Practical CNC

Get started in the world of CNC machining with this contemporary, easy-to-use guide that helps you understand, operate, and improve a CNC machine. Sure, you'll find many CNC projects and guides on the Internet, but together they present contradictory information and a bunch of different hardware and software platforms. This authoritative guide gives you a firm grounding in the fundamentals, whether you want to make one-of-a-kind artworks or manufacture complex prototypes. Author Noah Feehan, a maker at The New York Times R&D Lab, also includes a useful curriculum of projects that increase in complexity and scope. Once you've explored these projects, keep Practical CNC handy around the shop as a quick reference guide to the important aspects of CNC machining. This book is ideal for hobbyists as well as professional engineers, designers, artists, and STEM or STEAM educators looking for a durable, ready-at-hand, comprehensive guide to a lifetime of CNC fun.Learn how to decompose an idea or sketch into the operations the machine will use to carve objects Explore the materials available for creating prototypes or durable, finished products Understand how to "think in toolpaths" to optimize your jobs for time, surface finish, and overall quality Improve your skills in machining as you master feeds, speeds, and chip clearance