Omnicut – Modular CNC System

Omnicut was my first major project, started in December 2022 during my first year of high school. At that point, my only real technical experience came from being a member of Kronbot, our high school robotics team.

The goal of Omnicut was to create a modular CNC system capable of functioning as a plotter, laser cutter, or mill. Its flexible toolhead system and full-stack control interface make it a versatile and user-friendly machine.

This project laid the foundation for my future hardware work, introducing me to firmware development, PCB design, and full-stack web integration—all built from scratch with limited resources.

Omnicut uses a modified version of GRBL firmware, with support added for Bézier curves and SVG parsing. The machine is driven by NEMA 17 stepper motors with a screw-based mechanical limit switch system.

A React-based web interface provides a complete control suite, including SVG-to-G-code conversion, 3D G-code preview, and serial communication with the Arduino microcontroller.

Additional hardware features include an enclosed frame with a ventilation fan, temperature and humidity sensors, a Z-probe for auto-calibration, modular toolheads, and an LCD control panel with fan and spindle speed adjustment.

The project began with research into existing open-source CNC systems and identifying ways to improve their flexibility and usability, especially in educational and prototyping contexts.

Development involved multiple design iterations—both mechanical and electronic—including creating a stable chassis, integrating sensors, and building a reliable limit-switching system.

The software side required custom GRBL firmware modifications, plus the creation of a full-stack control platform to manage files, commands, and real-time communication.

At InfoEducație 2023, we faced one of our biggest challenges during the 24-hour Open Stage hackathon. Our Raspberry Pi failed midway, but we managed to recover and earned 3rd place nationally.

At RoboChallenge 2023, our first international competition, everything worked as planned. After months of preparation, we delivered a strong performance and won 1st place internationally.

Omnicut became a key milestone in my development as a maker, teaching me about hardware-software integration and preparing me for future projects like ARC.

The project’s modular design philosophy would later inspire similar approaches in robotics and embedded systems work.