CNC Beginner’s Guide

You may not realize it, but many of the manufactured objects that are part of our everyday lives have been created with the aid of CNC (Computer Numeric Control) technology. From the auto, food, construction, and medical industries to manufacturing of components of all sizes, on a variety of materials such as wood, metal, cardboard, plastic, and more, CNC machines are often behind the processes. While CNC machining has been around since the 1960s, it wasn’t until relatively recently that the machines and the software that runs them have become more versatile, affordable, and accessible to the masses. As a result, more CNCs are being used than ever, by professional machinists and hobbyists alike.

CNC Beginner’s Guide presents the topic in a logical fashion, progressing from basics to more advanced subjects, using hands-on, project-based activities throughout. While the processes might be similar from one CNC machine to the next, every machine is inherently different in the way it behaves, the kinds of forces it is able to handle, and how it executes the work at hand, along with the level of precision it is capable of. Thompson helps readers of all skill levels navigate the nuances so they can become more proficient and efficient CNC machinists.

This fantastic work includes important information on tooling and fundamentals of cutting feeds and speeds. The appendix contains vital machining equations, tables of standard values, and suggested starting points for creating and tweaking your personalized tool libraries. An accompanying website rounds out the package with tutorial videos to help readers learn how to use the software and apply the concepts in the book to actual CNC programs.

Unique Features

• Inside tips and tricks from a CNC professional with a broad background of art, engineering, architecture, and teaching.
• In-depth discussions of using Fusion, the design environment and basic drawing tools, and CAD, the manufacturing environment, as well as creating programs for running on CNC machines.
• An affiliated website, cncbeginner.com, is perfect for visual learners, with helpful online video tutorials, color photographs, and graphs seen in the book with more detailed explanation.

Steven Thompson earned a degree in Physics from UC Irvine and learned machining at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. Over the past decade, he has been teaching classes at all levels in both manual and CNC machining. Thompson is a self-taught artist, designer, fabricator/builder, and small-scale architect working with museums, design students, artists, and small companies to create, educate, and empower at the intersection of art, science, design, fabrication, and manufacturing.

Ch. 1—Introduction

Ch. 2—Overview

Ch. 3—Machining Concepts Part 1

Ch. 4—Machining Concepts, Part 2

Ch. 5—Tools and Tool Libraries

Ch. 6—CNC Programming, Part 1

Ch. 7—CNC Programming, Part 2

Appendix Tables and Charts—General Machining Equations; Cutting Speeds (SPM); Chiploads; Fusion Sample Tool Libraries; Depth of Cut; Optimal Loads; Tool Libraries (for this book).