A SIMPLE TIMESAVER:
Getting a job up and running on a CNC mill or lathe can be a time consuming effort, programming, tracking down tools, set-up, editing, first part inspection and in process editing (fine tuning). Things usually change between the time we finish writing a program for a job and the time that we pull the last part out of the machine. One simple time saving practice that we started using awhile back is to download the program from the machine onto a disk and/or make a hard copy when we are finished with the job, then we put this program into a box along with a copy of the part drawing, a sample part, set-up sheet, any notes made during a run (date, po#, raw material size, etc), tool list and any inexpensive tools that were used to run the job. The box should be labeled with the part number and description. Next time the job comes around, you will have all your guns loaded and you will carve a serious chunk out of your set-up time.

DROP A SLUG:
On a CNC mill, one of the fastest ways to make a large thru hole or polygon in a piece of plate stock is to interpolate the frame of the feature with a roughing endmill, letting the center slug fall out of the part. The problem with this procedure is that this piece of loose material can get cockeyed as it falls out of the part. Most times this piece of material will hang up on the roughing tool possibly breaking the tool or damaging the part.

A simple fix is to start the cut with the endmill as far down into the material as possible. Then, add a positive Z move to the tool as it progresses around the window. You want to leave a thin tab of material to support the slug at the end of the cut. Stop the program (MØ), break the piece of material off and remove it from the machine before restarting the program. At this time you should also remove any thin pieces of material left on the plate stock. In addition to saving time, this procedure will give you even wear on your roughing endmill.

CLEANING OUT YOUR CHIP CONVEYOR AND COOLANT TANK:
The following link comes from the good people at Hartwig who have a page on their website called tips and tricks (primarily for CNC equipment). This one was my favorite and it involves a little handy work with my favorite tool - "newspaper". Check it out at www.hartwiginc.com

Click on the Service Button, then Service and Engineering, then click on the tips and tricks button to take you to their helpful hints page. Sorry, the link didn't work to take you directly there.