CNC Safety
There are many safety concerns related to CNC machines. These include:
- Risk of projectile: CNC machines have several projectile risks including:
- Part/component failure causing ejection of machine components or tool bits. This may occur due to poor setup, incorrect milling settings or incinsistent material properties. An enclosure can reduce such risks.
- As material is removed by the mill, small chips may be ejected by the mill bit. This material, while having low mass, can still be dangerous. Safety glasses and enclosures can reduce such risks.
- Dust/off-gasing hazards: As CNC machines remove material, some of that material may form dust and/or gas byproducts. As a result, care should be taken during milling to ensure a safe work environment. This may include vacuum/filter dust removal to collect dust, enclosures to mitigate the risk of slipery floors and properly designed and approved ventilated enclosures.
- Noise hazards: CNC machines can generate significant noise while cutting material. We have performed a preliminary study of these acoustic effects and will report it on this website soon. Using an enclosure as well as hearing protection (as needed) can reduce the risk associated with higher amplitude noise.
We will report further on the safety considerations for CNC laboratories soon; however, we strongly recommend that a CNC laboratory adopt a safety protocol and also consults with the governing safety official in the organization for further guidance.
Please check back soon. More information will be posted in the near future.
