CNC Routers: The Hidden Danger You *MUST* Know About!
In this eye-opening video, I’m diving into a topic that's often overlooked in the CNC woodworking community: CNC router fires. there are workshop fire hazards with CNC machines that can pose a serious fire risk if not paid attention to.
I will discuss some of the causes behind CNC router woodworking fires and learn how to prevent them. I’ll explore the most common culprits that can turn your woodworking project into serious fire hazard.
Other causes of CNC router fires:
1. Overheating Spindle: When the spindle of a CNC router runs at high speeds for extended periods, it can generate excessive heat, increasing the risk of ignition, especially if there's inadequate cooling or lubrication.
2. Dust Accumulation: Sawdust and debris generated during the CNC routing process can accumulate in and around the machine, creating a highly flammable environment.
3. Electrical Faults: Malfunctions or damage to electrical components, such as wiring, switches, or connectors, can cause sparks that can trigger a fire in the CNC router's electrical system.
4. Inadequate Ventilation: Poor ventilation in the workshop can allow sawdust to build up in the air which could explosively ignite.
5. Material Ignition: Certain materials used in woodworking, such as oily wood or plastics, are more prone to ignition than others. If the CNC router comes into contact with these materials at high temperatures, it can lead to spontaneous combustion.
6. Operator Error: Improper operation of the CNC router, such as running the machine at incorrect speeds or feeds, using dull or damaged cutting tools, or failing to monitor the machining process, can create conditions conducive to fires.
7. Lack of Maintenance: Neglecting regular maintenance tasks, such as cleaning, lubricating, and inspecting the CNC router, can lead to the accumulation of debris, wear and tear on components, and eventual failure, increasing the risk of fires.
8. Vacuum Systems: Fires can occur under the material, and will be exaggerated by the down-draft of a vacuum table.
CNC Project Setup Checklist → link.idcwoodcraft.com/xi8r0n
Lightning drills for CNC routers → link.idcwoodcraft.com/8rze01
ABC fire extinguisher → amzn.to/4a8NvJt
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ROUTER BITS FOR CNC ROUTERS
→ 11pc carbide CNC router bit set (w/ free vector files) www.idcwoodcraft.com/11P-SET-W
→ 1” Surfacing bit required for surfacing your spoil board: www.idcwoodcraft.com/SU-10
→ Glass engraving drag bit: www.idcwoodcraft.com/ED-14
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OTHER ‘MUST HAVES’ FOR CNC ROUTERS
→ Calipers: amzn.to/338MAt3
→ Hearing protection (plugs don't work): amzn.to/2Hs1RgW
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Recommended Design Software
→ Vcarve Pro (RECOMMENDED)→ bit.ly/3d4WrEU
→ Vcarve Desktop → bit.ly/3D4CwjH
→ Vectric Aspire → shrsl.com/37pw9
→ Cut2D Desktop → shrsl.com/36xfm
→ Carveco (budget) → bit.ly/37rhVbY
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MASTER YOUR VECTRIC SOFTWARE with Kyle at Learn Your CNC
Take the full course ↓
academy.learnyourcnc.com/a/21...
Get Weekly LIVE Training ↓
academy.learnyourcnc.com/a/21...
___________________________
CNC Set Up Checklist ↓
link.idcwoodcraft.com/xi8r0n
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Join CNC ENTREPRENEURS Facebook group: / cncentrepreneurs
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CNC FREE STUFF AND MORE
CNC Insiders sign up (free files and more): idcwoodcraft.com/cnc-lp2-free...
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PLAYLISTS
CNC FOR BEGINNERS: bit.ly/3rg4WTl
CNC ENTREPRENEURS: bit.ly/3mxz6Ok
VECTRIC VCARVE & ASPIRE TUTORIALS FOR BEGINNERS: bit.ly/3pdmFsi
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If you currently own a CNC router, please take a moment to take this survey to share your experience with it: bit.ly/3r5XzNh
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Please support the IDC Woodcraft KZread channel:
Buy me a cup of coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/garrettf...
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Cool vector files for CNC router & CNC laser: etsy.me/3oxX79l
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CNC FOR BEGINNERS PODCAST: anchor.fm/cnc-for-beginners
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Garrett Fromme
Facebook: IDCWoodcraft
Website: www.idcwoodcraft.com
Email: garrett@idcwoodcraft.com
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LONGMILL CNC ROUTER WEBSITE:
sienci.com/product/longmill-m...
Пікірлер: 61
Get the CNC Project Setup Checklist here → link.idcwoodcraft.com/xi8r0n
Your drill bit for cribbage boards is fantastic! And yes never use a down cut to drill ! Thanks for the video to inform those that did not know.
@IDCWoodcraft
Ай бұрын
ozguzzi, you are so welcome my friend.
Thanks for sharing all this info on your channel. I started looking around for interesting things I could do with a cnc, and I am so glad I came across your content and began to learn these concepts about the tool and how it works before I bought one. You have saved me from choosing a cheap/inexpensive machine and setting myself up to fail before I even get started. I'm hope now that getting quality tools and understanding how they work and how to use them properly is going to result in a fun and successful hobby. Thanks.
@IDCWoodcraft
Ай бұрын
johnholman3978, right on brother! Congrats on jumping into CNC. I am excited for you to get started.
This has always been a concern, this video just reinforced that and demonstrates the risk of leaving your machine unattended.
@IDCWoodcraft
Ай бұрын
jimpalmer1944, very true my friend. I couldn't agree more
Excellent video Garrett, very insightful and frightening!!!! I never thought about the risk of fire. This video will safe someone's CNC, home and possibly their life!!! Especially a newbie CNC'er. Thank you for doing this for all of us.
@IDCWoodcraft
Ай бұрын
lippa618papalee4, you are so welcome my friend.
Dramatic stuff. No question about using the proper (sharp) bit and cutting speed, as well as ALWAYS being close to the CNC during the carve. A great public service message. Thank you.
@IDCWoodcraft
Ай бұрын
carld4621, you are so welcome my friend.
Thanks for the information!!
@IDCWoodcraft
Ай бұрын
patrickmahoney1056, you are so welcome brother.
Thanks for the info!
@IDCWoodcraft
Ай бұрын
billybartlow2968, you are so welcome my friend.
I had a fire in my dust collector, I didn't notice it right away but I was cutting plywood and it lifted up and it was rubbing on the top of the bit where there was no cutting edge, and started to smoke I stopped it and thought it was over then I seen smoke pouring out of the dust collector, that is another thing you have to watch out for if you get smoke coming off your work piece, check the dust collector make sure there is no fire there.
@IDCWoodcraft
Ай бұрын
ronnies7790, that is a scary story my friend. Be safe in the woodshop brother!
i'm very glad to say i use a downcut to "drill" in a elicoidal job, just put a small diameter downcut bit for a large hole
@IDCWoodcraft
29 күн бұрын
eriff, Using a small diameter downcut bit for a larger hole is a clever technique to ensure a smooth finish and accurate cutting. It's always satisfying to find the right tool for the job and see the excellent results it produces. Good job on using the downcut bit for your elicoidal job!
Great information...... hate to hear about shops burning down. I had a bit that wasn't set long enough for the depth of cut. As it neared the end of the cut the collet started screeching and scoring the top of the walnut, literally burning it. I was right there, and the screeching definitely got my attention to slap the stop button.
@IDCWoodcraft
Ай бұрын
stevekinnaird6835, stay safe in the shop brother! CNCs are dangerous tools and I am glad to hear this video helped you.
Really appreciate this content. Might save shops, homes or even lives. Thx
@IDCWoodcraft
Ай бұрын
atienne_navarre, you are so welcome my friend.
Trying to light your router and material on fire is a wild thing to do. But it does emphasize the importance of not leaving your router unattended. And just to be safe, have a fire extinguisher handy. I have had material break free when just held with tape. If you're not around, things can go from bad to worse in a pretty short time. So, on some projects, I will also add a couple of clamps to increase holding force. Also, at higher feeds and deeper cuts, it is more likely your material will move. An up cutting bit does tend to screw cut material up. But, that same helix that evacuates the material can also not just cause a cutting tool to slide down and possibly out of a collet, but lift material up, resulting in loss of holding when just using tape. While it's impressive to see a cutting tool removing material so fast, and it's surely cost effective, there is also considerably more cutting force, requiring greater hold down methods. If you must run unattended, or "lights out", maybe having another program with more conservative feed rates and depth of cuts might be prudent when doing that. If you maybe have a 3d project that takes a long time to cut, be around and be observant for the roughing cuts. Then when doing finishing with a much smaller tool, there will be much less tangential and lifting forces. The tool may even break before considerable damage can be done. Be observant and prove out your program thoroughly before leaving it running unattended. We often balance risk vs reward. Be smart and be safe.
@IDCWoodcraft
Ай бұрын
cncprogrammer3265, you bring up quite a lot of good points my friend. You can never stay too safe in the shop so thanks for sharing all these tips and tricks.
I suspect if you slow down the plunge rate (giving it more time to generate heat), then you would get a real fire. I have never had a fire, but I made a lot of smoke really fast using a down cut when I was just starting out.
@IDCWoodcraft
Ай бұрын
Yes I should have tried that
Good information Garrett, as always. I kind of breezed through this, but what are your thoughts on compression bits? Love the PWNCNC upgrade, that thing is a beast, and can't wait to get mine.
@IDCWoodcraft
Ай бұрын
mikeamescreations, compression bits are great brother but like every tool you need to use them safely!
Dump your dust collector hot sparks in the sawdust can cause a fire hours later
@IDCWoodcraft
Ай бұрын
OMG! I didn't even think to mention that! Thank you for sharing this super important tip
While cutting Chip Board (CHIP Glue), I had a bit go dull. Ember made its way to the dust collector and started smoldering. Will never cut it on my CNC again
@IDCWoodcraft
Ай бұрын
michaelzemanek2314, good point brother! You can never stay too safe in the shop.
I never drill with my CNC. When I create toolpaths where a through hole will go, I set the programming to cut a pocket just deep enough that it can be seen. In other words the end of the bit just barely touches the wood. Then after the project has been cut out, I go to my drill press and use that to drill the holes. All the CNC is doing is putting a tiny mark on the project where the holes will go. This way I can use any size drill I want and usually I use a chamfer bit to drill holes with so that the screw heads can be sunk below the surface. Another thing I will mention too is the use of a fire extinguisher. For what we are doing with a CNC I would suggest using a CO2 extinguisher. It will put the fire out and also cool things down pretty quickly. If you use a dry chemical extinguisher in your shop, I can tell you, as a 30+ years veteran firefighter, you will have a hell of a mess on your hands to clean up.
@americanenclosures
Ай бұрын
The heat is supposed to leave with the chip when you use a garbage machine like the long mill you can't cut fast enough it just rubbs and makes heat also why is he drilling with a down cut? They make drills for this purpose
@jimscott64
Ай бұрын
@@americanenclosures Are you serious?? He's just trying to show that with the wrong type of bit you can cause a fire. You need to "READ & LISTEN" before making dumb statements like this one.
@IDCWoodcraft
Ай бұрын
jimscott64, great point brother. Staying safe in the shop is the most important thing you can do, especially around a CNC machine.
I almost had a fire. I was cutting a smaller remnant of plywood on a 8' by 4' vac table and it popped loose. The route bit was spinning in the same small area as it dragged the material around. I caught it really quickly and aborted. It only loose for about 5 seconds.But it charred the plywood and gummed up the router bit. Whats scary is the thought that a lit ember could have gotten sucked up into the dust collector and ignited the 50 gallon dust barrel full of saw dust.
@IDCWoodcraft
Ай бұрын
michaellundgren6949, thanks for sharing brother. You can never stay too safe in the shop!
I did a straight plunge into plywood by accident once and it caught fire, depositing an ember in the spoilboard (plywood seems especially prone to burning). Since I was using vacuum hold down there was no smoke but I started to smell something. I was horrified to see that the gates of hell had opened up, cherry red, about the size of a quarter in less than half a minute. It drank some of my coffee, and I had to patch the spoilboard
@IDCWoodcraft
Ай бұрын
papersheepdog, sorry to hear that brother! You need to stay safe in the shop.
how about making a 5mm shelf pin hole drill for cnc to go with the already wonderful 1/8 and 1/4.
@IDCWoodcraft
Ай бұрын
laynemimstx, that would be a great idea brother! Thank for the suggestion on this one.
Outside of the blackening of the router bits you used, are the bits still useable or are they ruined? Thanks
@IDCWoodcraft
Ай бұрын
jeffjaekel2558, they should still be useable brother. Consider making some test cuts and see how they behave.
This danger compounds with a vac table, I've seen it happen!
@IDCWoodcraft
Ай бұрын
TunaSoda, I couldnt agree more brother! Stay safe in the shop!
Hi Garrett. I've been trying to purchase your cnc design bundle for $27.00. Why does it tell me my master card is invalid and also tells me my expiry date is invalid and refuses to let me submit the details? Is it because I'm not in the USA ? I've successfully used it three times today locally. May I pay by PayPal for this purchase?
@IDCWoodcraft
Ай бұрын
Hi mike. I'm not sure what's happening with that. Do me a favor and send an email and let's see what we can do. The email is garrett@idconcraft.com
I almost set my cnc on fire while drilling .5 holes because I forgot the decimal point. Pays to double check your code.
@IDCWoodcraft
Ай бұрын
teardroptrailers, it absolutely does pay to double check!
Can I just buy the checklist ?
@IDCWoodcraft
Ай бұрын
JNewellworks, you can get it for free brother! Here is the link:www.click.idcwoodcraft.com/setup-checklist-signup
@JNewellworks
Ай бұрын
Everytime I go through this link it goes to the upcharge for bits even after clicking no thanks. And at the end it goes to a page for buying bits that I already have for $273. So I don't know what the deal is but it is not as user friendly. Thanks
@396fab
Ай бұрын
@@IDCWoodcraft I don't have a CNC yet, am trying to learn and wanted to read your checklist. I don't mind reading an ad for something free, but sheesh after giving you an email address, then getting hit with another multi-page ad to buy many expensive bits I can't possibly use now, I didn't see a link to get the "free" info sheet. Not good my friend.
When we goin to see you doin the JEEP "DON'T FOLLOW ME, YOU WON'T MAKE IT" video???
@IDCWoodcraft
Ай бұрын
karlriley1314, that is a great idea brother! I will add it to the list. Thanks for sharing.
Great safety tip. Bet you could've got fame ifvyou material could have moved around and bound up.
@IDCWoodcraft
Ай бұрын
samspade2519, very true my friend. You can never stay too safe in the shop.
Please use a tripod. I was unable to complete this video.
@IDCWoodcraft
Ай бұрын
kevinholleman4882, thanks for sharing your perspective brother. Ill work on this for the future.