CNC Machining Resources & Guides

Basic Guide to CNC Hobbies: Machines, CAD, Feeds

A practical basic CNC hobbies guide for engineers: machine choices, CAD/CAM workflow, workholding, feeds and speeds, and when to outsource a part.

Basic Guide to CNC Milling Machines for Engineers

A practical guide to basic CNC milling machines: how 3-axis, 4-axis and 5-axis mills cut parts, when to use each, and how to judge tolerance and finish.

Basic Information: Four-Axis Rotary Table on HMC

Basic information on the four-axis rotary table of a horizontal machining center: axis layout, B-axis indexing, workholding, and when 4-axis beats 3-axis or 5-axis.

Basic Knowledge and Advantages of CNC Wire EDM

How CNC wire-cut EDM removes hard conductive metal with a charged wire, where it beats milling, and which parts should stay on a spindle.

Basic Knowledge CNC Machining: 3D Geometry Guide

What engineers need to know about 3D CNC machining: tool access, setups, tolerances, and when a 3-axis job should move to 5-axis.

Basic Knowledge CNC Tower: Turret, ATC & Tooling

Basic knowledge CNC tower: how turrets and automatic tool changers work, repeatability, tool holding, and when a turret or ATC suits your part.

Basic Knowledge of 2 Axis CNC Machines

Basic knowledge of 2 axis CNC machines: how XY motion works, Z depth, 2.5D limits, drilling, when to choose 2 axis and when to move to 3 or 4 axis.

Basic Knowledge of 3 Axis CNC Milling: A Practical Guide

Basic knowledge 3 axis CNC milling: axis motion, setups, tolerances, tooling and when 3-axis is the right call for your part.

Basic Knowledge of 4 Axis CNC Milling Explained

A practical guide to 4 axis CNC milling: how the rotary axis works, when it beats 3 axis, part features it suits, and how to judge setup and cost.

Basic Knowledge of 5 Axis CNC Milling Explained

A shop-floor guide to 5 axis CNC milling: rotary axes, trunnion vs swivel-head layouts, when 5-axis pays off, and when 3-axis is the better call.

Basic Knowledge of a CNC Cutter Grinder

How a CNC cutter grinder works: axes, wheel selection, flute geometry, inspection, and when regrinding pays off versus buying new.

Basic Knowledge of Aluminum CNC Milling

A practical guide to aluminum CNC milling: alloys, tooling, cutting parameters, workholding, five-axis use, finishes, and when aluminum is the wrong choice.

Basic Knowledge of CNC Analysis for Machined Parts

How CNC analysis works: reading CAD models, toolpath and tolerance checks, material behavior, and when a design is not worth machining.

Basic Knowledge of CNC Axis Motion for Engineers

How CNC linear and rotary axes move, what 3-axis vs 4-axis vs 5-axis can and cannot reach, and how axis choice affects tolerance and setup.

Basic Knowledge of CNC Bending: Press Brake Guide

Basic knowledge of CNC bending: how a press brake bends sheet metal, tooling and V-die selection, bend allowance, springback and when to machine instead.

Basic Knowledge of CNC Camshaft Machining

A practical guide to CNC camshaft machining: lobe geometry, materials, workholding, 5-axis setup, and the tolerances that decide valve timing.

Basic Knowledge of CNC Column Processing

How a CNC column processing center handles long bar stock in one setup: configurations, guideway choices, workholding, tolerance limits and buying checks.

Basic Knowledge of CNC Combustion Machines

How CNC combustion machines burn wood: laser and heated-tip methods, power and speed settings, material limits, and when to switch to metal parts.

Basic Knowledge of CNC Factory Programming

How CNC factory programming works: G-code, work offsets, tool libraries, CAM setup and 5-axis rules engineers should check before releasing a part.

Basic Knowledge of CNC Fixture Design for Engineers

A working guide to CNC fixture design: 3-2-1 locating, clamping force, datum choice, material selection, and when a soft jaw beats a dedicated plate.

Basic Knowledge of CNC Foam Cutting for Engineers

Basic knowledge of CNC foam cutting: foam grades, hot-wire vs milling, cut speeds, tolerances, tooling and when foam parts belong on a router.

Basic Knowledge of CNC Glass Processing

How CNC glass processing actually works: brittle-mode removal, tooling, achievable tolerances and which glass parts belong on a mill.

Basic Knowledge of CNC Grinder: Process, Types, Tolerances

Basic knowledge of CNC grinder: how abrasive wheels remove microns, wheel and coolant choices, machine types, and when grinding beats milling.

Basic Knowledge of CNC Horizontal Mill Setting

A shop-floor guide to CNC horizontal mill setting: presetting, workholding, offsets, dry runs and first-article checks for accurate multi-face parts.