Glossary
CNC Operator Terms & Vocabulary
15 essential CNC operator terms with plain-English definitions: the vocabulary you’ll hear in training and on day one.
Key CNC operator vocabulary
These 15 terms come up constantly in CNC operator training, on the job and in interviews. Knowing them helps you follow instructions, document accurately and sound prepared.
- Chip conveyor
- Removes chips.
- CNC
- Computer numerical control.
- Cycle start
- Begins a program.
- Feed hold
- Pauses motion.
- First article
- First part checked before a run.
- G-code
- Machine programming language.
- Insert
- Cutting tip.
- Lockout/tagout
- Energy isolation before servicing.
- PPE
- Personal protective equipment.
- Program number
- ID for a part program.
- Scrap
- Parts that fail inspection.
- SOP
- Standard operating procedure.
- Spindle
- Rotating tool holder.
- Tool offset
- Tool length or wear adjustment.
- Work offset
- Part zero location.
Practice these terms
Test yourself with the free CNC Operator practice test: it includes vocabulary questions built from this list. For a complete course, see CNC Operator training.
Browse terms from every career in our career glossary.