Practice
How to Pass a CNC Setter Trade Test Abroad
Trade tests abroad assess the same setter skills everywhere, with local language and procedure on top. Here is how to prepare, codes first, language second.
Lawrence Arya··5 min
Posts, page 40 of 44
Practice
How to Pass the NIMS CNC Mill Operations Exam
A practical plan for the NIMS CNC mill operations exam: the mill code scope, the setup skills it checks, and exam-day strategy that keeps you calm.
Lawrence Arya··5 min
Code reference
How to Program a Helix in G-Code (G02/G03 With Z)
A helix is just a circular arc with a simultaneous Z move. Add a Z value to a G02 or G03 and the tool spirals instead of staying flat. Here is how it works.
Lawrence Arya··5 min
Practice
How to Read a G-Code Print in an Interview Test
Handed a program printout in an interview? Read it in a fixed order: units and mode first, then setup, then the moves. Here is the method that keeps you calm.
Lawrence Arya··5 min
Guides
How to Safely Test a G-Code Program: Beginner Concepts
The checks beginners learn before running a new program: dry run, single block, rapid override, and a graphics preview, explained at a concept level.
Lawrence Arya··5 min
Practice
Is There a Game to Learn G-Code?
There is no big 'G-code video game,' but game-style recall drills exist and work. Here is what is actually available and what to look for.
Lawrence Arya··5 min
Practice
ITI CNC Practical Exam: What to Study and Practice
An ITI CNC practical exam tests reading and running a program: the common G-code and M-code, setup, and safe operation. Here is what to study, not answers to copy.
Lawrence Arya··5 min
Practice
Journeyman Machinist G-Code Test Questions: What to Expect
A journeyman-level G-code test goes beyond the basics into offsets, compensation, canned cycles, and reading a full program. Here is the deeper scope to study.
Lawrence Arya··5 min
Practice
GRBL Laser G-Code: Practice Exercises for Beginners
GRBL laser G-code is a small, friendly subset: G0/G1 for moves, M3/M4/M5 for the laser, and S for power. Here are simple exercises to learn it by doing.
Lawrence Arya··5 min
Code reference
M98 and M99: Subprogram Call and Return, With an Example
M98 calls a subprogram and M99 returns from it, letting you reuse a block of code. Here is how the pair works on Fanuc-style controls, with an example.
Lawrence Arya··5 min
Practice
Machinist Apprentice Study App: Why Dark Mode Helps
Dark mode is more than a look for a machinist study app: it suits dim shops, night shifts, and tired eyes. Here is what else an apprentice app should have.
Lawrence Arya··5 min
Guides
Mesa Card + LinuxCNC: The G-Code Is Still Standard
A Mesa card is hardware that connects LinuxCNC to your machine. It changes the wiring and config, not the G-code. Here is what to practice for the program side.
Lawrence Arya··5 min