Skip to content
Mechanical, Build & Pneumatics·Lesson 17 of 47

Fabrication Tools and Safety

The shop tools that turn raw stock into robot parts, and the rules that keep everyone with ten fingers.

Sign in to track progress, earn XP, and save lessons.

Core tools

  • Bandsaw (horizontal/vertical) — cuts tube and plate to length with a continuous blade. Use a metal-cutting blade for metal and a wood blade for wood — the wrong blade snaps, burns, or grabs. The single most-used cutting tool for tube.
  • Drill press — drills accurate, square holes in stock too big or precise for a hand drill. Clamp the work; never hold it by hand.
  • Mill (manual or CNC) — a rotating cutter removes material to make precise features, pockets, and holes; the vertical mill's spindle moves up/down while the table moves in X/Y.
  • Lathe — spins the workpiece against a fixed tool to make round parts: shafts, spacers, standoffs, custom pulleys.
  • CNC router — a 3-axis machine that cuts wood, plastic, and aluminum plate; the most powerful affordable way for teams to produce custom plates and gussets directly from a CAD file.
  • Hand tools — drill/driver, taps and a tap handle, files and a deburring tool, calipers, and a full set of hex keys and nut drivers.

Tapping threads

To make threads in a hole, drill the correct tap drill size first, then run a tap in straight, backing off frequently to clear chips and using cutting fluid on aluminum. Thin aluminum strips threads easily, so prefer a nut on the back side when material is thin.

Finishing

Always deburr cut edges and drilled holes — burrs cut hands, prevent flush mating, and concentrate stress. A quick chamfer or pass with a deburring tool is worth it.

Safety (non-negotiable)

FIRST publishes Tool & Fabrication Expectations, and good shops enforce:

  • Eye protection always in the shop — safety glasses/goggles that are ANSI Z87-approved (or equivalent CE EN166 / CSA / AS-NZS rating per FIRST's document); plus closed-toe shoes; no loose clothing, gloves around rotating tools, dangling jewelry, or untied long hair.
  • Training before use. Power tools like the drill press, bandsaw, mill, and lathe are dangerous and require sign-off by a trained mentor.
  • Clamp the work, keep hands away from blades/cutters, and never leave a machine running unattended.
  • Know where the E-stop / power switch and first-aid kit are.

A fast team is a safe team: injuries and rushed mistakes cost far more time than doing it right.

Key takeaways

  • Match the tool to the job: bandsaw for cutting tube, drill press for holes, lathe for round parts, mill/CNC router for custom plates
  • Always deburr edges and tap with the correct drill size and cutting fluid
  • ANSI Z87 eye protection, training before use, clamping the work, and tying back hair/clothing are non-negotiable shop rules

Go deeper

Lesson quiz

Required

Answer all 3 questions correctly to complete this lesson.

1.Why should you never wear gloves while operating a rotating machine such as a drill press, lathe, or mill?

2.Which piece of personal protective equipment must be worn by everyone in an FRC shop whenever fabrication tools are in use?

3.What should you always do with the chuck key before turning on a drill press?

Answer every question to submit.