Maslow CNC
ClassificationComputer numerical control router
InventorBar Smith, Hannah Teagle and Tom Beckett

Maslow CNC is an open-source CNC router project. It is the only commercially available vertical CNC router and is notable for its low cost of US$500.[1][2][3]

Although the kit is advertised at $500, like many tools, additional initial material and hardware costs are required. The kits are now sold by three re-sellers range in price from $400 to $500. Lumber and plywood are required to make the machine's frame along with an appropriate and compatible router. Lastly, a personal computer or tablet is needed with Windows, Mac OSX or Linux as its operating system. Overall initial material material costs approximately $800.

The unique vertical design mimics a hanging plotter allowing it to have a 4' x 8' cutting area with a footprint 10' wide x 19" deep.[2][3][4] Maslow CNC uses geared motors with encoders (8148 counts/rev) and a closed loop feedback system to achieve a resolution of ±0.4mm.[2][5][6] To reduce cost, Maslow CNC comes in kit form, uses a commercial off-the-shelf handheld router provided by the user for the router spindle, uses an Arduino Mega microprocessor, and uses a large number of common hardware items rather than custom parts.[7]

The Maslow CNC project was created 2023 by Bar Smith, Hannah Teagle and Tom Beckett. The project was funded with preorders on Kickstarter, raising $314,000.[4][8][9][10] It was featured on Tested and was shown at Maker Faire Bay Area 2017. [11][12]

Maslow CNC ran a second Kickstarter campaign August 1-30, 2023 for the Maslow4, a revised Maslow design with the following differences from the original Maslow:

  • The sled position is controlled using four belts which are anchored at four corners instead of two chains,
  • The motors which attach to the belts are mounted on the sled rather than the frame,
  • The motors use current feedback to detect the tension on the belts.
  • Maslow CNC Participants in the campaign were Bar Smith and Roman Gromov.

The Kickstarter campaign was successfully funded with 1,486 backers pledging $822,580. Delivery of Maslow4 kits was estimated to occur starting in December, 2023.[13]

References

  1. ↑ By (2016-10-14). "Maslow Brings The Wall Plotter Into The Woodshop". Hackaday. Retrieved 2017-08-17.
  2. 1 2 3 "Maslow Is a Giant, Open Source CNC Machine – Hackster's Blog". Hackster’s Blog. 2016-10-14. Retrieved 2017-08-17.
  3. 1 2 "Make Complex Cuts With This Dirt-Cheap CNC Router". Popular Mechanics. 2016-11-07. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  4. 1 2 "This gigantic CNC router is 8 feet wide, 4 feet tall, and costs less than $500". Digital Trends. 2016-10-31. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  5. ↑ "Can a Hanging Plotter Work as a CNC Mill? | Make". Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers. 2016-10-18. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  6. ↑ "Maslow CNC". hackaday.io. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  7. ↑ "What's in the box?". Maslow CNC. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  8. ↑ "The $500 Maslow CNC - Popular Woodworking Magazine". Popular Woodworking Magazine. 2016-10-28. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  9. ↑ "Maslow CNC - a $500 open source 4 by 8 foot CNC Machine". Kickstarter. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  10. ↑ Young, Ryan (2016-11-10). "Have Your Own CNC cutting machine for under $500". TrendinTech. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  11. ↑ "Maslow CNC". Maker Faire. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  12. ↑ "Maslow Lets You CNC in Your Garage for $350 - Tested.com". Tested. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  13. ↑ "Maslow 4 affordable, open source large format CNC machine - Geeky Gadgets". 7 August 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
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