CNC Paper Cutting Machine

Do you need to cut a bunch of paper strips? Well, now you can accomplish this task automatically with your own Arduino-based cutting device. The project by YouTuber “Mr Innovative” uses a NEMA 17 stepper, along with a pair of gears and several rollers, to advance the paper under a 1D gantry setup bearing a razor blade. The blade is then pulled over the paper using another stepper and a timing belt, producing perfect cuts every time — or at least every time shown in the demo video below.

The cutter is powered by an Arduino Mega, which communicates with the steppers via a pair of A4988 stepper drivers on a nicely-designed custom shield. Human interface is provided by six buttons with a tiny OLED display for feedback, allowing for manual or automatic operation. When working automatically, the user inputs the strip length and the number needed, and the machine takes care of the rest!

If you’d like to build your own, Arduino code, an electrical diagram, and the PCB design are all available as a compressed file here. The concept looks like a great intro to DIY CNC, and with heavier hardware, could even be used to cut plastics or more rigid materials!