Safety

Safety

A milling machine is a dangerous machine: work safely and enjoy machining.

1. Wear impact resistant eye protection.

2. Remove the cutter from the milling head before securing or releasing a billet, and before doing anything on or near the mill table or cleaning the machine: it is all too easy to cut the back of your hand on the cutter.

3. Beware the dust produced by some materials. Wear a face mask and, preferably, use an extraction system to collect the dust at source. Clean the machine with a vacuum cleaner after use.

4. The spindle motor switch has three positions, off (0), CNC and manual (1). Only two of these positions are used when WELmill is installed, off (0) and CNC. Provided the WELmill upgrade has been installed according to the instructions supplied, the manual option (1) will have been disconnected. Please go to the following link for a full explanation.

Spindle on/off control

5. Be sure that a billet is securely fixed before attempting any machining.

6. Ensure tools are sharp, appropriate for the material being cut, worked with the correct feeds and speeds, secure in their collets and that tool holders are properly inserted in the milling head.

7. Know and apply the Heath and Safety legislation which applies to your working environment. There is a lot of information on the Health and Safety Executive web site.

8. In UK schools and colleges, be aware of requirements set out in these documents:
§ BS4163:2000 Health and Safety for Design and Technology in schools and similar establishments;
§ Model Risk Assessments for Design and Technology in secondary schools and colleges: from The CLEAPSS School Science Service;
§ Inspecting Design and Technology 11-16 with guidance on self-evaluation: from Ofsted;
§ A Guide for Consultants and Trainers for Health & Safety Training in Design and Technology: from the Design and Technology Association, DATA ;
§ Health and Safety Training Standards in Design and Technology: from the Design and Technology Association, DATA;
§ Design and Technology - The National Curriculum. See www.nc.uk.net

Billet Size and Working Envelope
Cutters for Metals
Cutters for Wood, MDF and Plastics
Engraving Attachment
Machine Data
Machine Light
Materials for Machining
Measuring Offsets
Setting the Origin for Machining
Speeds and Feeds for High Speed Steel (HSS) Tools
Speeds and Feeds for Tipped Tools (not HSS)
Spindle on/off control
Tool Organisation
Work Holding