mess, and is loud. But I will continue on!

My Introduction to CNC - 3018 Desktop Router

CNC Router Web Control Appliance⌗

In this part of the 3018 Desktop Router project, I setup a permanent home for CNCjs on a Dell Wyse 3040 thin client. I’m running CNCjs as the CNC control software and G-code sender (the CNC’s grbl controller is actually doing the motion control). I’m using mjpg-streamer to add a USB webcam to the CNCjs web UI, with nearly no load on the CPU to encode. And I’ve setup a script to launch ffmpeg to record the mjpeg stream when g-code is started and stopped (also using nearly no load on the CPU to transcode). As a cherry on top, I’m running all of this with systemd services so everything autostarts properly on boot and recordings terminate if anything crashes and restarts.

CNC Router Web Control Appliance