Source:riganelli.ca

Fundamentals of CNC Machining You need To know

The CNC machining industry is quickly growing nowadays mostly because the machines required as a part of the industry are much more affordable. What used to cost tens of thousands of dollars can now be found for a few thousand dollars. In other words, the risk to build such a business is much lower than it used to be. However, this does not mean that understanding proper CNC machining is easy. These are complicated machines and it is a skill that requires a lot of time to master. There are a lot of fundamentals you must know.

But, as the availability of CNC routers increases, there are a lot more experts and professionals in this industry. With the help of the Internet, these experts easily share all of their personal experiences and the information they have gathered over the years regarding CNC.

So, if you plan on becoming a part of this industry and investing in a CNC device, you are in the right place because I am going to provide you with all the fundamentals that you will need to know.

Proper protection gear and equipment

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To safely and successfully run a CNC shop, it is vital to get all the necessary protective gear and equipment for yourself and everyone else working for you. What exactly will you need?

Well, the most fundamental protection gear has to be the safety glasses. While working on projects, debris regularly can fly in any direction at high speeds. If this metal or wood debris hits your eye, it could cause some serious damage. So, safety approved goggles are a must. For even better protection, I recommend those that come with shields on the side.

Also important to wear hearing protection is all of these machines can be very loud when protruding into a material such as metal. You may not feel anything at first, but over time, you could seriously damage your hearing.

Leather boots are also a must. When working with such heavy materials and using heavy tools, it is important to protect your feet. One single drop of that heavy material can crush your feet. Usually, it is recommended to get leather boots with a steel plate at the tip.

I assume that many people assume that they should be wearing protective gloves while working on the machine, but the truth is the exact opposite. The gloves could easily be caught on parts of the machine.

Good etiquette around CNC devices

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Having gear to protect you from possible dangers is not enough. In fact, most of that here will not be doing a lot of protection. The best way to keep yourself and your workers safe are by having a preventative mindset. Learning about all the common and regular mistakes that happen in CNC shops will allow you to prevent any kind of injuries or damage to the equipment.

So, here is some of that shop etiquette that you will have to teach your workers.

  1. Never leave the machine operating without supervision. Even if is just for a few minutes. In those few minutes, something could definitely go wrong. This is one of the most common mistakes made.
  2. Always be mindful of where you are putting your hands. One wrong move is all it takes to cause an awful injury. Always keep your hands and feet close to your body and do not do any unnecessary sudden movements. Remember the required movements to operate the machine and stick with them.
  3. Never interrupt your fellow coworkers while they are working. Even one moment of losing concentration could cause them to make a mistake. Those mistakes lead to damage to equipment, the product and sometimes even lead to injury. So, before you approach the coworker, it is always best to announce your presence first.

Invest in a high-quality CNC router

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I mentioned previously, a lot of people are starting their own businesses in the CNC industry. This is great for both customers and the industry. More competition is always healthy. Unfortunately, a lot of these new businesses do not invest enough in their equipment. I know, it can be difficult to pay thousands of dollars for just one machine when working with a very low budget.

However, a proper CNC Router offers a lot more advantages and always produces high-quality products. The more expensive options always offer better precision, accuracy, durability, and many other features as suggested by elephant-CNC.

You should be looking at machines that have at least a 9 kW spindle with air cooling. You would not want your device to be overheating, right? But, a good spindle is not enough. Having precise control over the spindle is also essential to deliver high-quality products.

I see that a lot of experts recommend checking out the products that come with a Syntec control system and Yaskawa servo motors. Although, I am sure there are many other great options out there.

Experiment with different materials

A lot of times, you will see companies and professionals working with stainless steel. Stainless steel is always recommended for any kind of project mostly because of its long-lasting properties, hardness, and tensile strength.

However, working with stainless steel is not exactly easy. It requires a lot of experimenting and training to master the skill of cutting steel. It is recommended that you start with something a little bit easier to work with such as brass or other similar metals. It is easier to work with them, but they are also cheaper. So, even if you do make some major mistake, it will not be an expensive one. For new business, wasting your money on such mistakes is not exactly a good idea.

As already mentioned previously, mastering CNC machining is not easy and it requires a lot of practice and experience. But, if you stand by and follow these fundamentals of CNC machining, I believe that it is possible to master the skill with ease.

Peter is a freelance writer with more than eight years of experience covering topics in politics. He was one of the guys that were here when the foreignspolicyi.org started.