How This Amazing Project Took Off!
Ever since I was a kid, airplanes have sparked my imagination and ignited a passion that hasn’t dimmed since. I loved learning how they fly and how they’re built. I dreamed of experiencing the thrill of flight myself, so I started exploring how to build an aircraft from scratch. That’s when I jumped into the exciting world of Remote Controlled (RC) aircraft. I built several awesome aerobatic and jet-style planes using Depron foam and sourced parts from all over. My first flight had a few bumps, but I didn’t give up. I kept tweaking and improving my design until it flew perfectly!
But I wanted to take things even further—making building planes easier, less stressful, and with smoother finishes. That’s when I discovered CNC machines. I was super excited because I knew they could transform my projects! However, buying a CNC machine was too expensive, and I didn’t have enough space. Instead of giving up, I decided to build my very own CNC machine. What an adventure that has been!
I spent months diving into online research, finding the perfect design and the best parts to use. I kicked things off by building the CNC machine with wooden lumber and created a detailed draft design to guide me. Countless days and nights in the workshop became my routine as I assembled frames, joints, and mounts, making sure everything was perfectly aligned and balanced. My education played a huge role in helping me solve the challenges that came up. The first version had some issues with vibrations and bending during machining, but I was determined to make it work!
To fix these problems, I switched to aluminum extrusion for a much stronger and more stable frame. Finding aluminum locally was tricky because they only sold in large quantities, so I turned to Alibaba to buy smaller amounts. This led to new adventures like dealing with customs and arranging sea transportation. After successfully importing the aluminum, I rebuilt my CNC machine with the sturdy frame it deserved.
And the results? Absolutely amazing! Here are a few snapshots from those exciting cutting tests:
This project has been an incredible ride of passion, perseverance, and creativity. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me next!