Moldmaking can sometimes require finesse. In order to create a usable die or mold, you need both precision and a quality surface finish. As we all know, there is an art to things like feeds and speeds; moldmaking will put that to the test.

There is a lot of calculation that goes into buying your first mill. It’s a big decision, but when you pull the trigger, it’s important to keep yourself prepared and organized. 

Learning CNC can be a daunting task. Even if you’ve already mastered the concept of moving from napkin sketch to CAD to CAM, you still have to take raw material and cut a part… make some chips, as we say.

For those of you looking to step up the efficiency and ease-of-use of your Tormach mill or router, adding an ETS is a worthy upgrade to consider. An Electronic Tool Setter (ETS) is a device that sits on your machine table and acts as a ‘switch’, telling the PathPilot control when a tool touches the top of the ETS at which point the control records the Z position of the machine.

CNC entrepreneurs come in many different varieties. Some run their businesses like a small machine shop, doing parts for larger companies and shops, while some create their own products to sell online or to fellow machinists.

From washing and polishing to powder coating and sandblasting, there are endless ways to finish your parts. When you’re dealing with aluminum or titanium, anodizing is one of the most popular.