Intro to CNC Milling

This hands-on beginner class is designed to build confidence in using the CNC Bridgeport with the Mach 3 controller. Students will gain practical experience while creating a custom aluminum fidget spinner to take home.

The class will begin with a personal safety briefing, including PPE requirements, safe machine operation practices, and crash prevention strategies. From there, students will be introduced to CNC theory, covering coordinate systems, g-code, CAD/CAM basics, and machine offsets. A demonstration will show the full process of creating the project before each student machines their own piece, working step-by-step through turning on and homing the machine, setting tools, establishing multiple work coordinate planes, loading and running a Fusion 360 CAM program, programming a hole milling operation with the wizard feature, and transferring a workpiece for a second operation.

Throughout the session, students will observe and support one another, ensuring plenty of opportunities to learn from both demonstration and practice. By the end of the class, participants will not only leave with their finished fidget spinner, but also with the confidence and foundational knowledge to safely approach future projects on the CNC Bridgeport.

Optional prerequisites: Lathe class and Bridgeport class.

Instructor: Stephen Day

Bio: My name is Stephen Day, "Steve" is also fine. My first job at a machine shop was at Labombard Machine Corp in Methuen, MA, in 2005, and I have been working in machine shops since then. Currently, I am employed as a Machinist Leader at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, where I have worked since 2010. My goal in this class is for every student to gain the ability and confidence to use the CNC Bridgeport to accomplish their own fabrication goals.

Class for 18+ only.

Class available for up to 4 attendees.

Registration closes three (3) days before the event.

Attendees can receive refunds up to 7 days before your event start date.

Active members receive 25% off class list price.

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