Chapter 2. Mechanical Overview
To the untrained eye, all CNC machines look different and appear to work from a different set of components.
After becoming familiar with the underlying mechanics of CNC machines, it’s easy to spot a pattern and recognize that almost all CNC machines are designed the same way.
CNC machines can be divided into a few key parts, as shown in Figure 2-1. CNCs come in many different styles, sizes, and shapes, but there are basic machine features regardless of layout.
Figure 2-1. CNC router diagram with labeled key parts
Gantry
The gantry spans the x-axis (left to right) and travels forward and backward along the side ...
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