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International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET) Volume 8, Issue 6, June 2017, pp. 543–549, Article ID: IJCIET_08_06_060
Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=8&IType=6
ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316
© IAEME Publication Scopus Indexed
MINI CNC 2D SKETCHER FOR ACCURATE
BUILDING DRAWING
M. Anil Kumar
Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
MLR Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Dr. J. Krishnaraj
Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
MLR Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Telangana, India
R. Bhanu Gowtham Sai Reddy
B.Tech. Student, Department of Mechanical Engineering
MLR Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Telangana, India
ABSTRACT
This research work describes the design and fabrication of a mini Computer
Numerical Control (CNC) two dimensional (2D) sketcher for accurate building
drawing. The main components of this low cost mini CNC 2D sketcher are ATMEGA
328 controller, CD/DVD writer, Stepper motors, Servo motor, motor drivers and
battery. This whole system is working based on G codes. The ATMEGA 328 Controller
converts the G codes which required for sketching the building drawing into a
readable format by the motor driver. This sketcher can also be used in other
applications like Printed Circuit Board (PCB) drawing and drilling, Electrical
Discharge Machining (EDM), metal removal and fabrication, lettering and logo
engraving
Key words: Computer Numerical Control, CNC 2D sketcher, G code, Building
drawing.
Cite this Article: Anil Kumar, M., Krishnaraj, J. and Bhanu Gowtham Sai Reddy, R.
Mini CNC 2D Sketcher for Accurate Building Drawing. International Journal of Civil
Engineering and Technology, 8(6), 2017, pp. 543-549.
http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=8&IType=6
1. INTRODUCTION
The integration of Computer Aided Drawing (CAD) and Computer Aided Machining (CAM)
places vital role on tool path in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines. This replaces
conventional machines and offer increased flexibility, greater accuracy and shorter production
cycle time. Recently this integration is adopted in 3D printing technology which employs G
M. Anil Kumar, Dr. J. Krishnaraj and R. Bhanu Gowtham Sai Reddy
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code same as CNC machines. The contribution of NC part programming and interactive
computer graphics are greatly influences these developments.
A recent work focused on design and implementation of a low cost three dimensional
CNC machine, devised by using 8 bit microcontroller based embedded system for the purpose
of achieving required accuracy and reliability of shapes for industrial application [1]. An
effective open CNC system based on PC and motion controller which employs algorithms
based on two-order interpolations and Cubic b-spline curve chord segmentation interpolation
developed recently for actual application [2]. Other recent research works focused on the
control of automatic tool change (ATC) in CNC machine for shortening the time interval
between the tool change [3] and graphene nano material coating in coating CNC milling
machine bed so as achieve desired precision and strength [4].
Now a day, the application CNC machine and G codes are extended for Printed Circuit
Board (PCB) drawing and drilling, Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM), metal removal
and fabrication, lettering and logo engraving. Few researchers attempted with the
development of an automatic mini CNC machine for PCB drawing, drilling [5] and a Low-
cost CNC plotter using spare parts [6].
This research work focuses on design and fabrication of a mini CNC two dimensional
(2D) sketcher for the generation of accurate building drawing which was not attempted by
earlier researchers. The main objective is to draw accurate plan, elevation and other views of
buildings using the G codes as per the customer requirement in an A4 sheet.
2. METHODS AND MATERIALS
2.1. Design Procedure
The basic idea for the design of mini CNC machine can be understand from the work which
deals with the development of a prototype CNC machine, controlled by a PC interfaced with
low cost embedded microcontroller and LABVIEW [7]. The proposed mini CNC 2D sketcher
needs three axes movements of a sketching unit which comprises a sketching pen or pencil.
These movements in X and Y axis can be obtained by two stepper motor for precise control
over sketching pen for building drawing. The up and down movement of sketching pen in Z
axis direction can be controlled by a servo motor.
While printing or drawing, the proper synchronization of all the three axes through stepper
motors and servo motor is most exigent task. These movements can be achieved through the
G Code which can be programmed manually or generated through software like Inkscape [8].
The proposed mini CNC 2D sketcher has the option of dumping the G Codes into the
microcontroller by any one method.
An open source graphics editing software, Inkscape can be used to create or edit vector
graphics such as simple sketch, rough line diagrams, logos and difficult paintings. This
software converts the loaded image into G codes for the required 2D diagram in to gerber file
which consist of required G code program to be dumped into the microcontroller. The other
major advantage of using this software is that the created rough sketch can be further
manipulated with due transformations, such as moving, rotating, scaling and skewing as per
the need of a customer who needs a building drawing. The figure 1 shows the outlook of a
Inscape software.
Mini Cnc 2d Sketcher for Accurate Building Drawing
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Figure 1. Inscape Software
2.2. Components Used in CNC 2D Sketcher
2.2.1. CD / DVD Writers
The sketching pen in the CNC 2D sketching unit requires movements along X-axis and Y-
axis so as to print or draw the desired sketch on A4 sheet. These movements can be achieved
by using two stepper motors from old working CD / DVD writers as shown in figure 2.
Figure 2. CD / DVD writer
2.2.2. Arduino Uno
The Arduino Uno (refer figure 3) is a small microcontroller board based on the ATmega328P
which offers control of stepper and servo motors through motor drivers. The Arduino Uno
may dump with G codes manually or which generated through Inscape software. The
controller converts G codes and send the machine readable instructions to all the components
in the CNC 2D sketcher.
Figure 3 Arduino Uno Microcontroller
M. Anil Kumar, Dr. J. Krishnaraj and R. Bhanu Gowtham Sai Reddy
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2.2.3. Servo motor
A servo motor shown in figure 4 is used for the movement of sketching pen in up and down in
z direction. This will help the CNC 2D sketcher to point the pen in A4 sheet and withdrawing
it from the sheet to stop drawing.
Figure 4 Servo motor
2.2.4. L293D IC and Motor Driver
L293D IC is a motor driver integrated circuit shown in figure 5; it is used to control the
stepper and servo motor rotations in clockwise and anticlockwise directions. This change in
rotations help the sketcher to move in the required three directions say, X, Y and Z axis
directions corresponding to left and right movement, front and back movement and up and
down movement.
Figure 5 L293D IC and motor driver
2.2.6. Battery
A 12V rechargeable battery with 7.2Ah capacity shown in figure 6 is used as a backup to run
the CNC 2D sketcher at the time of power failure. This battery enables to run the
microcontroller, servo motor and stepper motor to perform the required building drawing.
Figure 6 Battery
Mini Cnc 2d Sketcher for Accurate Building Drawing
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3. MINI CNC 2D SKETCHER
Figure 7 Proposed CNC 2D sketcher in two different views
In the development of the proposed CNC 2D sketcher shown in figure 7 is intended for all
the basic functions of CNC machine like automatic, precise, and consistent motion control.
The automatic sketch pen movement for building drawing or sketch is obtained by processing
G code through the microcontroller. The three axes pen movements can be precisely and
automatically positioned along their lengths of travel by a servo motor and two stepper
motors. The motor drivers are used to process the machine language obtained from
microcontroller and in turn run the motors in clockwise or anticlockwise directions so as to
achieve the desired pen movement.
An A4 sheet is clamped or pasted using cello tape at the edges of the proposed CNC 2D
sketcher table. Then the program in the form G code can be dumped manually or through the
generation from Inscape software corresponds to the desired building plan, elevation and
other views. Once the G code is dumped into the microcontroller ATmega328P, it process and
send the instructions to respective components so as to achieve the desired building drawing
as shown in figure 8.
Figure 8 A building ground floor plan drawn in A4 sheet by CNC 2D sketcher
M. Anil Kumar, Dr. J. Krishnaraj and R. Bhanu Gowtham Sai Reddy
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4. OTHER APPLICATIONS
4.1. Metal Removal Industries
The proposed CNC 2D sketcher can also be modified to use in metal removing industries so
as to remove the unwanted metals from the raw materials to get the desired small size
automotive parts and industrial components.
4.2. Metal Fabricating Industries
In fabrication industry, the machining operations can be performed on metal bars / plates with
the help of CNC lathe or milling machine. Similar application like CNC milling in
manufacturing of turbine blades are widely employed in recent times [9].
4.3. Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) Industry
The proposed CNC 2D sketcher can also be modified as an electrical discharge machine
which removes the metal by burning of metal and as a electron beam melting machine.
4.4. Other Industries
There are other industries which use CNC machines widely. Industries like the wood working
which includes various operations like routing, drilling, lettering and engraving operations.
5. CONCLUSION
Even though more number of CAD software are available for building as well as production
drawing, printing and plotting of plan, elevation and other views, this CNC 2D sketcher can
do different building drawing as required by the customer. This requires modification in
drawing can be obtained by making changes in G code manually or by generating through
Inscape software. The proposed CNC 2D sketcher gives instant printing or sketching of
building drawing in an A4 sheet. Further the application of proposed CNC 2D sketcher can
also be extended in the field of Printed Circuit Board (PCB) drawing and drilling, Electrical
Discharge Machining (EDM), metal removal and fabrication, lettering and logo engraving as
well.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors thank the Management of MLR Institute of Technology Hyderabad for the
permission extended to do this work in the Centre of Excellence for Digital Manufacturing
and Centre of Excellence for Robotics and Embedded Systems Lab.
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