DIY record lathe [WIP]

This page documents my progress in converting my Ender 3 into a record lathe.

This project gave me a chance to finally learn FreeCAD as Fusion was broken yet again. All the parts were designed and printed by me using FreeCAD, on my X1C running X1Plus custom firmware.

The first step was to rearrange the ender 3 and decide what was going to be reused and what would be scrapped. My initial idea was to use the heated build plate for temperature control of the cutting stock, however using a slip ring that could handle the power would be expensive and annoying.

The first course of action was removing everything except the base of the printer. I then designed a bracket for the Extruder motor. This motor has the highest torque and will be used to directly drive the turntable.

See above the rough plan. Reusing the screw and transport from the Z axis allowed for high precision linear motion quickly and easily.

The connection to the turntable must be able to handle high torque and cannot slip. Sadly I do not have access to any machining tools with which I would ideally make a slot, as such I created a PETG clamp using a captive bolt and a screw.

This adapter also incorporates a screw post where a clamp will mount onto.

Onto this a placeholder turntable was attached and a strobe disc was printed in order for speed calibration to take place.

This calibration was incredibly easy thanks to the 3d printer's accurate motion control system. I wrote gcode to spin the plate 10 revolutions and changed to steps/mm until 10mm corresponded to 1 rotation. The extruder stepper motor had 3203 steps per rotation. (probably microsteps).

Then I simply designed brackets to hold the power supply and linear rail in place.

The endstops where used so that the X axis (lead screw) one is mounted at the edge of the record. By mapping the turntable motor to negative Y, hitting the other endstop will cause the printer to stop the turntable and end that move command. This is perfect as it will allow us to auto return when the record is finished cutting.

I am currently waiting for the coin exciters and amp, stay posted for the cutterhead design and initial testing soon!!

Find the GCODE below

G91
M201 Y2
M92 Y320.3
M106 S200
M120
G28 X
M18
M117 Record Lathe
M0 S20 Adjust stylus and click to start cut
G0 Y-500 F333 X20
G0 Y-30 F200 X10
G0 Y-20 F200
G90
G0 X0