From the course: Introduction to Mill and Lathe Operation

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Directions of travel

Directions of travel

- In order to understand directions of travel at the most fundamental level, you need to know the three axes: X, Y, and Z. So here's a simple example, this is your work part, which should be clamped to your table, and this is your mill. As your tool travels into the part, it's moving in the Z direction. So if you're using a basic mill, the direction the tool moves is Z, up and down. What are the X and Y directions? Well, that's how the table that's holding the part moves. The table moves in either the X direction which is horizontal, or a Y direction which is perpendicular for your desired cut.

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