Vertical Mill Startup, Setup and Shutdown

Startup: inspect, power up, enable and reference the axes

• Complete the pre-use requirements in Equipment Operating Procedure and Personal Protective Equipment.
• Check coolant level and lubrication of the ways—the sliding guide surfaces—using the machine's maintenance procedure.
• Complete the prescribed guard, emergency-stop and work-area checks in Equipment Operating Procedure and Machine Hazards and Housekeeping.
• Confirm the machine and controller have power available. Turn on the controller computer, then the mill as directed by the installed-machine procedure.
• Reset depressed emergency-stop controls after completing the prescribed checks, then use the machine's Start/enable control to activate its motor controllers.
• When the controller is ready, reference (home) all installed axes by the machine's procedure. Confirm that referencing completed; homing has not set the part zero.

Part and tool setup: seat, grip, locate and record

• Plan the datum faces, work zero, tool access and fixture clearance for the intended operations.
• For a vise setup, clean and inspect the vise and part, remove raised burrs, and check the fixed-jaw alignment. See Milling Vises and Strap Clamps.
• Fit parallels if needed. Snug the part, seat it with light dead-blow taps, tighten the vise and recheck seating.
• For table clamping, have the support, locating and clamp arrangement checked against the job and installed procedure; confirm every intended contact is seated and every clamp is firm. Use strap-clamp geometry to review placement.
• Choose the cutter and matching holder. For ER tooling, capture the collet in its nut, thread the assembly loosely, insert the shank with the planned reach, and tighten as specified. For a set-screw holder, align the designated shank flat and follow its seating method. See Mill Toolholders and Collets.
• Install the holder using the procedure for the actual spindle and drawbar. For a manual drawbar arrangement, verify completion of its spindle-lock release and spindle-cover closure steps before operation; do not apply that sequence to a different retention system.
• Set and verify tool lengths and the work offset using Mill Indicators and Part Zero. Confirm the active tool number, units and work coordinate system.

Before cutting: verify the program or manual movement plan

• Confirm cutter, spindle direction, speed, feed, width and depth of cut against the tool data and Feeds and Speeds.
• For programmed work, load the intended program and check the displayed path, tools, offsets and limits. See G-code and Toolpaths.
• Perform the approved air-cut or dry-run procedure with verified clearance. If that method changes offsets or modes, restore and verify them before cutting the part.
• For manual movement, confirm the selected axis, direction, jog rate and increment. Use a low approach rate near a surface and incremental motion for fine positioning, as directed in the machine procedure. Select cutting feed from the tool data rather than treating a low approach rate as a cutting-feed prescription.
• Complete the cutting-readiness checks in Equipment Operating Procedure, then perform the operation and its planned measurements.

Shutdown: end operation, shut down the controller and restore the work area

• Finish the operation and complete the stopping and measurement requirements in Equipment Operating Procedure.
• Follow the installed Tormach shutdown sequence. In this workflow: depress emergency stop, shut down the controller computer normally, then remove its power and turn off the mill.
• Complete cleanup using Metal Chips and Swarf and Equipment Operating Procedure. Return tools and leave the work area ready for the next user.

Use the machine-specific instructions for any required parking position, tool removal, lubrication or power sequence. These details vary with the machine and its options.