We’ve designed our Bantam Tools Explorer CNC Milling Machine to be ready to use right out of the box. To help you get started quickly and easily, this guide walks you through the key components of your new CNC machine. Being familiar with these components will empower you to use the mill more efficiently, have a better understanding of the guides in our Support Center, and communicate with other Bantam Tools users more effectively. Below are diagrams and exploded views that contain the necessary glossary of terms you would use in the event you need to contact Bantam Tools Support.
Machine and Part Glossary & Diagram
X/Z Axis Assembly
Y Axis Assembly
The Bantam Tools Explorer CNC Milling Machine is a 3-axis machine. A 3-axis CNC machine is a mill that has three axes that move simultaneously to mill 2D, 2.5D, and 3D parts. Our Desktop CNC Milling Machine has X, Y, and Z axes.
Each axis is driven by stepper motors in precise movements or “steps”.
- The X-axis stepper motor is located on the right-hand side of the machine.
- The Y-axis stepper motor is located on the backside of the machine.
- The Z-axis stepper motor is located on top of the XZ-carriage inside of the machine.
The outside of the Bantam Tools Explorer CNC Milling Machine is called the exoskeleton, and it keeps all chips and debris inside the machine while you’re milling. Each machine comes fully enclosed. The front door access is also considered a safety window. This allows you to view your job while keeping chips and debris on the inside of the machine.
The front door access on the Bantam Tools Desktop CNC Milling Machine is made of polycarbonate and it swings up. Once it’s open, you can load materials, tooling, or accessories as needed. On either side of the loading door are two magnets that hold the door in place.
There are two screws on the lower right side of the loading door when it’s closed. This is the Bantam Tools Desktop CNC Milling Machine’s safety interlock.
When the safety interlock is engaged, it signals to the Bantam Tools Milling Machine Software that the door is closed and it’s safe to mill. The spindle won’t start up until the safety interlock is engaged. On the Bantam Tools software wizard, there’s a red warning label that lets you know the door is open; the label disappears when the safety interlock is engaged.
On the to right of the machine is the red emergency-stop button, or E-stop button, which enables you to immediately stop a job. If you’re noticing an issue in your milling operation, press the E-stop button to engage it and stop the machine immediately. Once you’ve solved the issue, twist the E-stop clockwise to disengage it.
The electronics enclosure houses all the circuit boards that power the Bantam Tools Desktop CNC Milling Machine. The enclosure is located on the right and the left of the machine and is separate from the machining area. This design helps ensure that no chips or dust get into the electronics. On the back of the exoskeleton, there’s also an on/off switch and outlets to plug in USB and power cords.
Let’s take a look at the key components on the inside of the machine. The surface that you attach or “fixture” your material to is called the machine bed. We carry a variety of machine beds, including our T-slot Bed, Precision PCB Pallet, and the Fixturing Pallet. The machine comes standard with a T-slot bed. You can easily identify the T-slot bed by its T-shaped slots. The type of machine bed you use depends on the parts you need to machine. Regardless of which machine bed you use, the “build volume” on the Bantam Tools Desktop CNC Milling Machine is always 6” x 4” x 2.75” (153 mm x 102 mm x 70 mm).
Note: Check out our fixturing guides to learn more about the fixturing accessories and techniques you can use with your Bantam Tools Explorer CNC Milling Machine.
Next, we have the spindle assembly, where the machine’s drive belts are housed. The Bantam Tools Desktop CNC Milling Machine has a spindle speed ranging from 10,000 RPM to 23,000 RPM. This spindle speed range is ideal for prototyping in aluminum, but it also allows you to mill a variety of softer metals (e.g., brass and copper), engineering plastics, hardwoods, and more.
Note: Learn more about the materials supported on the Desktop CNC Milling Machines in our Materials Overview guide.
On the bottom of the spindle assembly is the tool holder, which is the shaft that your end mill (tool you use to cut your material) slides into. To install or remove an end mill, tighten or loosen the collet nut. The collet nut holds the collet, which is like a sleeve that holds your end mill snuggly when you insert it into the tool holder.
Note: See our Installing & Locating a Tool guide to learn more about installing and removing end mills.
That’s it for the key components of your Bantam Tools Desktop CNC Milling Machine. As you dive further into the support materials in our archives, use this guide as a reference.
If you have technical questions, please contact our support team at support@bantamtools.com.
Note: See our Installing & Locating a Tool guide to learn more about installing and removing end mills.
That’s it for the key components of your Bantam Tools Desktop CNC Milling Machine. As you dive further into the support materials in our archives, use this guide as a reference.
If you have technical questions, please contact our support team at support@bantamtools.com.
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