1. Responsive_Web_Design_Themes : Part I
CNC Machining
Everything before this topic is preparation. CNC Machining is where the rubber meets the
road. All the steps of CNC before machining are just preparing for the machining phase of
the project. A simple definition of machining is removing material. You remove material in
various ways to come up with the part or piece.
CNC Machining can be performed on numerous types of material. For example, wood,
steel, aluminum, and stone. Machining generally has higher tolerances associated with it.
When machining, you are trying to do something more precise.
In machining, we use some sort of tool. This tool could be a grinder, drill bit, end mill, router
bit or other tool. There are infinite variations of tools. CNC Tooling generally costs a fair
amount of money. Once you invest in your tooling though, you can use it again and again
until it wears out. If you have a large variety of different tools, you will be able to perform a
large variety of machining types.
Here is a list of common tooling used in CNC Machines:
Drill bits
End mills
Plasma cutter
Dovetail cutter
Fly cutter
If you would like to look at different types of CNC tooling, go to one of these sources on the
Internet:
Enco
Travers
McMasters-Carr
Grainger
Flip through a few of these suppliers' catalogs and you will get an idea about the infinite
styles of tooling.
CNC is used in the machining process. Generally, you can get better accuracy, quicker
production, and overall efficiencies when utilizing CNC machining. This is why it has
become so popular. In the past, CNC machining was very costly. Over time, it has become
somewhat inexpensive and now people do it as a hobby. I am guessing that is why you are
here.
Here are a few different types of CNC machines that perform various machining processes:

2. Milling machines
Wood routers
Plasma cutters
Foam cutters
Press brakes
Lathes
Cutoff saws
People have successfully applied CNC to virtually any type of motion control. The only thing
that will limit you is your imagination.
Hiring a web designer to come up with the custom solution that you need can set you back
a few thousand bucks. But you can do the whole thing yourself and make it drag and drop
simple for mere pennies with a tool like Breezy Websites. See http://breezywebsites.com
for details!
RESPONSIVE_WEB_DESIGN_THEMES : End of Part I
Responsive_Web_Design_Themes : Part II
CNC Process Overview
Quick Explanation of the Process
This is how I view CNC. I break it down into simple steps that I can remember. Now, they all
interact, but it is good to keep them in boxes for simplicity sake. I also like to keep them in a
logical, progression type order. Here they are: Design, CAD, CAM, Control and Machine.
Today you are going on a journey. You are going to learn about the basics of CNC. I hope
you are as excited as I am about this topic.
I have been using CNC equipment in my home shop for six years now. The technology gets
better and better every year.
The software gets better every year. At one time large companies could only afford this
technology. Now there are hundreds of thousands of these machines working in garages
like yours and mine.
There are basically five elements to a CNC Project that you need to know:
Design - thinking and planning what you want to build

3. CAD - translating it into the computer
CAM - converting it into machine language
Controlling - directing your machine's motion
Machining - building the part to specifications
These five elements are really the building blocks to a CNC project. As you see them
above, that is generally the order people associate them in. For example, you can't control
until you have a design. You can't use your CAM software before your CAD software. One
of the main things you need to address is how these elements interact with each other.
Right now this may seem confusing. Over time, it will seem very basic. The more you use
these elements with one another, the more their order will become second nature.
Note: The A-axis is the rotational axis. Why is it called that? I don't know. It is also
sometimes called the B-axis. I have even heard it called the W-axis. A-axis is the rotational
axis around the X-axis. B-axis is the rotational axis around the Y-axis.
Buying a completed CNC Machine
If you purchase a CNC machine outright, it will have a machine controller as part of the
package. Everyone does it a bit different though. Some try to make it a black box that only
they can fix. Other use commonly used components so you could repair it if need be. You
will just have to ask the manufacturer and see what they say. My experience says they
usually tell you that it uses common components that you can get anywhere if needed. If
something goes wrong, it seems you can only get the part from them. You will have to
decide.
Internal Machine Controller Parts
There are many different electrical components that go into a machine controller. I won't
pretend that I am an expert on this. Actually, this is one of the components I buy pre-made
so I don't have to do it. If you are an electronics junkie you could build your own. I know
where my skills are at and it isn't in assembling and understanding electronics.
Here is what I know about the guts of a controller. There will be drivers. One for each axis.
Hiring a web designer to come up with the custom solution that you need can set you back
a few thousand bucks. But you can do the whole thing yourself and make it drag and drop
simple for mere pennies with a tool like Breezy Websites. See http://breezywebsites.com
for details!
RESPONSIVE_WEB_DESIGN_THEMES : End of Part II
Responsive_Web_Design_Themes : Part III

4. CNC Process Overview
Quick Explanation of the Process
This is how I view CNC. I break it down into simple steps that I can remember. Now, they all
interact, but it is good to keep them in boxes for simplicity sake. I also like to keep them in a
logical, progression type order. Here they are: Design, CAD, CAM, Control and Machine.
Today you are going on a journey. You are going to learn about the basics of CNC. I hope
you are as excited as I am about this topic.
I have been using CNC equipment in my home shop for six years now. The technology gets
better and better every year.
The software gets better every year. At one time large companies could only afford this
technology. Now there are hundreds of thousands of these machines working in garages
like yours and mine.
There are basically five elements to a CNC Project that you need to know:
Design - thinking and planning what you want to build
CAD - translating it into the computer
CAM - converting it into machine language
Controlling - directing your machine's motion
Machining - building the part to specifications
These five elements are really the building blocks to a CNC project. As you see them
above, that is generally the order people associate them in. For example, you can't control
until you have a design. You can't use your CAM software before your CAD software. One
of the main things you need to address is how these elements interact with each other.
Right now this may seem confusing. Over time, it will seem very basic. The more you use
these elements with one another, the more their order will become second nature.
Note: The A-axis is the rotational axis. Why is it called that? I don't know. It is also
sometimes called the B-axis. I have even heard it called the W-axis. A-axis is the rotational
axis around the X-axis. B-axis is the rotational axis around the Y-axis.
Buying a completed CNC Machine
If you purchase a CNC machine outright, it will have a machine controller as part of the
package. Everyone does it a bit different though. Some try to make it a black box that only
they can fix. Other use commonly used components so you could repair it if need be. You
will just have to ask the manufacturer and see what they say. My experience says they
usually tell you that it uses common components that you can get anywhere if needed. If

5. something goes wrong, it seems you can only get the part from them. You will have to
decide.
Internal Machine Controller Parts
There are many different electrical components that go into a machine controller. I won't
pretend that I am an expert on this. Actually, this is one of the components I buy pre-made
so I don't have to do it. If you are an electronics junkie you could build your own. I know
where my skills are at and it isn't in assembling and understanding electronics.
Here is what I know about the guts of a controller. There will be drivers. One for each axis.
Hiring a web designer to come up with the custom solution that you need can set you back
a few thousand bucks. But you can do the whole thing yourself and make it drag and drop
simple for mere pennies with a tool like Breezy Websites. See http://breezywebsites.com
for details!
RESPONSIVE_WEB_DESIGN_THEMES : End of Part III

6. something goes wrong, it seems you can only get the part from them. You will have to
decide.
Internal Machine Controller Parts
There are many different electrical components that go into a machine controller. I won't
pretend that I am an expert on this. Actually, this is one of the components I buy pre-made
so I don't have to do it. If you are an electronics junkie you could build your own. I know
where my skills are at and it isn't in assembling and understanding electronics.
Here is what I know about the guts of a controller. There will be drivers. One for each axis.
Hiring a web designer to come up with the custom solution that you need can set you back
a few thousand bucks. But you can do the whole thing yourself and make it drag and drop
simple for mere pennies with a tool like Breezy Websites. See http://breezywebsites.com
for details!
RESPONSIVE_WEB_DESIGN_THEMES : End of Part III