This X-Carve has been heavily modified beyond the stock kit and is no longer a standard Inventables machine. It features upgraded stepper drivers (TB6600), external motor controllers, refined GRBL configuration, and custom wiring to improve speed, torque, and reliability. It is a mid-size gantry CNC with a cutting area of 1000 mm × 1000 mm.
- Vacuum the spoilboard and surrounding area after each job.
- Remove chips from lead screws, belts, and V-wheels to prevent premature wear.
- Return the gantry to the rear of the machine when finished.
- Wipe down rails and dust off the controller enclosure if excessive debris is present.
- Place all clamps, bits, and measuring tools back in their storage locations.
- End mills, router bits, and specialty cutters
- Clamping hardware (T-nuts, bolts, hold-downs)
- Sacrificial spoilboard material
Users are responsible for providing their own cutting bits and materials. Spoilboard life depends on careful setup.
- CNC Router Badge
This tool requires completion of the CNC Router Badge class. The class covers CAM preparation, workholding, zeroing, feeds and speeds, and safe operation of large-format CNC routers.
¶ Tips and Pointers
- Always manually zero all three axes before starting a job.
- Set conservative feed rates when cutting new materials; tune upward once you’ve proven stability.
- Secure materials firmly — vibration is the most common cause of poor cut quality.
- Use sharp end mills; dull tooling increases chatter and can damage the spindle.
- Run an “air cut” above the material for complex or long jobs to confirm toolpaths.
- The upgraded controllers allow higher acceleration and feed rates, but the frame and belts are still the limiting factor — push performance only as far as the mechanics allow.
¶ Stats and Facts
- Work area: ~1000 mm × 1000 mm × 65 mm Z travel
- Drive system: GT2 belts on X/Y; ACME screw on Z
- Motors: NEMA 23 steppers, dual-Y axis
- Controllers: TB6600 external stepper drivers, Arduino UNO + CNC Shield v3.0 running GRBL
- Spindle mount: Trim router compatible
- Accuracy: ~0.1 mm with proper calibration
- Software: Accepts G-code generated by VCarve, Fusion 360, Easel, etc.
grbl-settings-backup-2025-09-18.txt.zip
nextcarve_front_panel.lbrn2
nextcarve_back_panel.lbrn2