Tormach CNC Milling Machine

Required Badge	Required PPE

Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) documents, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) information, and Operator's Manuals can be found in the Safety and Manuals section.

This machine is covered under the CNC training. Users who have not completed this training cannot use this machine.

CNC:

1. When facing with a superfly on aluminum, use 1500 RPM, 9% velocity slider (~10 ipm)
2. When performing cuts on a thin sheet of aluminum, stabilize it on either side with 1-2-3 blocks. Also, to reduce chatter, face with an 1/2" endmill using 1500 RPM and 9% velocity slider (~10 ipm)
3. When cutting a thin plate of aluminum stock, tools like the 1/2" and the shear hog will induce too much pressure and cause chatter. This can be prevented by performing your adaptive and contour operations with a small bit such as a 3/16".
4. Always reference Z first
5. Max grip on the vice is 5.3"
6. If the safety enclosure is not properly closed, the spindle velocity will drop to 1000 RPM provided the machine is running.
7. Because of the tram on the mill, the superfly will face better when cutting from right to left.

CNC 101: Turning on the mill

1. Open the mill enclosure door and turn on the power by rotating the red switch in the mill enclosure 90 degrees clockwise.
2. Once the computer monitor has booted up, release the E-stop by rotating the red button (just to the right of the mill's doors) clockwise about 90 degrees. Then, press the green button to the right of the E-stop.
3. On the computer monitor, click the flashing red "reset" button
4. Click the "REF Z" button. This will bring the Z-axis to its home. Always reference the Z axis first as there will never be any obstructions to mill in the positive Z direction.
5. Once the green LED next to REF Z is visible, click "REF X" and then "REF Y".
6. Verify that there are green circles above each of the REF buttons before continuing.
7. Include note about disabling reference switches

Setting up your stock.

1. Grab a piece of the 6" long 2x4 wood stock
2. Open the mill's enclosure doors and widen the vice by rotating the vice's lead screw counter clockwise
3. Wipe the holding portion of the vice clean with a rag
4. Place two parallels into the vice so that they're snug to each side. Use thick ones, as the corners of the 2x4 are probably rounded.
5. Place the 2x4 on top of the parallels, ensuring that one of the parallels protrudes 1/4" outside of the 2x4. Tighten the vice with the lever and tap the 2x4 with a mallet to ensure it's resting completely on the parallels. It's better to overtighten so the 2x4 won't come loose.

Referencing your stock.

1. Open the spindle access by undoing the clasp to the chamber above the mill's spindle. Swing the door fully open (pic)
2. If there is an end mill currently loaded into the mill, pivot the black clasp over the spindle cylinder (may need to rotate cylinder so that the two flat sides match the flat sides of the clasp). (Gif needed)
3. Take the gold tipped hammer and fit it over the spindle. Grab hold of the end mill below to stabillize it, and rotate the hammer and spindle counter clockwise. Once the spindle is loose, tap the top of the spindle and the end mill should come free.
4. Return the end mill to its appropriate holder and grab the heimer probe from its holder.
5. Insert the Heimer probe into the spindle spot, attach the spindle hammer, and rotate clockwise until tight. Flip up the black clasp and shut the spindle door (door won't shut unless the clasp has been lifted).