CNC stands for computer numerical control and milling is cutting or shaping metal using a rotating tool. So a CNC mill is essentially a computer cotroled device that does the milling process.
What type of mill is in the Innovation Center?
In the innovation center we have a tormach 440 pnc mill. This is the smallest model
What are 3 things I learned about the mill?
One thing I learned is that you can change the bit depending on your project and there are many differnt bits available. Another thing I learned is that there is multiple types of milling some of thes types include face milling which is when the cutting tool is perpendicular to the workspace, plain milling which is when the tools axis of rotation is parallel to the work surface, Angle milling is when it is cutting on an angular work surface, and form milling which is on Irregular surfaces. I also learned like the router you still need to start with a 3-D model and then design the tool path.
What software do you set up a mill project in?
Fusion 360
What does the Software do?
Fusion 360 lets you set up the tool paths that the milling machine will do. It also lets you simulate the cut so you can make sure it will work good.
What would I make in the mill?
I would make something like this design pictured. I think it looks cool and would be nice to put on my desk. It also looks like it would be interesting to design.
Summary...
Like most of the other rotations I didn't get to actually do this one. I did learn some things though without getting to use the mill. I learned that milling is cutting or shaping something and I learned that we use Fusion 360 in order to program the CNC mill to cut how we want it to. I also learned there are differnt types of milling and different tools to put in the machine. Overall I think the mill is an interesting machine and It seems very useful.