DIYLILCNC

DIYLILCNC is a set of plans for an inexpensive, fully functional, 3-axis CNC mill. The device, which is used to convert 3D models into physical carvings on the cheap, is an overhaul of a design first released online by Instructables user Oomlout. The plans were accompanied by a permissive Creative Commons license, allowing collaborator Chris Reilly and me to remix and redistribute the design.

DIYLILCNC v2 (pictured above) was the product of a crowd-sourced funding campaign.

When discussing this work in an art and design context, the focus usually shifts to what DIYLILCNC can make. While this is important, we were far more interested in the ramifications of distributing an accessible computer fabrication device to anyone with the time and energy to put it together. In a maker scene historically dominated by cisgender white men, DIYLILCNC democratized one of the tools needed to participate.

Slip casts, pulled from DIYLILCNC-carved molds, at SIGGRAPH, Los Angeles.

In addition to the plans for the actual device, Chris and I created thorough documentation to guide our audience through the build process. This document, a complex piece of design in itself, is just as important as the core blueprint. The success of the educational aspect of the project became self-evident, as functioning DIYLILCNCs appeared in Chile, Finland, India, South Africa, and across the United States. In most cases, we weren’t even aware of a build until its maker reached out with photos or video of its successful completion.

DIYLILCNC user build, Santiago, Chile

For more information, or to download complete documentation, please visit diylilcnc.org.