a. When working at any lathe or mill, sign in on the clipboard hung at that machine before starting any work. this instruction also includes drill presses, saws and grinders.

b. Put any tools used back where you found them immediately after use. Never leave tools laying out on the table tops.

c. You must use the portable air filter if you are generating lots of smoke in your cutting process.

d. Report any tool or machine that you damaged to a shop supervisor immediately.

3. CLEANING:

a. Clean off ALL (note this says ALL, not some) chips and excess oil from any machine and the surrounding floor when you finish machining. This includes drill presses, sanders, band saws, table tops, vises, etc.

b. Use rags and the small brushes stored in the "brushes" drawer of the tool box to facilitate the cleaning process.

c. When finished cleaning, look back over the machine or area to see if there are any chips or oil left. If there is any mess left on the machine, and your name is the last name on the clipboard, your name will be written on the yellow card board without

consulting you. You will then be called back to clean the machine properly. If you are not sure how clean is clean enough, ask a shop supervisor. Students will provide both phone numbers & e-mail listings.

4. SANDER RULES:

a. Do not hold your work piece with pliers, gloves, or rags. Hold piece with your hand and use the bucket of water near the sander to cool the piece as it gets hot.

b. Be careful when sanding sharp corners or thin stock. These materials may tear the sanding belt and/or get caught and result in injury.

c. Be sure to clean up the sander table top, base, and surrounding floor immediately when finished with the machine.

5. BAND SAW RULES

a. When using the vertical band saw, do not use the wrong band saw blade or wrong speed for the material you are cutting. See information sheets posted with each blade behind the band saw for proper blade choice and blade speed. Ask for help if you do not know how to change the blade.

b. Do not place hands close the blade when cutting material. Always use a block of wood or scrap metal to push the work piece into the blade.

c. Be sure to clean up the saw table top, base, and surrounding floor immediately when finished with the machine.

6. DRILL PRESS

a. Be careful not to drill into the vises or drill press table.

b. Do not use Silver and Deming drills in the drill press. Use the tapered drills for holes of diameter larger than 1/2" inch.

c. Use vises clamped to the drill press table if there is the chance that your work piece might spin when drilling.

d. Only change drill press speed while the drill press is running.

e. Do not run the drill speed too fast. If you hear any squeaking, the drill speed is too fast or you are not plunging fast enough. Ask for help if you are not sure what speed to use.

f. Be sure to clean up the drill press table top, base, and surrounding floor immediately when finished with the machine.

7. GRINDING:

a. Do not grind any red painted tool bits, PERIOD. If you feel that a red painted tool needs regrinding, ask a lab supervisor to do it for you. If you need a specially ground tool, buy your own.

b. The grinders are meant only for tool grinding. Do not grind anything else on the grinders.

c. Do not grind carbide bits on the aluminum oxide grinder wheels. Ask if you do not understand this rule.

8. LATHE RULES:

a. Sign in (name, tel.#, date) on the clipboard at the machine.

b. Never have the chuck key in chuck if your hand is not on the key.

c. When changing speed settings, make sure you turn the lathe spindle by hand to make sure the gears mesh before turning on the machine. Ask for assistance if you do not understand this rule.

d. Do not put your hand on the chuck to slow it down.

e. If you hear any squeaking or if the tool is deflecting largely while cutting, something is wrong. Ask for help if you are not sure what is wrong.

f. Clean up:

- The following pertains to the chuck, tool rack, tool holder, tools, tool post, all lathe surfaces, and the floor.

~ remove all chips

~ wipe up all excess cutting fluid

- Use small brushes found in the tool box and rags to facilitate the cleaning process.

- Organize the tool rack exactly the way it was when you got on the machine. If you cannot remember how the rack as set up, look at the picture on the back of tool holder.

9. MILL RULES:

a. Make sure all table and spindle locks are released if you feel any resistance to table or spindle motion.

b. Do not over tighten the draw bar. Tightening the draw bar 15 degrees after you feel resistance is enough.

c. Be careful not to drill into the mill vise, table, or parallel bars. Make sure there is clearance for the drill or mill bit to pass through your work piece without running into these surfaces.

d. If using a mill without dial speed changing you have to change the belts by hand. The belt must remain horizontal - do not cross the belt. Ask for assistance if you do not understand this rule.

e. If using a mill with dial speed changing, change speeds only while the machine is running. Note that when going between low/high gear the machine must be stopped.

f. When shifting from low to high speed settings, make sure you turn the spindle by hand to make sure the gears mesh before turning on the machine. Ask for assistance if you do not understand this rule.

g. If you hear any squeaking or if the tool/part is deflecting largely while cutting, something is wrong. Ask for help if you are not sure what is wrong.

h. Clean up:

- The following pertains to the mill table, table slots, mill ways, vises, mill base, and the floor.

~ remove all chips

~ wipe up all excess cutting fluid

- Use small brushes found in the tool box and rags to facilitate the cleaning process.

Last updated January 2004. For questions or comments about this webpage contact webmaster
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