How to make mini CNC plotter using old DVD drive

It is a guide for making mini CNC plotter using old DVD drive stepper motor
this machine can print up-to 40mm X 40mm
I used here arduino nano & 2 piece  L293 dual motor driver IC as stepper motor driver
The Pen mechanism of mini cnc collected also from old DVD driver (drawer part)

For graphical user interface I have used a simple free Chrome extension named "Gcode sender"
Download Gcode sender from here

You need hardware 

1. Old Dvd drive - 2piece
2. ply wood 6X8 inch - 2piece
3. Arduino nano
4. 9g micro servo motor 
5. vero board
6. IC L293D - 2piece
7. Male , Female header pins
8. Terminal block
9. LED
10. 220 ohm resistor
11. wire  
12. Nut & screw  

Assembling Hardware 

First take out stepper motor from old DVD

This video can help you 

Mark on plywood for fit stepper motor mechanism & drill on mark.

joint two ply wood like "L"

using small piece of metal clamp 

solder 4 wire on stepper motor connector points 

Now fit stepper motor mechanism on marking area of ply wood .

here I used some plastic pipe for adjust height of stepper motor mechanism .

now time to pen  mechanism

I think picture & video help you to make mechanism

The paper tray is "Y" axis & the pen is "X" axis

Preparing circuit board 

The circuit is easy 

No.1 L293D IC used for X axis motor drive

No.2 L293D Ic used for Y axis motor drive 

Arduino Digital pin D10 connect IC 1 - pin no.2

Arduino Digital pin D11 connect IC 1 - pin no.7

Arduino Digital pin D09 connect IC 1 - pin no.15

Arduino Digital pin D08 connect IC 1 - pin no.10

Arduino Digital pin D4 connect IC 2 - pin no.2

Arduino Digital pin D5 connect IC 2 - pin no.7

Arduino Digital pin D3connect IC 2 - pin no.15

Arduino Digital pin D2 connect IC 2 - pin no10

Servo motor signal out from Arduino pin D6

I used a 1 amp mobile charger as power source of all motors

Led used for just indicate of extra power source 

Circuit diagram

Software part 

1. Download firmwire , sample file & other necessary files from here
2. Download Inkscape 0.48.5 from here
3. Download Gcode sender Chrome extension from here

After download CNC DATA FOR DOWNLOAD .zip extract it 

you can find Arduino_cnc folder, inscape unicorn-master folder , sample canvas size for inscape &

sample gcode files.

now open Arduino_cnc folde & upload the Arduino_cnc .ino file to your Arduino nano 

it is firmware of your cnc machine 

Now run gcode sender from goole chrome >app

go to setting 

set width & depth to 80

select port witch is connected your arduino nano

now click on connect 

select your gcode file from load file ,you can test with sample gcode file included in 

cnc data folder 

  

            

Machine will starting draw your file ............

To create your own customize image file to gcode file using Inkscape

Add gcode extension in Inkscape

go to Inkscape unicorn master folder locket in downloaded cnc data folder
then go src > copy all file & folder now go to Inkscape program folder >share>extension then paste copied file & folder

how to Convert any image to gcode

Run Inkscape & open sample canvas file from downloaded cnc data folder

import your image & put it right corner .

now go to path >trace bitmap 

drag original file from path & delete it 

now go to path>object to path 

              path >Dynamic offset

now save your file with .gcode extension 

If any problem to understand don't hesitate to inform me by comment on my youtube video