The 5 best tips for getting started with CNC

In today's post we are going to cover tips for getting started with CNC machining. For the purpose of times sake, we are going to assume that most users have the basic principles down (using computer power to cut accurate and repeatable designs in a wide range of materials). No matter your technical skills or budget we are going to show you the basic steps needed to pick a machine and start cutting.

Types of CNC Machines. There are a few basic types of machines to consider. Most machines are classified by the material you are looking to cut. The most common types of CNC machines include Milling machines, Routers, Plasma cutters, Lazer cutters and lathes.

Milling machines are used in many metal machining shops and can cut some serious metal. These are useful if you are wanting to machine solid blocks of aluminum alloy and other very rigid materials. Plasma tables are recommended for cutting stainless steel, and aluminum sheeting up to 1 1/2” thick in some cases along with many other metals. Router table are extremely versatile in that they use a spinning bit to cut through your substrate. Router tables have the ability to cut wood, acrylic, foam, and metal depending on the power of the machine. Lazer cutters are also a great option if you want to create highly detailed artwork on the surface of the material or plan to weld your parts together after being cut. CNC lathes work much like making pottery. They spin the bulk material and the machine will create symmetrical cuts along the long axis of object.

1 What products will you want to make? This is a good question to help narrow down what type of machine you will need. Are you looking to make cabinets, signs, Metal artwork, high tolerance automotive parts or do you need a multi-head machine with a router and a plasma etc. Choosing a machine that can handle the size of material you plan to use is key. Will you be making small hand held parts or larger items from a 4’x8’ sheet or larger.

2 Choosing the right software to get started. In the world of CNC there are 2 basic stages of model creation. The first process of designing of your part (often referred to as CAD) the second stage is known as CAM this is where you tell the machine how you want your part to be machined. There are many types of software available (Easle, VCarve Pro, Fusion 360, CAMDuct). In our experience Fusion 360 is a great starting place because of its usability and because it offers an all-in-one-solution for CAD and CAM. It is the software that I personally use on a daily basis. If you're interested in Fusion 360 Lars Christenson does an excellent job of explaining how to use this powerful software via youtube. Follow this link if you want to know more about Fusion 360.

3 Consider Building your Own. I know this sounds a bit far-fetched at first glance; however, considering you can spend thousands of dollars on a name brand CNC machine. It can be a big commitment to purchase one of these. One way that we recommend is purchasing a kit from a place like V1 Engineering. Their kits are well engineered, fun to assemble and are quite affordable ($300-$600). I personally purchased the Lowrider kit from them and had it up and running in one weekend . This is a great way to learn the fundamentals before jumping into the larger more expensive machines. We would not recommend this route if you shy away from the technical side of things. AVIDCNC also offers kits to build. There product is in the middle price range. A little more robust than the V1engineering products but also a bit more advanced in assembly http://www.cncrouterparts.com/.

4 Research Speeds and Feeds. This is the hardest concept to grasp in our opinion to getting started. If you can master this category then you will automatically set yourself apart from the CNC beginner crowd. Now for more clarity. Speeds and feed refer to the speed of your tool across your material. We will not go into detail about this in this post. Although the basic principal is you don’t want your cutter to move too fast or you will wear out your tool and possibly damage your machine. If you go to slow you risk burning your material and spending all day watching your machine cut out garbage. V1 engineering has a detailed post covering this topic and can help you hone in on the sweet spot . NYC CNC has a speeds and feed template that is a god-send for someone just getting started.

4 Tool selection. Tools are the part of the machine that engages your material. Router bits are the most common tooling type with CNC machining. There are many types of bit depending on your material . The cheapest and lowest quality are made of steel. I recommend starting with a cheap bundle of endmills. These are quite fragile and do not hold an edge for very long which makes them perfect for playing around with your speeds and feeds. You can pick up a pack for around $20.00 and still have great success with them https://amzn.to/2HNnDYN. When you’re ready to start cutting materials for production you might consider getting a higher quality bit. Carbide bits are fantastic for holding an edge and avoiding breakage. Purchasing 1 of these bits will set you back between $30-$60 but they will last 10 times as long as their cheaper steel counter parts https://amzn.to/2v6hcxg.

5 Check Market place. CNC machines are becoming more common by the day. By keeping your eye out on Facebook marketplace or craigslist you can find some really good used machines at a fraction of the cost of a new one. Some will include tools and software to get you started. Some of the larger machines can be found on online auction houses such as industrial-auctions that sell industrial equipment. The bottom line is there are a ton of options for you to get started in CNC without breaking the bank.