Nemesis Prime Mill Machine

Constructing robots takes more than our hands, tools are often required. That’s why we have machines that help us cut and drill through tough materials. Recently, I have learned to use a very helpful machine called the Mill.

What is a Mill? Milling is the process of machining using a rotary bit to remove material by slowly cutting into a work piece, layer by layer. This may be done with a variety of speeds, pressures, and directions, on one or several axes.

Harsha Pavuluri, an FRC alum, presented an informative PowerPoint on using the Mill that included live demonstrations. First, we were instructed how to use Autodesk Inventor because the Mill runs off of code. In Autodesk Inventor, we used the Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) section to create the code to run the Mill. Harsha showed us how to use CAM to control the speed of the bits, the bit size, drilling location, and more. When we all understood the basics of the CAM, it was time to bring the code over to the machine!

When we arrived at the Mill, we were shown the different bit sizes; these determines the size of the hole you want to drill. Next, we were shown the monitor that identifies where the CAM file is uploaded, the xyz bit, and current and programmed movement speeds. To move the base, we use a mousepad system and the arrow keys. Before starting the cutting, we learned that it is critical to “zero” the robot to assign the xyz to the zero position.

After this experience, I learned a few things. Before this presentation, I new very little about Autodesk Inventor. However, with some help from Harsha, I learned the basics of Computer-Aided Manufacturing. I am eager to learn more so that I can use a larger variety of machines. Now that I have the ability to use the Mill, I can help my team create complex and precise materials to build a better robot. After all, this is everyone’s goal, to be a competent and useful team member.