CNC Woodworking Room/Precautions

The following is a general overview. Please consult training documents and SWPs for more specific information as there is a lot that can go wrong with the CNC equipment.

Safety

• Fire: always use appropriate feeds and speeds, use appropriate tools for the job, always watch the CNC so you can respond quickly
• Dust (wear min. N95)
• Noise - wear hearing protection. Note that it can be hard to tell if the tool has stopped when you're wearing hearing protection.
• Projectiles: tools and workpieces can shatter. Use appropriate feeds and speeds, make sure the tool and spindle won't crash into the workpiece, fixtures/clamps. Clean the tool holder with compressed air so the tool doesn't slip.
• Do not operate the CNC machinery unattended.

Housekeeping

• The CNC equipment generates lots of dust. Please clean the floor and equipment thoroughly
• Fire code prohibits storing wood stock in the CNC room (fixtures and spoilboards are OK). Store fixtures and spoilboards on the red cart - make sure it is labelled with your name and phone number or it may be thrown out.
• Overfilled dust collectors can cause fires. Empty the Cyclone dust collector after every job. Empty the main dust collector when the dust is halfway up the viewing window (around 1 garbage bag worth).
• Turn off the vacuum and dust collector when you're done.
• Turn off the room exhaust if you are the last one in the room.

Workholding

• Do not glue, nail or screw into the main spoilboard.
• Don't cut more than 1/16" into the main spoilboard - do a small test piece with a secondary spoilboard if required.
  • Rule of thumb: Add 0.01" to your depth of cut when cutting all the way through - this should go through the material while minimally cutting into the spoilboard
  • Always measure your stock with calipers (don't rely on nominal thickness or tape measures)
• Vacuum system may not work with pieces smaller than 24" x 48"