In-Depth Articles on CNC Techniques

Our cookbooks contain a wealth of tips, techniques, and information on many different machining topics.

Our Most Popular Recipes

	CNC Feeds and Speeds Cookbook: Everything you've wanted to know and then some.
	CNCCookbook's G-Code Course: Use an Interactive Learning Tool and online courseware to learn g-code or polish your skills.

CNC Software: Digital Tooling for CNC: What are the different kinds of software associated with CNC and how do they work together? Not only CAD, CAM, and Controller Software, but also the myriad utilities and other Shop Floor and manufacturing software that may help solve your problems.

Tool Data Management: Tool length offset strategies, tool presetting, and more to increase shop efficiency (2 part article).

CAM Toolpath Strategies: Where plunge roughing, trochoidal machining, and other odd beasts are explained.

Dry Machining: The Fascinating World of Dry and Near-Dry Machining (aka What to do when your machine doesn't have flood cooling)

G-Wizard Machinist's Calculator: A Serious Machinist's Time Saver.

G-Wizard G-Code Editor: Free during Beta test!

Home Shop Hall of Fame: Amazing man caves!

Feeds and Speeds for Machining Operations

Milling Feeds and Speeds Cookbook: Everything you've wanted to know and then some.

Chip Thinning and Other Ways to Speed Your Cuts: Learn about cases where you should be upping your speeds and feeds and how to exploit them.

Quick Video Course in Feeds and Speeds: 2 videos--theory + practice.

Dry Machining: The Fascinating World of Dry and Near-Dry Machining (aka What to do when your machine doesn't have flood cooling)

G-Wizard Machinist's Calculator: A Serious Machinist's Time Saver.

Quick Video Course in Feeds and Speeds: 2 videos--theory + practice.

CNC vs Manual Cutting Speeds: Why is CNC so much harder to figure out?

G-Code, CADCAM, and CNC Software

CNCCookbook's G-Code Course: Use an Interactive Learning Tool and online courseware to learn g-code or polish your skills.

CNC Software: Digital Tooling for CNC: What are the different kinds of software associated with CNC and how do they work together?

CAM Toolpath Strategies: Where plunge roughing, trochoidal machining, and other odd beasts are explained.

First G-Code and OneCNC Walkthrough: What's it like to generate your first g-code with a CAM program for the lathe?

Rhino Tips: Some of my tips and techniques for being productive with Rhino 3D.

G-Wizard G-Code Editor: Editor, backplotter, and g-code simulator. Free during Beta test!

Tool Length Offsets: Something every CNC machinist should know a lot about.

Tool Data Management: How do you keep up with all your tooling and the compensation information? What about tool presetting?

CNC Controllers, Conversions, and Retrofits

Accuracy and Performance: What factors control the accuracy and performance of my CNC machine?

Breakout Boards: How does my PC talk to my machine?

Debugging CNC Electronics: My notes on debugging CNC electronics.

Enclosure Gallery: Looking for ideas for your electronics enclosure?

Eliminating Backlash Part 1: I'm converting a manual machine or building a new machine, how do I get rid of backlash? Why should I care?

Eliminating Backlash Part 2: My machine has all the "right" stuff, but it still has backlash. How do I get rid of it?

Master Checklist: A checklist of everything that goes into a CNC machine project together with links to appropriate pages here.

Noise Problems: Diagnosing and fixing noise problems in CNC systems.

Stepper, Servo & Backlash Simulator: Wherein we explore the perennial debate over steppers vs servos and the effects of backlash.

Machining Operations and Manufacturing Recipes

Cutting Tools & Surface Finish on the Lathe: Tips & Techniques.

Cutting Tools & Surface Finish on the Mill: Tips & Techniques.

Deburring and Polishing: Techniques other than Vibratory.

Design & Manufacturing Tips: Tips & Techniques.

Drilling, Boring, and Reaming on the Lathe: Tips & Techniques.

Lathe Eccentric Turning: All the many ways to turn parts with round features not concentric.

Lathe Workholding: There are many ways to hold the workpiece while turning.

Measuring and Layout: Tips & Techniques.

Metrology: The Science of Measurement: Different tools for different tolerances.

Mill Tips & Techniques: Tips & Techniques.

Parting & Cutoff on the Lathe: Tips & Techniques.

Rotary Table Accessories and Tips: Some things you'll need if you have a rotab and a few tips on using them.

Thoughts on HSS Toolgrinding: Notes on how to grind various kinds of HSS tool.

Vibratory Deburring and Polishing: Avoid the elbow grease with a vibratory polisher.

For the Beginner

CNC: Computer Numerical Control and CNC Machines: Wondering what the heck this CNC stuff is? Try this article. It's got pointers to all the best places on the site to start learning about CNC.

Other Articles

Laser Metrology: You can use lasers in the home shop to achieve astounding accuracies.

Learning to Love Asian Machine Tools: Do I buy a new Asian or old American Iron?

Machine Restoration Tips: Tips & Techniques.

Materials, Finishes, and Treatments: Properties of different metals and how to finish them for best appearance.

Epoxy Granite Gantry Mill Design Sketch: A little different approach to building a large and rigid machine in a small shop.

Rhino Pen: A roundup of Rhino 3D CAD drawings I've done so you can see the potential of 3D CAD programs.

Ye Olde Iron Little Shop of Horrors: Notes on problems others have had with used machinery.

Stirling Model Engines

Stirling Solar Power Generation

Idea Notebooks

These are collections of photos to help inspire ideas for my own projects.

CNC Control Panels: What should be on your control panel?

Coolant Collars: A handy way to dispense flood coolant that clamps to your spindle.

Mill Fixture Plate: Makes modular fixturing and setups a snap.

Souping up a Drill Press: Something to be productive on while your CNC mill is chugging away on its own.

Press Brake Attachments for your Press. Better than a brake, not as good as a real Press Brake.

Belt Sanders: I built a disc sander, now I need a belt sander. Handy machines!

Electronics Boxes: How to build a neatly wired enclosure for your CNC electronics.

High Speed Spindle Add-On: Attach a high speed spindle to your existing spindle.

Home Shop Hall of Fame: Amazing man caves!

Lathe Tooling Organizers: Keep those QCTP holders in order.

Machine Aesthetics: Just some good looking stuff.

Machine Enclosures: Keeps chips and coolant inside and machinists outside!

Parts Gallery: CNC Parts Made in Home Shops.

Plasma Table Gallery: Got to build one someday.

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