Portland, Oregon · Local pickup

BuildYourCNC blackToe 2×4 CNC router project

This is my previously assembled and operating blackToe-class CNC router, now disassembled and being sold as a complete reassembly project. The historical photos and video below show this exact machine in use before it was taken apart.

$500 OBO

See what is included

2×4-class work area Mach3 / parallel-port era controls One motor driver needs replacement

What this is

A real working CNC that is now a rebuild project

This machine is from the older BuildYourCNC blackToe DIY-router family. I built and used it for cutting sheet parts, signs and detailed routed work. I later disassembled it, and I am selling the machine in parts rather than rebuilding a table just to put it back into service.

The exact blackToe hardware revision has not been confirmed, so the linked BuildYourCNC instructions should be treated as reference material and compared to the actual parts shown here.

Important condition note

This is not a plug-in-and-cut machine today. It needs a new table/base, reassembly, alignment, a replacement stepper motor driver, and normal inspection/testing of the older electronics and wiring.

The table shown in the historical photos is not included.

What you get

Most of the specialized CNC parts are already here

Frame & motion

Y-axis gantry assembly
Z-axis assembly with router mount
Stepper motors
Roller chain, sprockets and drive hardware
Z-axis leadscrew and hardware
Cable carrier / drag chain
Chain-end / mounting blocks
T-slot aluminum extrusions for the buyer-built table

Control system

Enclosed controller box
Probotix breakout board
Three stepper-driver positions
Toroidal transformer and DC supply
Fuse and power-control hardware
DB25 parallel cable
PCI parallel-port card
Mach3 hand pendant

Router & tooling

Porter-Cable 8902 router motor
120 V / 12 A
10,000–23,000 RPM
Think & Tinker / PreciseBits collet system
1/8 in collet
1/4 in collet
1/2 in collet
Collet nut and wrench

Known issue

One stepper motor driver needs to be replaced.

Because the machine has been disassembled and stored, the buyer should inspect and test the wiring and electronics during reassembly rather than assuming every connection is ready to power immediately.

What the buyer needs to add

This is a capable project, not a turnkey machine

Build a rigid table/base sized for the 2×4-class machine.
Install the included T-slot aluminum extrusions and machine hardware on the new table.
Reassemble and square the gantry and Z axis.
Install the motors, chain drive, cable carrier and wiring.
Replace the known-bad stepper motor driver.
Supply and configure a control PC and CNC software.
Inspect, test and calibrate the completed machine before use.

Historical proof

This exact machine was assembled and used

These are older photos and video of the router before disassembly. They are included to show what the parts become and the kinds of work the machine performed.

Historical video of this machine operating before disassembly.

Current condition

Annotated parts inventory

The machine is being sold in the disassembled condition shown here. Click any image for a larger view.

Annotated overview of disassembled blackToe CNC parts — Major disassembled parts

Annotated Y-axis gantry assembly — Y-axis gantry

Annotated CNC control box overview — Control box overview

Annotated stepper drivers and Probotix breakout electronics — Drivers & breakout electronics

Annotated transformer and DC supply — Transformer & DC supply

Annotated AC power side of controller — AC power side

Annotated Porter-Cable 8902 router motor — Porter-Cable 8902 router

Annotated PreciseBits collets and collet nut — PreciseBits collets

Annotated Mach3 CNC hand pendant — Mach3 hand pendant

PCI parallel port interface card for CNC control computer — PCI parallel-port card

Reassembly resources

Original BuildYourCNC references are still available

Because the exact revision of this older machine is not confirmed, compare the videos and instructions to the actual hardware shown above. The resources below cover both older and later blackToe generations.

BuildYourCNC blackToe 2×4 product / instruction page Later-version assembly videos, wiring references and blackToe documentation. Legacy blackToe Version 2.0 support Older blackToe assembly material that may be closer to this machine's generation. Original blackToe Version 2.0 assembly series — first video BuildYourCNC's 2009 assembly series. blackToe Version 4 2×4 assembly — Step 1 Start of the later BuildYourCNC step-by-step assembly series. Wayback Machine — archived blackToe product/instruction page Historical captures of the former BuildYourCNC item page. Think & Tinker / PreciseBits collet information Reference for the precision collet system included with the router.

For sale

$500 OBO

Local pickup in Portland, Oregon. The machine is sold as a disassembled DIY/reassembly project in the condition shown. There are too many large and awkward parts for shipping to be practical.

Contact: message me through the Facebook Marketplace listing.

Included: gantry, Z-axis/router mount, motors, chain drive, controller, Mach3 pendant, Porter-Cable 8902, PreciseBits collets, wiring and hardware shown.

Not included: the historical table/base, control computer, CNC software license, replacement motor driver, cutting bits/end mills.