Learn CNC Free

Start with CNC Basics - What You Need To Get Started (9 min, Product Design Online), then You Need to Start Machining Metal (18 min, Carbide 3D). All 69 lessons here are free, from the teachers' own official uploads. You'll need desktop cnc router, end mill bit set, safety glasses and a few more basics (about $460 of kit). The book to keep beside you: CNC Router Essentials by Randy Johnson.

What you'll need

Desktop CNC router: Carve signs and parts.
End mill bit set: Cut and carve different materials.
Safety glasses: Non-negotiable around tools.
Ear defenders: Protect your hearing from day one.

Lessons

CNC Basics - What You Need To Get Started (9 min, Product Design Online, Beginner)
You Need to Start Machining Metal (18 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Intro to Using Carbide Create (67 min, Carbide 3D, Beginner)
Massive 3D Carving - CNC Milling a Door (25 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Complete Shapeoko Project Walkthrough - Building a Bluetooth Speaker (66 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Consider Material Resolution for Cutting with Shapeoko (11 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Mass Production on a Shapeoko 5 CNC Router - Lessons Learned (18 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Multi-Sided Machining with a Secret 🤫 (13 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Designing and Machining a Basic Infinity Mirror (11 min, Carbide 3D, Beginner)
Machining A Wavy American Flag on a CNC Router (20 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Machining Textured Knife Scales from Richlite (16 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Advanced Ideas for Carbide Create - Adding Hinges + 3D Elements (67 min, Carbide 3D, Advanced)
American Flag in Carbide Create (11 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Carbide Create - Build Your Skills (33 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Create a Custom Machine Configuration in Fusion 360 for Hobbyist CNC | Shapeoko, X-Carve, LongMill (10 min, Product Design Online, Intermediate)
Hand Lettering Artist Goes CNC - Carbide 3D People (12 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
How to Create Perfect V-Carve Inlays on your CNC (18 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
How to: Make Gorgeous V-Carve Wood Inlays (17 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Creating Coins with Desktop CNC (8 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Using Shapeoko for Production - CNC Business Batching (40 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Workholding 101 for CNC Routers - Carbide Office Hours #9 (18 min, Carbide 3D, Beginner)
Carbide Create Live - Ep. 1 - Design / Chamfers / Quickfire Challenge (80 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Make a Basketball Hoop on Your CNC Router (12 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Machining an Aluminum Pumpkin on the Shapeoko HDM (11 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Shapeoko 5 Pro Assembly Guide Video (31 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Speeds / Feeds & Knowledge for Surfacing Bits / Fly Cutters (9 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Understanding VCarve: "Why are my Letters Messed Up?" (9 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Creating Custom Cabinetry with CNC Router - A Cabinet Build (10 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Custom Putter on a Shapeoko CNC Router (11 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Grandmas Handwritten Apple Pie Recipe Carved in Wood - Lettering to CNC (11 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Shapeoko Pro Assembly Overview (17 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Should You Buy a VFD instead of a Router? Answers await...... (9 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
SUPER Smooth: Use Bowl Bits on YOUR CNC Router - CNC Tutorial (8 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
How to Make Halloween Lanterns - A CNC Project (11 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Finishing Touches on the Longboard - Carbide Cruiser Ep. 5 (8 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
From Paper To Market - Andy Bird - Carbide 3D People (10 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
How to Make Your Own Threaded MDF Table for the Shapeoko CNC (9 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
The Carbide 3D Education Live Show - Episode 3 (67 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Assembling a Shapeoko XXL- What to Expect (10 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Episode #1 - Testing Materials + Troubleshooting Cuts (33 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
How to Assemble the Shapeoko 4 CNC Router (17 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
3D Printing INSIDE a Tormach CNC? (10 min, 3D Printing Nerd, Intermediate)
Carbide Create V7 - Boolean Tools Update (10 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Chatting with Sara on Running a Small Business w/ CNCs - Carbide Office Hours #5 (55 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Episode #5 - Zeros + Cutting Faster (22 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Make Folding Cornhole Boards (12 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Making Simple Thumbscrews for Easy CNC Workholding (13 min, Carbide 3D, Beginner)
5 Valentines Day Projects (13 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
All New Drag Knife - The Stingray (10 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Machining Longboard Decks, Pt. 2 - Carbide Cruiser Ep. 3 (9 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
The Support Show Ep. #2 - Machine Maintenance + Bitsetter Best Practices (28 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
The Support Show Ep. #3 - Initial Machine Setup + First Start (23 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
1 Day Build - Modern Desk Lamp (9 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
CAM and Machining of the Longboard Deck, Pt. 1 - Carbide Cruiser Ep. 2 (9 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Episode #7 - Wasteboard Leveling + Workholding (23 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Learn: Carbide Create Strategies and Skills (9 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Machining Aluminum Longboard Kicktails - Carbide Cruiser Ep. 4 (9 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Making a Friends-Themed Picture Frame (15 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
Ohio "Home" Sign (40 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)
The Support Show #12 - How to: Flatten Your Wasteboard (9 min, Carbide 3D, Intermediate)

Books on CNC

CNC Router Essentials by Randy Johnson - View on Amazon