Learning to machine has long been considered a journey. There is always something new to learn, as well as skills and techniques to perfect. Machining knowledge often can’t be just simply taught, it often requires hands-on learning and some serious time at the machine.

PathPilot has helped a lot of Tormach users use their machines more efficiently and learn new ways of machining easily. For instance, PathPilot's conversational programming has been a game-changer for many makerspaces, educators, and even everyday machinists.

FIRST Robotics is an organization that promotes STEM education through robotics competitions. While you might immediately picture science fairs of the past, FIRST events are more in the vein of a pep rally.

When you get into machining, the first tool often used is an end mill. It’s simple, it’s fairly straightforward on purpose, and it’s the universal standard tool for machining. But, we all know that that is just the beginning – tool boxes fill up because there are an endless number of options for tooling. One tool that is often misunderstood, or even disregarded, is the slitting saw. While these saws are often relegated to very specific operations, they can be an invaluable addition to your shop.

You read that headline correctly, power drawbars for the PCNC 440 are now available! Many find themselves purchasing machines on a budget, and therefore tend to skip some of the flashier accessories, or buyers don’t see a need to make tool changes quickly if they are only machining for hobby, prototyping, or some other non-production purpose. But, the power drawbar is an accessory that most users place in the “need” column, instead of the “want” column.

Every month we get to have some fun cutting one of the parts from our Tormach Projects Library. This month we decided to go easy and create some art with a 3D relief in wood.