If you’re unfamiliar and curious concerning what’s involved in programming a CNC router, the following videos, executed in Visual Mill, provide step by step overviews of the operator input required to produce a range of commonly used tool-paths. 

To gain the best understanding of tool-path programming, we suggest viewing the videos in their top to bottom order.  Features explained in detail in the first video (Profiling) will be pertinent in understanding specific functions in following videos.  The videos are short and to the point and take only several minutes per module.  

2 & 1/2 Axis CNC Programming Videos

PROFILING (cutting around a border)

POCKETING (cutting material within a border)

DRILLING

ENGRAVING/EMBOSSING (recessed & pop-up letters- we suggest reviewing Pocketing prior to watching this module)

NESTED (multiple part cutting- we suggest reviewing Profiling prior to watching this module)

BRIDGES (holding parts without vacuum- we suggest reviewing Profiling prior to watching this module)

3 Axis (Mechanical) CNC Programming Videos

PARALLEL FINISHING (cutting a three dimensional model- we suggest reviewing Pocketing prior to watching this module)

3 Axis (Artistic) CNC Programming Videos

*RASTER  (Includes model creation and toolpathing- we suggest reviewing Parallel Finishing prior to watching this module)

*VECTOR  (Includes model creation and toolpathing- we suggest reviewing Raster prior to watching this module)

*Raster --three dimensional models generated from dot matrix files (jpg, gif & bmp)

*Vector -three dimensional models generated from line and curves