Day 1: Fundamentals & Machine Architecture
The first day is all about safety and understanding the "beast" you’re operating. You can't cut metal until you understand how the machine moves.
Safety Protocols: Emergency stops, door interlocks, and chip management.
The Cartesian Coordinate System: Understanding the X, Y, and Z axes, plus spindle orientation.
Tooling Basics: Identifying end mills, face mills, drills, and collets.
Workholding: How to use vises, parallels, and clamps to ensure the part doesn't move under pressure.
Day 2: Setup, Offsets, and G-Code
Day two is the "bridge" between the digital design and the physical machine. This is where most beginners feel the steepest learning curve.
Setting Work Offsets (G54): Telling the machine exactly where the raw material is located on the table.
Tool Length Offsets: Measuring how far each tool sticks out so the machine doesn't "crash" into the table.
Introduction to G-Code: Learning the "language" of the machine.
G00: Rapid motion (moving fast).
G01: Linear interpolation (controlled cutting).
M-Codes: Miscellaneous functions (e.g., M08 for coolant, M30 for program end).
Speeds and Feeds: Calculating how fast the tool should spin (RPM) and how fast it should move through the metal (IPM).
Day 3: CAM Programming & Real-World Cutting
On the final day, you move from manual data entry to using software and actually "making chips."
CAM Software (Fusion 360/Mastercam): Importing a 3D model and selecting "toolpaths" (the route the tool takes).
Simulation: Running the program on a computer first to catch any potential collisions.
Post-Processing: Converting your digital design into a .nc file the machine can read.
The "First Run": Air-cutting (running the program above the part) followed by the actual machining of a test piece.
