Uncle Mike's Garage

Fixing, building, and tinkering in the workshop

First Parts Off the CNC — Soft Jaws and a Shop Sign

· CNC Shop Talk

Learning the machine by making things I'll actually use.

Nothing teaches a CNC faster than cutting something you need tomorrow.

I started with soft jaws for the vise — aluminum blanks, a simple pocketing toolpath, and a lot of checking Z-heights. Then I cut a small shop sign out of scrap hardwood: "Uncle Mike's Garage" in a chunky 90s font, because of course I did.

Notes from the run

  • Probe everything. Twice.
  • Climb mill when you can; the finish is worth it
  • Soft jaws are the gateway drug to better workholding

If you're just getting into CNC, make fixtures first. Pretty parts come later.