DIY CNC Tool Cart Part 1

CNC tool cars are not cheap.

The average price for a decent one from Walmart is over $350 US.

Nice professional carts easily go for more like $550-750.

The purpose of this instructable is to help hobbyists build a much less expensive one for around $60 US (maybe a little more if you have to purchase a hole saw $20)

The cart is a work in progress and I will include more parts as I add little sheet metal boxes to hold indicators and CNC specific wrenches.

The second shelf will be another instructable for R8 tooling using different Grommets and showing how to take the lower shelf and put it at an angle for easy access.

I choose a harbor freight rolling cart because it is cheap (around 50 bucks US) and I could drive down and get one today.

I purchased Plastic Locking Grommets from dangoodbuy off of Ebay because they were cheap. The size you will need for the Bridgport QC30 tooling is 1 3/8 inside diameter, 1 7/8 outside diameter and 1 3/4 hole saw size grommets. (I purchased a package of 12 for about 10 bucks).

To complete this project you are going to need GLOVES and SAFETY GLASSES, a power drill, WD40 (if you want your bit to last), a 1 3/4 inch hole saw, vacuum, a couple of small hammers (and or a mallet), and towels.

I choose to place my holes approx 3 inches apart and marked them with a silver sharpie, (A center punch or anything to scratch the paint will work, I kind of free handed this since I didn't really need a professional looking job).

Part of my reasoning for the hole placement is I only need 12-16 holes for my tool holders and I will be adding more to the cart in future instructables.

Drill you holes with light to moderate pressure and squirt a little WD40 on the spot you are drilling so the drill bit lasts longer (I used a nice Carbide tipped one from Home Depot).

Vacuum and wipe up debris from drilling.

Take a hammer under the cart surface that is bent and a second hammer or mallet on the top side to gently tap any warps, bends, or dents back to flush.

Grommets snap in easily from the top.

Load up your tools and make some use of your inexpensive CNC tooling caddie.