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CNC Glossary
CAD (Computer Aided Design): CAD is where you turn your idea into a digital design! CAD is software that allows you to
draw on your computer. This can be anything from a full-blown parametric 3D modeling package like Solidworks, to
something as simple as Adobe Illustrator. Don't let the word CAD scare you. All it means is 'a program to draw in'.
CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing): CAM is where you turn your CAD design into something your CNC machine can
understand. CAM is software that lets you specify HOW your design is going to be made on your CNC machine. Your CAM
program will output G-code. Like most terminology around CNC, CAM sounds scarier than it really is.
Collet: A collet is a cone-shaped sleeve that holds an end mill in place in the spindle.
End Mill / Cutter / Tool: End mills are the cutting tools used by your Nomad 3. End mills are similar to drill bits, though,
typically they can cut in all directions. They come in several varieties, such as square, ball nose, and V-bit, and many sizes.
G-code: G-code (general, or geometric, code) is a CNC programming language that controls when, where, and how the
machine moves across the workpiece (for example, when to turn on or off, how fast to travel to a particular location,
what paths to take, etc.).
Home: Homing your machine is the process of sending it to a known, fixed, repeatable location. This means that every
time you home, the machine will move to exactly the same position allowing you to move your machine to positions
relative to the home position, with great precision. On your Nomad 3, the home is position is the back-right corner.
Interlock: Nomad 3 has an interlock which prevents the door from being opened while the machine is operating. When
the door is opened, the current job will pause and the spindle will stop and move to a parked location.
Interlock Key: The
interlock key is a small magnetic key that allows you to disengage the Nomad 3’s safety interlock. The
interlock key is provided so you can set job zero with the door open. Never use the interlock key while the spindle is on.
Job Zero / Job Origin / Toolpath Zero / Program Zero: It may have many names, but job zero basically tells the machine
where to begin running the job. Job zero is a point in your design where all of the toolpaths will be based from (the X, Y,
and Z coordinates). Job zero is most commonly set in the lower-left corner of your stock.
Jog: Move the spindle to a specific position (a set of X, Y, Z coordinates) in the work area.
Spindle: The spindle is the part of the Nomad 3 that turns the end mills. The Nomad 3 spindle has a 130W motor with 9
–
24k RPM and angular contact bearings for greater rigidity.
Stock / Workpiece / Material: The sheet of material (wood, plastic, composite/synthetic, metal) being machined.
Table: The Nomad
3’s
aluminum table holds your wasteboard and your material for machining. The table is your Y-Axis
and it moves forward and backward.
Toolpath:
A toolpath is the “route” the cutting tool will follow as it shapes the workpiece. We use Carbide Create
or
MeshCAM to define the toolpaths for a project.
Tool Change: When running a job that require multiple tools, Carbide Motion will prompt you each time you need to
change tools. After each tool change, your Nomad 3 will use the BitSetter to measure the length of the new tool.
Wasteboard: The wasteboard is a sacrificial surface that is installed to your
machine’
s table. It allows for easy through-
cutting operations (e.g. projects in which a part is cut completely from the surrounding stock) without the worry of
damaging your end mill or table. Wasteboards are often customized with a grid of drilled holes which allow for
workholding options such as top clamps.
Working Envelope:
A working envelope is the CNC machine’s range of movement across its three axes
: X, Y, Z.
Workholding / Hold-Down Solution: These are the options for securing your stock material to the machine table.
