[YouTube] I Built a Custom Brain for My CNC to Fix This Wiring Nightmare (Retrofit Pt. 2)

Custom PCB for Kitamura CNC Retrofit (Part 2)

This is Part 2 of my Kitamura CNC retrofit project, where I replace decades-old wiring with a custom breakout PCB for the Centroid Hickory controller. The goal: turn a messy wiring nightmare into a clean, reliable, and future-proof control system.

In this build log, I cover the entire process from schematic design in EasyEDA to solving real-world interface challenges, like integrating a 5V Renishaw probe and generating a 0–10V VFD signal for the coolant pump. You’ll also see the practical side of PCB manufacturing: applying solder paste with a stencil, hand-placing SMD components, and watching the reflow soldering process bring everything together.

This project shows how a custom PCB can simplify CNC wiring, improve reliability, and make retrofits more maintainable in the long run.

👉 Watch the full video here: YouTube – From Messy Wiring to Clean PCB