Tormach PCNC 1100 - Revision history

Aneel: /* Turning on the Machine */

2025-07-16T21:25:08Z

Turning on the Machine

Kenneth: updated photo, locations of things in the new metal shop area, and details for the probe's new connector

2025-07-04T21:58:54Z

updated photo, locations of things in the new metal shop area, and details for the probe's new connector

Mgmoore: /* Use Case */

2025-02-14T07:22:39Z

Use Case

Mgmoore at 06:06, 14 February 2025

2025-02-14T06:06:58Z

Csader at 03:05, 15 January 2025

2025-01-15T03:05:43Z

Atwatsoniii: Added more speed and feed resources

2024-09-20T02:26:05Z

Added more speed and feed resources

Aneel: /* Work Holding */ Added warning about travel being smaller than the fixture plate

2024-09-15T18:05:21Z

Work Holding: Added warning about travel being smaller than the fixture plate

Aneel: /* Equipment-Specific Safety */

2024-09-03T02:56:02Z

Equipment-Specific Safety

Aneel: /* Equipment-Specific Safety */ Slide RPM to 0

2024-09-03T02:55:10Z

Equipment-Specific Safety: Slide RPM to 0

Aneel: /* Equipment-Specific Safety */ Added more safety tips

2024-09-01T16:13:41Z

Equipment-Specific Safety: Added more safety tips

@@ Line 63: / Line 63: @@
 =====Turning on the Machine=====
-*Check the oiler, which is on the lower left side of the machine. Contact a steward if the oil level is low<gallery>
+*Check the oiler, which is on the lower left side of the machine. Contact a steward if the oil level is low. If you turn the machine on while the oil level is low it will make a very loud alarm noise and the alarm LED will flash. The oiler wants ISO VG 68 oil, like Mobil Vectra 2 Way Oil.<gallery>
 File:Tormach Oiler.jpg|Oil reservoir level
 </gallery>

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Required|Tormach}}
-The Tormach PCNC 1100 is in an enclosure on the edge of the metal shop, adjoining the wood shop.
+The Tormach PCNC 1100 is in an enclosure in the corner of the metal shop, to the right of the Rong Fu RF-45 Mill.
-{{ToolPhoto|TormachPCNC1100.jpg}}
+{{ToolPhoto|TormachPCNC1100-2025.jpg}}
 [https://tormach.com/support/mill/pcnc-1100-series-3-documents Tormach PCNC 1100 Series 3]
@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 ====Consumables====
-Pre-mixed cutting fluid is provided on shelves near the machine. If there is no pre-mixed fluid remaining, distilled water can be used temporarily.
+Pre-mixed cutting fluid is provided on shelves to the right of the machine, behind the computer stand. If there is no pre-mixed fluid remaining, distilled water can be used temporarily. Contact a steward or submit a problem report if there are less than 4 bottles of coolant.
 ==== Feeds and Speeds====
@@ Line 61: / Line 61: @@
 ==== Basic Operation====
 Using this tool requires you to book time in [https://asmbly.skedda.com/booking Skedda] under "Metal Shop - Tormach".
 =====Turning on the Machine=====
 *Check the oiler, which is on the lower left side of the machine. Contact a steward if the oil level is low<gallery>
@@ Line 67: / Line 68: @@
 *Turn on the rotary power switch, found on the right side of the machine, inside the enclosure
 * When the console comes on, click on Mill to enter the control interface
-* Check the coolant pressure. Open the valve fully and click the COOLANT button on the console. The stream should have enough pressure to remain straight over several inches. If you need to add coolant, mix 5-10% concentrate and the rest distilled water. The concentrate is a brown liquid that should be in the tall cabinet in the machining area. Give it a good shake to mix it before adding it to the reservoir. You can pour the coolant into the drain in the enclosure. Pay attention to the coolant pressure as you operate the tool. If it gets low, pause your job and add more coolant.<gallery>
+* Check the coolant pressure. Open the valve fully and click the COOLANT button on the console (shortcut ALT-F). The stream should have enough pressure to remain straight over several inches. If you need to add coolant, it is kept in pre-mixed gallon bottles to the right of the machine, behind the computer stand. Give it a good shake to mix it before adding it to the reservoir. You can pour the coolant into the drain in the enclosure. Pay attention to the coolant pressure as you operate the tool. If it gets low, pause your job and add more coolant. Overfilling will cause the coolant reservoir to leak onto the floor.
 File:Tormach Coolant Flow Good.jpg|Good coolant flow
 File:Tormach Low Coolant Pressure.jpg|Insufficient flow
 </gallery>
@@ Line 81: / Line 82: @@
 =====Preparing Tools=====
-*Tool holders and a limited selection of tools can be found in the black cabinet to the right of the machine.
+*Tool holders and a limited selection of tools can be found in the black cabinet under the bench.
 **For common tool sizes, 1/8", 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" ER20 collets are available, as are two sizes of drill chuck. See [https://tormach.com/media/asset/t/d/td10408_tts_cnc_operators_set_0820a.pdf the descriptions here] for details.
-** To place a tool in an ER20 collet, choose the correct size of collet, place into the collet nut so that the face of the collet is flush with the nut, lightly tighten the nut onto the tool holder, insert the tool, tighten the nut.
+** To place a tool in an ER20 collet, choose the correct size of collet and ensure it is free of chips, place into the collet nut so that the face of the collet is flush with the nut, lightly tighten the nut onto the tool holder, insert the tool, tighten the nut.
-**There is a [https://tormach.com/compact-tts-tool-tightening-fixture-33034.html tool tightening fixture] mounted on the cabinet top. To tighten, insert the collet in the left side of the bushing and tighten with the wrench. To loosen, insert the collet in the right side of the bushing and loosen with the wrench<gallery>
+**There is a [https://tormach.com/compact-tts-tool-tightening-fixture-33034.html tool tightening fixture] mounted on the bench. To tighten, insert the collet in the right side of the bushing and tighten with the wrench. To loosen, insert the collet in the left side of the bushing and loosen with the wrench<gallery>
-File:Tool Tightening.jpg|A tool in an ER20 collet on the left side of the fixture with a wrench
+File:TTSTightening.png|Location of TTS tightening tools.
 </gallery>
 *After securing tools in the tool holder, measure their lengths using the [https://tormach.com/small-granite-surface-plate-w-integrated-tool-hole-31713.html surface plate] and height gauge
@@ Line 143: / Line 144: @@
 *The probe is in a labeled hard case in the tool chest. The case contains the probe, cable, and a very easy to miss hex wrench that is used for adjusting concentricity.
 *The probe has already been indicated and measured in PathPilot, and should be ready to use.
-*The probe's cable has been hot glued to the probe itself. If the cable is not connected to the probe for any reason, please red tag the machine so we can address that issue to prevent crashing and ruining the probe. To start, ALWAYS plug the into the DIN5 cable into the accessory port on the machine electronics cabinet FIRST. The probe will light up green when the connection is good. DO NOT proceed if the light is not on. The machine will happily crash and ruin the probe if you run a probing routine without power to the probe.
+*The probe connects to the machine via a 4 pin CNLINKO LP-12 waterproof locking connector, and a USB-C cable to the probe. If the cable is not well connected to the probe or machine for any reason, please red tag the machine so we can address that issue to prevent crashing and ruining the probe.
 * Next, put the probe in the collet and tighten the collet. Light / hand-tight is sufficient. It's a good practice to leave the spindle cover door open while the probe is in the collet, this guarantees you'll never spin up the machine with the probe in the collet.
 * Once the cable is connected and the probe is installed, select tool 99 in the tool DRO. The probe is hard coded in PathPilot to be tool 99.
 *Tormach has a good video overview of how to use the various probing routines [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9DjQqlitX0 here]
-*Put the probe back in the tool chest when you're done
+*Put the probe back in the tool chest when you're done, and put the rubber cover back over the machine's connector to keep coolant and chips out of it.
 ==Cleanup==
@@ Line 158: / Line 160: @@
 *Clean the whole interior of the enclosure
 ** Use the appropriate shopvac for the material you machined
-**There is a squeegee on the left side of the machine. Use it to remove coolant and chips from the walls of the enclosure. Squeegee the table/fixture plate as well
+**There is a squeegee and brush on the left side of the machine. Use them to remove coolant and chips from the walls of the enclosure. Squeegee the table/fixture plate as well
 **Don't forget to move the table of the machine to clean the accordion ways covers on both sides.
 *Turn the rotary power switch off

@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 ==Use Case==
-The Tormach is used for [[wikipedia:Numerical_control|CNC machining]]. It can be used to create precise parts out of a variety of materials, including metals, plastics, and wood.
+The Tormach is used for [[wikipedia:Numerical_control|CNC machining]]. It can be used to create precise parts out of a variety of metals and plastics.
 ==Materials==

@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 ====Acceptable Materials====
-With the proper tooling, many materials can be machined. Common choices include Aluminum, Steel, and Acetal plastic ("Delrin"). Wood may also be machined on the Tormach.
+With the proper tooling, many materials can be machined. Common choices include Aluminum, Steel, and Acetal plastic ("Delrin").
 ====Maximum Sizes and Weights====
@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 ====Consumables====
-Distilled water can be found underneath the tool. Coolant concentrate can be found in the machine shop tool cabinet under the loft. See [[Tormach PCNC 1100#Turning on the Machine|Turning on the machine]] below.
+Pre-mixed cutting fluid is provided on shelves near the machine. If there is no pre-mixed fluid remaining, distilled water can be used temporarily.
 ==== Feeds and Speeds====

@@ Line 124: / Line 124: @@
 ** Because the fixture plate is uncoated aluminum, it is subject to galvanic corrosion if steel or cast iron is left attached to it long term. There are small tubes of dielectric grease available in the tool chest. Ideally a thin coat should be maintained on the vises if they are being left on the plate for an extended period of time. The bottom of the plate has also been coated to prevent corrosion between the plate and the table. One tube of grease is enough to coat the entire surface area of the fixture plate, so use it sparingly.
-*2 [https://saundersmachineworks.com/collections/1-2-mod-vise/products/modular-vise Saunders Machine Works Mod Vises]
+*2 [https://saundersmachineworks.com/products/modular-vise-gen3 Saunders Machine Works Mod Vises]
 **[https://saundersmachineworks.com/cdn/shop/products/1-2MVDrawing_1500x.png?v=1654092344 Diagram with dimensions]
 **These are the preferred vises to use with the fixture plate. For most use cases, they will provide a superior user experience to a traditional machine vise.

@@ Line 193: / Line 193: @@
 ====SIG Information====
-====External Resources====
+====Speeds and Feeds Resources====
-*[https://provencut.com/ ProvenCut] is a reference for feeds & speeds
+*[https://provencut.com/ ProvenCut]
 ==Troubleshooting==

@@ Line 115: / Line 115: @@
 *[https://saundersmachineworks.com/products/tormach_1100_aluminum_fixture_plate Saunders Machine Works fixture plate]
 **The fixture plate allows for precision, repeatable placement of vises and fixtures, greatly improving the speed of making multiple parts.
 **The fixture plate is trammed to the mill table movement. Do not loosen or remove the low-profile screws in the fixture plate that secure it to the mill table, it is quite difficult to re-tram and in almost all cases, unnecessary to remove.
 **The holes are spaced 1.25" on-center

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 This machine rotates the spindle very rapidly. Don't wear loose clothing when operating this machine. It may be hard to see exactly where rapidly spinning tools are, particularly fly cutters.
-Do not reach into the enclosure while the machine is moving. Stop the spindle as well as stopping feeding (bed movement) by sliding the RPM slider to 0% on the console. The space bar triggers FEEDHOLD, which stops feeding, but '''does not stop the spindle'''. The STOP button will reset your program to the beginning.
+Do not reach into the enclosure while the machine is moving. The space bar triggers FEEDHOLD, which stops feeding, but '''does not stop the spindle'''. Stop the spindle as well as stopping feeding (bed movement) by sliding the RPM slider to 0% on the console. The STOP button will reset your program to the beginning.
 Keep the enclosure doors closed as much as possible. Objects may be sent flying in any direction, including detached pieces, or the entire part being machined if work holding fails.