CNC Dummies For Routers

Since its founding in 1892, This Old Tony's gotten quite a few requests for a basic CNC video. Here it is.
PROS: It's Basic!
CONS: It's Basic!
That said, for the CNC newcomer, there's a lot packed into 14 minutes. You may want to watch at 1/4 speed. :)

[@PracticalEngineeringChannel]

This should be required watching for those getting into the hobby. As the owner of a 95% functional 3D printer, I can say that some of these "basic" lessons are hard-learned without the big picture.

[@lukasdon0007]

Based on this video and your comment, I tried cutting a piece of wood with my 3D printer. Now my nozzle is broken. Did I do something wrong?

[@ctjet99channel]

Did you use a .2mm nozzle? those break really easily. Try changing your nozzle size to 40mm

[@tilobidaLP]

yep should have used an eye liner brush instead of an nozzle.

[@ctjet99channel]

Tilobida Toothbrushes work too

[@centurialinc]

Agreed! Best Matt

[@craftedworkshop]

"Because I have an illness." 😂 Tony, these videos are outstanding. Hilarious, informative, just incredible well done.

[@MR-nl8xr]

Crafted Workshop. 😆

[@todayintheshopbanksy5904]

You said CNC machines do exactly what you tell them. Mine does if I sit there watching it, If I go make a cup of tea while its running, it usually messes up the work or tries to burn my garage down.

[@thermmaloverload]

WhitwellMike B yeah mine too, sometimes it just has a mind of its own. A bit like my dog, faithful and obedient...... most of the time

[@kylejscheffler]

WhitwellMike B yah, I had the same problem with my laser cutter, nearly had to tap into the home owners insurance...

[@todayintheshopbanksy5904]

I popped out for 5 mins, came back to find the cutter broken and the spindle motor filling the garage with smoke, so glad it didn't actually catch fire lol Sit watching it and it's as good as gold!

[@thecogwheel]

Lock the door. Murphy is getting in.

[@johnware5312]

Unless it weirds out...... Mine almost never weirds out. I take a close at the G-code first 2 ways, the simulator in V-carve and again in mach 3 cutting air. If those prove out, the G-code is good and I just run it from the first good run on. Any weridnes is due to a computer failure or some rare power problem. I am usually out in the shop doing other things and I dont actually watch, but I DO listen. If I'm in the house with it running I keep an eyeball on it via a cheap ass web cam on a cell phone.. :)

[@GregsGarage]

I thought G-code was the rules that rappers lived by. Great vid.

[@kylejscheffler]

Greg's Garage I think that's OG-Code Dawg

[@GregsGarage]

Thanks... My street cred is LOW.

[@kylejscheffler]

I'm always here to help. Haha

[@spiritualreality4327]

hahaha

[@Geeksmithing]

Sounds about right

[@jjcc8379]

Cons of a manual Lathe / mill : You need someone skilled machinist. Else pieces get ruined and someone gets hurt. Cons of a CNC lathe/ mill : You need a skilled operator. Else everything gets ruined and someone's wallet gets hurt.

[@maxjosephwheeler]

Tony says, *" because I have an illness"* that's why we're all here........lol.

[@routercnc9517]

Another great video thanks Tony, made me chuckle. I made my 1st CNC machine about 10 years ago and have been building and improving them ever since, bootstrapping my way up. It's a very addictive hobby. My wife commented the other day that I'd not made anything for ages - just new machines, metal parts and upgrades and what we really needed were some wooden things for the Christmas fair (not pig shaped chopping boards luckily). She was right and I knew it . . .

[@prashantpanchal9686]

Your videos helped me alot while i was scratching my head thinking where to start!! I finally managed to cut some metal with my cnc plasma table built from scratch! Thank you for your videos. Your comments are more than welcome. 🙏

[@wint3rsmith42]

ive just got a raspberry pi and fancy trying a home built router, engraver miller thingy. watching this has answered a lot of questions i haven't even asked yet about what happens after I put my spanners away. Thanks Tony, im slowly working my way through all your older films.

[@t800_1]

These are the types of videos that no one makes, and what makes the whole hobby so overwhelming to get into! Thanks Tony!

[@damiencharette1685]

I just started my collage accreditation in CNC lathe manufacturing technician because I've been very interested in it and you pushed me to do it thanks Tony!

[@Wintergatan]

Really enjoyed the basic approach in this video, extremely useful for me as i am heading into cnc:ing things spring 2017 and do not have my machine yet! THANKS!

[@devincastellucci4627]

Wow, I'm actually really surprised nobody has noticed your comment here. I have been loving your MMX videos and I'm glad watching This Old Tony has helped your process!

[@ShamWerks]

Summer 2020 : I think we can safely say you got the hang of it, Martin. 😂😂😂

[@ryanduksa]

@@devincastellucci4627 and

[@bornfree180]

Your awesome old tony !!!my learning skills tend wonder at a confusing matter or it could be just over explanation ...but the way you explained everything was super easy to fallow and understood right away in one shot ...no going back it all made since one and done ...you the best old tony!!!!!

[@markalmond8728]

There may be thousands of CNC videos on KZbin supposedly for beginners... But this has to be the best. Easy to understand and easily explained (and comical!). For any beginners in to this great hobby, it's a steep learning curve and often difficult to get to grips with all the technical terms. This video does a fantastic job. Thanks to This Old Tony and I've hit that subscribe button immediately.

[@PetesShredder]

Cant find the eyeliner brush in the fusion360 tool library :-(

[@ThisOldTony]

You sure you have the latest Fusion update?

[@9772783]

FOUND IT!, @Pete did you check the makeup table dropdown tab? it's about "45min late for dinner" down the list

[@PetesShredder]

Im gonna create a custom tool, do you know what the bristle length and bristle pitch and bristle density should be? Thanks.

[@PetesShredder]

Also check out my shredder, it strikes me as a This Old Tony type of project ;-) haha

[@bluedeath996]

You can make a custom tool in Fusion, but you might want to machine something to put your face in the right place if you are attached to your eyes.

[@zacharycollins6548]

Great intro to CNC. Thanks for taking the time to make it. You're a good teacher.

[@stanlee6316]

A gem in video excellence once again, Tony. Really enjoy your work, Sir. Continued success!

[@GrapeKoolaide]

Phenomenal! Very comprehensive overview. Great presentation, I especially appreciated the humor.

[@jflissar]

T.O.T. - Just found your channel not all that long ago and I have to say... Very nicely done! Thanks for all the tips, tricks, and everything elses.

[@ryanbates7037]

Just got my CNC and this video was a great intro vid for me. Appreciate your time on this. Helped me a bunch

[@williamosman]

This is awesome! What CNC board did you choose for your machine? I've got a Smoothieboard in my laser.

[@thermmaloverload]

William Osman hey, I've got a Chinese laser with the standard board. How did I your smoothie board conversation go. Can it cut vector and engrave raster?

[@williamosman]

Actually I built the laser from scratch. Vector cutting is awesome, but rastering leaves much to be desired.... All rastering is done with gcodes, so it's slow to upload and slow to cut. Supposedly they're working on native raster support for the smoothieboard.

[@thermmaloverload]

William Osman well done building from scratch, I'll keep a close eye on the smoothie development as a nice upgrade

[@ThisOldTony]

I use a soundlogic breakout board and a smoothstepper ethernet controller.

[@wint3rsmith42]

Ok, now i have a lot more questions.

[@MrCrankyface]

Thanks for the great video, perfect explanation of the process from CAD to CNC. I've always been curious about how the CAM process fitted into the whole thing and this video really helped clear it up.

[@ThisOldTony]

Glad it helped, thanks MrCranky!

[@karllaun2427]

Wow, I've watched a boatload of CNC videos trying to figure out how everything ties together . Wish I'd found this one (and #2) in the very beginning. It would have saved me a lot of head scratching. Well done!

[@BrandonsGarage]

I've watched this a dozen times. For simply cuts like this, its better than the Fusion 360 courses; and you go through the CAM steps just as fast as they do.

[@mxcollin95]

Great overview video for us ‘newbies.’ Thanks Tony...you rock brother!!!

[@mauricioespinoza5390]

Tony you make the best instructional videos i learned how to make springs with my lathe now this. Keep up the GREAT WORK.

[@deweys]

You really bring this all together and allowed me to make sense of a topic I know next to fighting about. Love this video and thank you!

[@2002van]

This was the best short explanation of how cnc work.! thank you

[@Yberrion]

I love you so much ! Seriously you made me so happy thank you for all the knowledge with just the perfect blend of humour to keep us alert you are brilliant!

[@GlitchedBird94]

I just love your sens of humour, you would be a great teacher Mr. Tony!

[@ash7324]

You sir, have earned my subscription. These are the type of tutorials I need!

[@williamgarvey4088]

Very funny and high quality videos. Honestly, you never give too much info or too little and the entire video is engaging. "What you just witnessed is technically called a trainwreck-"

[@ShereefHisham]

That was clearly illustrated and you shared plenty of valuable advices here. Thank you sir

[@domecrack]

I can't express how much I appreciate this f'n channel. If I come into some money soon I'll certainly try tho.

[@hpbryan]

Thank you for taking the time to make this! This video has been very helpful.

[@anthonyartese]

I really really wish I had found this video 6 months ago. Thank you for producing such an enjoyable and informative video!

[@LeahDay]

Thank you very much! I found this very helpful and I understand the CNC cutting process so much better now!

[@manahter]

Hello, I am developing a CNC addon for Blender. You can review the links. Blender nCNC Addon; www.github.com/manahter/nCNC nCNC - Simply Engrave Text in 5 minutes kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYrVZYGef7J6eaM

[@bikefarmtaiwan1800]

Good job with the video"! Much needed basic information for all who are interested tied neatly together with the trade mark "This Old Tony"humor and style- You have a strong talent for making these videos- look forward to seeing more from you in the future, keep up the good work :)

[@Rowganlife]

SUCH an informative introduction! once again, sir. bravo!

[@Creator_Nater]

Wow, great presentation, and CNC demystified! Great talent.

[@granthultman2914]

I have been watching design and CNC videos all day... and this video was the funniest. Hilarious! Also great video. But also hilarious.

[@hansdegroot8549]

I'd like to go into CNC router stuff, creating things. I do not yet a cnc router yet. I'm glad to have found this video. It's straight forward, perfect for dummies or newbies. Thanks for sharing. I'd like to build a CNC router thing myself. A small one. For a start 12 by 12 inches X,Y would be totally sufficient for me, and a Z of max 3 inches (2 inches might or even less might by sufficient as well). I'm looking for a channel which shows the building step by step in literally mini-steps (every screw, wiring, etc. because I do not have a technical background. Total costs for all materials (except the spindle/router itself) should not exceed 200-250 USD. Ideally when every part necessary for the build has an (affiliate) link (preferable in Europe because of shipping and import duties). The construction should be suitable for routers and Dremel (like) rotary-tools. Do you know (or anyone else who is reading this) if such a channel/video already exists? And if it does not can somebody take the challenge to make a video like this? I think many people will be interested in something like this and the maker of it can earn money through the affiliate links.

[@johnlcallaway]

Thanks for the videoTony. I just bought a small Arduino powered CNC to play with (Genmitsu CNC Router 3018), and needed a refresher course from my CNC training on 'real' machines about 20 years ago. Times have sure changed ... but the basics haven't.

[@BigAlNaAlba]

What an excellent and witty primer to hobby CNC.

[@masterofnone]

As usual very goon info in most entertaining way Tony. Thank you so much!

[@MrSamu1]

Thanks Tony for this great basic CNC video. I have been doing CNC but seen also that there is a lack of good basic CNC videos that puts all the basic parts to gather. It would be awesome if you could continue doing these videos where you tell about CNC milling from a beginner aspect.

[@TRUMPLocalWallBuildersUnion]

i love watching your channel ! i run a a few machines at work .. couple matsuuras and a robodrill .. its so much fun it barely feels like work at all !

[@samoksner]

Great video going over the process from a distance, almost makes it look easy! Gasp!

[@Kilnor]

Lol great video. I've been a CNC machinist for 18 years and I found this video entertaining and informative.

[@dfkchase7372]

Very helpful! Im currently planning my cnc build and while thats in the planning stages, Im obsessively trying to learn how to use it before it's built. I have a 3D printer that i built myself as a kit. I always seem to dive into massive projects with wicked learning curves. Anyways, thank you for a great video!

[@tiggerbiggo]

Good job :P I really love your humour, it's second to none when it comes to videos on engineering. Keep going, we love you :3

[@bargenatorharding1499]

Best tutorial ever on basic CNC operations.

[@tuscanland]

I just logged onto youtube and I said to myself "I hope This Old Tony made a video", what a pleasant surprise!

[@ThisOldTony]

I get youtube notifications when someone thinks that. Then I scramble to make a video. You ever notice sometimes youtube takes a little longer to load up? Thats me stalling. ;)

[@tuscanland]

To be perfectly honest, what I thought was "I hope either Tony or Stefan made a video. Stefan let me down.

[@SuryanIsaac]

@@tuscanland Stefan from CNC Kitchen?

[@NathanNostaw]

Great intro for the basics. Wish I had a machine to inflict my newly gained confidence.

[@craigfecci1621]

Thanks Tony you are the only one to explain the Mach 3 function

[@eviebee4]

This is such an incredible video!! Thanks so much. So much info and great tips.

[@garyainslie8200]

this was a fantastic video, thankyou. You have the right type of comedy lol

[@David-xl8zf]

This video tells more in 15 minutes than teachers taught me in my first two weeks of my second year in a machinist class. Nice!

[@sharonsnively5910]

I don't have a machine, but hope to some day get one, mainly, to cut out shapes. Mostly chip board, about 1/4 in thick. At age 65, this gal is doubtful I can figure things out, but this gave me a little incentive. Thanks for the lesson and the humor.

[@jimmydiresta]

I lie to my Vcarve all the time!!

[@ThisOldTony]

what a tangled web we weave... ;)

[@U014B]

I read that to the tune of Eddie Murphy's greatest hit...

[@rich2080]

Love the commentary, nice to see a bit of good humor added in. 😂😂

[@RileyKnifeandTool]

Get out of my head! I just started thinking about building a CNC router again, and now this video pops up. I'll take that as a sign... Great video as usual.

[@JBFromOZ]

Another great video thanks Tony! I'm getting my head around torch height control for the cnc plasma I'm building, I believe Mach 3 will be able to handle that as well

[@garybishop9966]

Sincerely, Thank you very much. Retired and closer to my goal, bless you.

[@markissausa6266]

You are really good! Great way of explaining stuff, thank you so much.

[@mellowman247]

I'm a member of a maker space where we have a CNC router, mini mill, lathe, 3D printers and laser. I strongly feel this video should be the first thing you see when you start and of the class. And it will be when we teach a class. I'll will certainly share this video with everyone. Thank you.

[@supahonkey]

Tony, Here's an example of when a ME has to create G-Code the old way. I had to create a process grinding a Curvic coupling on a horizontal 5 axis grinder. This grinder traditionally manufactures parts in a entirely different way than they way in which a Curvic coupling is generated. Our CAM software's post processor is custom tuned to the explicit way in which we create programs for a non-Curvic process. The code itself only contained three actual machine moves, G0... G1... and G0... The other 400 some odd lines were heavily parameterized calculations for the machine moves, dressing, position calculations, etc. It's rare I have to create my own G-Code, but it does pop up from time to time.

[@ThisOldTony]

Interesting! Thanks Supa.

[@TheFeralEngineer]

As an Applications Engineer for DMG Mori and a fan of your channel, it's nice to see you showing some love :)

[@samhziegler]

Thanks for making the content you make. I've learned a ton watching your channel

[@surviveonadime]

I love this video, as I am trying to learn CNC basics. I need more like this

[@SuperiorEtchworx]

Great overview. I am just starting out with mach 3 and found this informative. I'll look up fusion too as I only have an old version of Kcam

[@joselara5294]

Simple, concise and great explanations for beginners

[@outsidescrewball]

Another great video....sure is a tease for this old dog to learn new tricks/tools

[@ThisOldTony]

Tease? C'mon.. never too late!

[@matschase]

Thanks for your efforts! Helped me a lot getting a basic understanding

[@sheltonharlow]

I just learned a GOB of new stuff! Thank you. And my Mom had a Pig cutting board her Dad, my Granddad made. By hand!

[@thelordship3120]

good video Tony - you really have a good way of telling things, i enjoyed it, i work with CAD professionally and build 2 .. (and a half) 3d printer in the past, but i never tried CAM ... im going for it now, -Kenneth

[@loveofthegrainworkshop2891]

This was a huge help! Super simple (mykinda funny) and great suggestions. I just picked up a 6090 cnc router used with a pc that has mach 3. I didn’t have a clue what I was doing until now. Thanks. I still need a lot of help.

[@turbocobra]

Well done as always, good overview of the process.

[@psacentralcoast6970]

Thanks OT, I’ll use your info to get my CAD to get my stl to CAM so it become GC so I can CNC. You a true CNCG

[@David-uy3qf]

Tony I am in awe of your skills, knowledge, ability to teach with humour and film making skills. Keep it up big dog! I'm an accountant, I have no idea what you're saying 70% of the time, but it's so cathartic for me... One day I will have a man-shop

[@ThisOldTony]

Thanks David!

[@wphb66]

Thank you for this video. It's a great starting point for me.

[@ExMachinaEngineering]

Another little GEM!!! Well Done!!!

[@JonnyCoolMelt]

Sometimes you will modify code for: 1. Time reduction. A. Retract heights (z) and other unnecessary moves can be minimized making only seconds of difference on each part but when you run thousands of those parts that can add up to hours each week depending on how many you make. B. Surface finish adjustments. Those who work on molds like the scallops (steps) to be very specific sizes so that the surface finish will match what the print is calling for. 2. Machine Specifications. A. Say you have 100 machines in your CNC cell and they are 10 different makes and models, you will still program on the same software, When you “post” the program there will be a configuration for each model of machine. Sometimes the “post” has to be configured with the headers and footers for your specific machine, in other words the codes your machine needs to initiate and cancel commands. B. Now companies try to buy similar makes and models as it takes money for a programmer to adjust your “post” (compiler you might say) for each different machine. If your company can’t pay for the “post” configurations then yeah the CNC programmer makes the changes to the code. 3. Collision prevention. A. Older programmers remember the days when you did not have simulation software all we had was black screens with green text, sometimes orange. Before intelligent machining became common you would have to reduce velocity approaching a corner to prevent gouging. We didn’t have all the visuals back then all you had was numbers to look at, in fact on the EDMs we ran programs were loaded by punch tape. B. When you tested the program at maybe 25% feed you just had to be diligent to watch for clamps, a vice edge, or on the lathe the back of the boring bar hitting the housing. There is so much more. I like this new technology so easy! However it’s difficult to forget how it was and to trust these new Software driven simulators. We didn’t even have swarf (chip) conveyors.

[@jsihavealotofplaylists]

delicious crt fanuc displays

[@dalleth]

I LOVE the new upload schedule. Love the videos, Tony.

[@ThisOldTony]

You mean totally random? :) Thanks Joel!

[@dalleth]

Exactly!

[@lannysanders6043]

thank you. this stuff is finally beginning to make sense.

[@zuknivek]

Excellent video. I've learned so much from all of your videos. I'm hoping to get my small shop equipped with some CAM software soon. We currently write all of our g-code on the controller. It's not terribly hard and the 3 of us programmers got pretty good at telling the machine what we want it to do. I guess the point of this comment is that there might be more people that write their own g-code on the fly that you might think. Depending on the complexity of the parts you're making, CAM software isn't always necessary. I hope this didn't come off in the typical youtube commenter tone. I really appreciate your videos and hope you make more.

[@DodgyBrothersEngineering]

I enjoyed that. Didn't learn anything I didn't already know, but as far as entertainment goes it was a winner. Might give Fusion a look one day, but for now SketchUp is hard to go past for quick simple drawings.

[@SWhite-hp5xq]

‘If you can’t explain it simply, then you don’t know it well enough’ ~ Albert Jefferson 1784BC. You Tony, explained it perfectly simply ;) Good man.

[@ConstructIcon]

Great info! I'm looking into getting a CNC in the very near future! Thanks.

[@danceswithstone]

Well, it's a rainy day here in NH and I just finished a This Old Tony binge-watch extravaganza. Thanks This Old Tony! Maybe someday I'll return the favor and you can waste time not finishing your projects while watching me screw around with my stone toys. You're an inspiration! All my best and thanks. BTW, anyone ever mention you sound very much like Alan Alda? There's $$$ in narration too you know...

[@gusbisbal9803]

umm.. picking the right tool is sort of well, fundamentally crucially important. The CNC won't care but your part will. Choose carefully. Don't use the eye liner, makes a mess and if over done just looks slutty.

[@ThisOldTony]

hah!

[@kingredleg6747]

Great job. This was a big help.

[@robertrobbmaciag3937]

THANK YOU

[@scott98390]

Tony, you crack me up, and I sometimes even learn some stuff. Hey, accidents happen. Love your videos, amigo.

[@editpereag8105]

Great Video, i must have watched 5 times and laughed at all the jokes every time.

[@babylonfive]

You have great style, my friend.

[@callusyourmind6706]

Really informative and really funny. Thanks for making this video man

[@lowlypawn]

Great video, it was just the right amount of information and it was very entertaining.

[@JBLewis]

Another Great Video! Thanks Tony!

[@joetke]

Still relevant 3 years later. Good intro, thank you Tony!