cnc mill tutorial

8/6/2019 CNC Mill Tutorial

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CNC Mill Tutorial

By: Joe Hershberger

August 06, 2003


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CNC Mill Tutorial Oklahoma State University

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Initialization1) Turn on the control module.2) Open IsoPro.

Design Import

3) File->ImportDrill Files. 4) File->ImportGerber Files.

Figure 1: Import Drill Files. Figure 2: Import Gerber Files Set Precision.

Figure 3: Imported design.


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5) Import top layer AGAIN for use as a board outline.6) Delete board outline from top layer and delete trace information from duplicate

top layer.

Turn off edit on all other layers using the color coded display.

Use select tool to select the unwanted data. Hit delete.

Figure 4: Layer list.

Figure 5: Additional layer with only board outline data.


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7) ViewLayer Table. 8) Select mirror on bottom layer and board outline layer.9) Click OK.

Figure 6: Set Bottom layer and Board Outline layer to mirror.


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Isolation10) ToolsIsolate (Top and Bottom layer).

Figure 7: Isolate layers.

Figure 8: Isolated top and bottom layers.


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11) ToolsIsolate (Board Outline).

Figure 9: Isolate Board outline.

Figure 10: Isolated board outline.


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12) Delete inner isolation from board outline. 13) ViewLayer Table.

Figure 11: Inner board outline deleted.

Figure 12: Verify the Bottom and Board Outline layers are mirrored

14) Verify bottom isolation layer and board isolation layer are mirrored.15) Click OK.16) Save an .iso file.


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Manufacturing Setup17) MillInitialize.18) MillMaterial Change.19) Mount Board Material.

Drill first mounting hole.

Insert first dowel pin to align the board and the backing material. Drill second mounting hole while lining up the board.

Insert the first dowel pin into the Primary Pinning Hole on the millingtable.

Figure 13: Drill the first mounting hole. Figure 14: Align the board and backing materialwith a dowel pin.

Figure 15: Drill the second mounting hole. Figure 16: Insert the first dowel pin into thePrimary Pinning Hole.


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Place board and backing material on the dowel pin in the Primary PinningHole

Insert second dowel pin through board and backing material into groovefor alignment.

Tape down the board and the buffer material.

Figure 17: Place buffer material and board on Figure 18: Tape down board and bufferdowel pins. material.

20) Align design to board. Zoom out and find the home position.

Set all layers to edit.

EditSelectAll Data.

Offset tool bar button.

Figure 19: All layers selected to align to board material. Figure 20: Offset toolbar button


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Drag to position design on a reasonable part on board material.

Figure 21: Board offset to fit on board material.

EditDeselectAll Data.

Verify Design Location.i. Right click on opposite corners of the Board Outline.ii. MachineJump to Cursor.iii. Verify that the machine moves from corner to corner where you

want board to be machined.

Figure 22: Top-Right corner verification. Figure 23: Bottom-Left corner verification.


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Drilling21) Mill->Tool Change.

Insert the proper drill bit. Set drill bit depth using spare board material as a gauge.

Figure 24: Insert the proper drill bit. Figure 25: Use Spare board material to setdrill bit depth.

Figure 26: Set the drill bit depth.


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Push down on the mill head assembly and verify that pressure footbumper will contact the board; if not, loosen solenoid knob until it would.

Check visually that top stop is high enough to allow drill bit to clear board.

Press OK (Tool will return to the previous location).

Adjust top stop until drill bit is approximately 1/16 inch above the board.

22) Right click the drill layer in the layer list.23) Run layer.

Head will move to tool change.

Verify the proper drill bit is inserted.

Hit OK.

Figure 27: Start the drilling.

24) Repeat for each drill bit (only drill bit depth may need adjustment, other settingswill remain the same).


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Milling25) Right click the TOP isolated layer.26) Run layer.

Set Tool ParametersInches/min to 10 (important).

Insert proper end mill.

Adjust Knurl Nut so that the pressure foot bumper is below the end mill (sothat no cutting will be possible at first).

Adjust top stop so that pressure foot bumper will clear the board.

Figure 28: Set tool parameters for milling


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Click Jog. i. Click Run (this will move the mill head over the board).ii. Jog using the four directional buttons to an unused part of the

board.iii. Click Spindle On.

iv. Click Head Down.v. Adjust Knurl Nut (while machining) minus until end mill beginscutting all the way through the copper layer of the board.

vi. Click Head Up.vii. Click Spindle Off.viii. Adjust the top stop such that the end mill bit is approximately 1/16

inch from the board material surface.ix. Click Head Down.x. Tighten solenoid knob until pressure foot bumper no longer applies

pressure to the board material (CW).xi. Loosen the solenoid knob TWO full turns (CCW).

xii. Click Head Up.xiii. Click Close. Hit OK (machining will begin).

Figure 29: Jog dialog for setting mill bit

Flip Board27) When milling the Top layer is complete, MillMaterial Change.28) Untape the board.29) Flip the board (not the buffer material) maintaining the dowel pins in their

respective holes.


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Mill Bottom Layer30) Right click Bottom Isolation layerRun Layer.31) Repeat milling process from above (Step 26).

Contour Routing

32) Mill->Tool Change.33) Insert contour router bit.34) Set mill adjustments using the same process from drilling (Step 21).35) Right click Board Outline layerRun Layer.36) Select Contour Router in Tool Parameters37) Change Tool ParametersInches/min to 3(important).38) Click OK.

Figure 30: Contour route

Cleanup39) Click MillTool Change and remove your tool.40) Click MillMaterial Change.41) Untape and remove your board and the buffer material.42) Dispose of all tape.43) Return the dowel pins, buffer material, and the Allen wrench to the drawer.44) Dispose of any leftover board material.


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Reference Figures

Figure 31: Mill adjustment identification.

Figure 32: Close-up of the Head Assembly.


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Figure 33: Tools.

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