CNC woodworking involves using a computer and software to control the movement of wood-cutting tools. The process includes creating a design in CAD, translating it into CAM, and using G-code to transfer the information to the cutting tool. The final step is creating the product. Hobbyists can save money by using older machine models and downloading software for free or at a cost.
Computer numerical control, or CNC woodworking, involves the mechanical movement of wood-cutting tools that receive instructions for particular cuts via a computer and software. Learning CNC woodworking includes the steps required to create the design on the machinery that makes the cuts. A computer, worktable, lathes and routers generally comprise a CNC woodworking system.
The first step in CNC woodworking requires creating the two- or three-dimensional design that the operator wants the machine to replicate. The hobbyist or operator then recreates the design in the computer aided design (CAD) program. The software requests information about the size and type of material receiving the cuts. The program illustrates the dimensions of the material on the x, y and z axes before and after the removal of the wood.
Computer Aided Machining (CAM) translates the illustration into a computer-understandable language. Different tool palettes create various cuts, and the operator must choose which model of tool or models he wants to use. The software also allows the user to enter the exact coordinates of the cuts, which indicate the location on the work plane receiving the cuts or wood removal. The program indicates when and where machining starts, stops and which directions the cutting tool should follow. The operator also enters the speeds at which the cutting tool starts, stops, and makes each cut.
Machinists often refer to the entire program containing all required cuts as a G-code, which is a file containing a specific design. Files are often saved and used repeatedly as a template for future work or changed to size or style dimensions. Industrial woodworking environments typically use CNC machine models to create a variety of replicated pieces. The G-code transfers this information to the cutting tool via the controllers. This equipment connects the machine and the worktable with the computer via motors and cables.
The last step involved in CNC woodworking involves creating the actual product. With the information entered into the computer, the computer hooked up to the machinery, and the machinery turned on, the CNC system creates the finished product. The types of woodworking tools needed for a CNC operation are up to the user. The cutting tool itself may be nothing more than a small rotary hand tool mounted on a DIY table. The countertop can be commercially manufactured or even homemade.
Because the computer only needs to contain one program, many hobbyists implement much older machine models into a CNC system, saving hundreds of dollars. Internet CNC software downloads cost anywhere from zero to thousands of dollars, depending on the complexity of the program. The wires and motors that drive the machinery could cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars and are typically the most expensive aspect of CNC woodworking.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
