# How to use this site You are not expected to read every page in order or memorize settings.\ Use what you need, when you need it. *** ### Where to start depends on your goal There is no universal entry point — only useful ones. * **You are new to CNC** → Foundations * **You already have CNC experience** → jump to what you want to compare or expand * **You like learning by doing** → Built with me * **You landed here because of the DIY-5-axis** → Build with me will gradually move you there * **You are looking for a challenge or inspiration** → Projects & Showcases *** ### **Parameters are starting points, not prescriptions** Numbers here are working baselines from real tests — not universal rules.\ If your setup is similar, they may run as-is; if not, small adjustments may help. *** ### **Fast paths, not magic numbers** You will find ready-to-use starting points here — parameters, workflows, and tool setups that can get you cutting quickly. If you want to go deeper later, the documentation shows how the choices connect. You can start by using the shortcuts.\ Understanding can grow while you work. *** ### Follow → try → return Most of what’s documented here really comes alive once the machine runs. Try a parameter, workflow, or setup.\ Watch how the machine behaves.\ Come back to the explanation with real chips and real results in mind. Details that felt abstract often make immediate sense once you’ve seen them play out.\ This loop is optional — you can keep using proven setups as long as they work for you. *** ### It’s okay to jump around Some sections will click immediately. Others won’t — yet.\ That’s normal. Feel free to skim, skip ahead, or move on when something isn’t relevant to what you’re working on right now.\ Coming back later with real context often changes how things read. *** ### **If a cut doesn’t behave the way you expect** Before chasing parameters, it’s often worth stepping back and checking whether the basic choices fit the job. Ask yourself: * **Is this material a good match for dry machining?**\ Some alloys or plastics are simply prone to built-up edge, smearing, or tearing — no amount of feed tweaking will fully fix that. * **Is the tool actually sharp and suited for this material?**\ A worn cutter, the wrong coating, or a geometry meant for steel can struggle badly in aluminium. * **Is the setup supporting the cut, not just holding the part?**\ Parts that can move, flex, or ring will make even “good” parameters look wrong. On any CNC machine, a poor match between material, tool, and setup will cause problems.\ On compact machines, those mismatches tend to show up earlier and more clearly.\ That feedback isn’t failure — it’s the machine pointing out where the combination isn’t working yet. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://miwicnc.gitbook.io/miwicnc/how-to-use-this-site.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.