How much plastic is required to print the parts?

You will need around 250 grams of plastic.

How can I use two stepper motors for the same axis?

This is easy enough to do, take a look at this little video: https://youtu.be/r1zi9vx3YP0 It involves using some jumper wires to configure the fourth motor port labeled as 'A' on the board to replicate any of the other axis. You will also need an additional stepper motor driver to add to this port.

Arduino CNC Drawing Machine

How to make a simple and high quality CNC drawing machine to draw on almost anything. I'll step you through how to build your own including all the files you need.

This project has a relatively low cost and can produce some very detailed drawings. I've used it to create t-shirts, cake decorations, drawings to colour in myself (and some it coloured in for me!). You could also use it to draw out scale drawings, wedding invitations, birthday and Christmas cards and anything else you can think of. :)

List of items used in this project and where to find them:

8 x15 x 45mm Linear Bearing (x2): https://geni.us/LinearBearing45mm
8 x 15 x 25mm Linear Bearing (x1): https://geni.us/LinearBearing25mm
12v Nema 17 stepper motors (x2): https://geni.us/StepperMotor
GT2 Timing belt and pulleys: https://geni.us/TimingBelt5m
Micro servo (x1): https://geni.us/MicroServo
Elegoo Arduino Uno (x1): https://geni.us/ArduinoUno
Nuts, bolts and screws (See list below): https://geni.us/NutsAndBolts
Stepper drivers - TMC2208 (x2): https://geni.us/TMC2208
Contact switch (x2): https://geni.us/ContactSwitch
Arduino CNC Shield (x1): https://geni.us/ArduinoCNCShield
30mm 5V Fan (x1): https://geni.us/30mm5vFan
8mm Chromed Steel Rod (35cm x2 & 5.5cm x1): https://geni.us/8mmChromedSteelRod
30cm long linear rail with block (x1): https://geni.us/LinearRail300mm
Electrical wire: https://geni.us/22AWGWire
12v power supply - 2A or greater (x1): https://geni.us/12VPowerSupply2A
Barrel Connector - Female (x1): https://geni.us/FemalePowerBarrel
6mm Idler Wheel - 3mm Bore (1): https://geni.us/6mmIdlerWheel3mmBore
Wooden panel to mount project at least 36x42cm (I used an Ikea ‘LÄMPLIG’ chopping board)

Nuts, bolts and screws needed:

M5 x 25mm (x2)
M3 x 18 (x3)
M3 x 12 (x2)
M3 x10 (x3)
M3 x 6 (X14)
M3 nuts (x9)
M5 nut (x1)
Short wood screws (x8)

Downloads

The code and GRBL configuration can be downloaded from here: https://github.com/DIY-Machines/CNC-DrawingMachine

3D printed parts can be downloaded from here: https://www.prusaprinters.org/prints/94363-easy-3d-printable-cnc-drawing-machine-draw-on-cake

The drawings I created for use with my machine: https://geni.us/EtsyCNCDrawingFiles

Inkscape 0.48.5 for Windows: https://inkscape.org/release/inkscape-0.48/?latest=1

Wiring Diagram

FAQ

How much plastic is required to print the parts?

You will need around 250 grams of plastic.
How can I use two stepper motors for the same axis?

This is easy enough to do, take a look at this little video: https://youtu.be/r1zi9vx3YP0
It involves using some jumper wires to configure the fourth motor port labeled as 'A' on the board to replicate any of the other axis. You will also need an additional stepper motor driver to add to this port.

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Sensorless Homing with RP2040 & TMC2209

By Lewis • February 24, 2026

In this video, I’ll show you how to set up sensorless homing using a TMC2209 stepper driver — no mechanical limit switches required! Perfect for 3D printers, CNC machines, robotics, and other DIY electronics projects. I’ll guide you through the wiring, Arduino code, and how to tune StallGuard for accurate, reliable homing. Whether you’re building a CoreXY, a custom motion control system, or just want to learn more about stepper motor drivers, this is a great place to start. Let’s build smarter! Why would we want to use sensorless homing? Well first the Pros…. There’s no need for extra mounts, additional components or running long dangling cables to one or both ends of the carriage or other moving component. And there are always cons, so in this case you’ll need a stallguard-capable driver (they cost a little more and are only manufactured by Trinamic) and accuracy isn’t great at slow speeds.