Introduction
The Computer-Numerical Control Mill is a machine that uses rotary cutters to remove material. The CNC Mill is designed to cut on an XY plane. It generally has a high torque, low spin rate, and is used to cut harder materials such as steel. Usually, there will be a preset number of depths at which the spindle, the rotating drill, will destroy the preselected material in a circular motion. A popular program that designs the pieces is Fusion 360 by Autodesk.
Innovation Center
In the Waunakee High School Innovation Center, the CNC Mill is a PCNC 440, one of the smallest Tormach CNC Mills. It uses the Tormach Tooling System. The TTS contains spindles from thinner sizes the size of your pinky to thick spindles with circles the size of three fingers.
Three Interesting Facts
- Because of the hand scraped dovetail ways and over 350 pounds of cast iron reducing vibrations, the PCNC 440 can take large passes
- The CNC Mill can even engrave characters onto parts
- The CNC Mill always uses circular motions in the geometry of cutting
Fusion 360
Fusion 360 is a 3-D designing software by Autodesk that can be used to design objects for the CNC Mill. Fusion 360 can tell the machine what spindle you're using, how you want your object cut, create a circular cutting path that can cut out corners, and much more. Most importantly, Fusion 360 can tell the machine what your object is. Fusion 360 is ideal for designing small parts such as tools, equipment, and parts for machines.
Path Pilot
Path Pilot is the software that controls the CNC Mill. It allows you to send your file into the machine, and according to Tormach, is "Easy to learn (and) Easy to use." Path Pilot is cloud-based, and lets you add accessories such as a fourth axis, a power drawbar, and/or a eight tool ATC(automatic tool changer).
Design
If I could design something in a CNC Mill, I would make a intricate top that could potentially spin for minutes. I would design something with the design of the first image, but have a shape more like the second image. I would add flutes to the handle, similar to a drill bit like one in the third picture, that would fit around my fingers so I could grip the top better. I would also make the protruding circle bigger, and add a slight rippling effect. In order for the top to spin longer, I would make the protruding circle thicker around the center, and thin towards the edge without making the protruding circle too thin, like the second image. Finally, I would add a engraving of some sort onto the top's protruding circle.
Summary
I learned lots during this unit. I was not only introduced to CNC machines, I was able to learn about the different types of spindles and torque vs. spin rate. I feel like this unit was very helpful in my understanding of the Innovation, Design, Engineering, and Art world, and I'm glad I got to experience it.
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