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  1. #11
    Chaz's Avatar
    Lives in Ickenham, West London, United Kingdom. Last Activity: 2 Weeks Ago Has been a member for 9-10 years. Has a total post count of 1,600. Received thanks 110 times, giving thanks to others 69 times.
    Quote Originally Posted by Davek0974 View Post
    I've got a 2.2kw WC spindle coming for a new build, what size cutter could these handle in aluminium??

    I have read that torque drops badly at lower speeds but what is the usable range???
    Typically 12 - 24K. Size of cutter all depends on width and depth of cut.

    http://zero-divide.net/?page=fswizard get used to using this, it also tells you how much power you need.

  2. #12
    Quote Originally Posted by Chaz View Post
    Typically 12 - 24K. Size of cutter all depends on width and depth of cut.

    http://zero-divide.net/?page=fswizard get used to using this, it also tells you how much power you need.

    Thanks, looks like small cutters and solid carbide are the way forwards. HP does not really factor until you get up in the 10mm dia range and a 10mm carbide tool is quite spendy. But at that size machine rigidity would be a serious factor so conservatively I would guess that carbide cutters <5mm dia are the order of the day for aluminium.

    Good calculator in that link BTW

  3. #13
    Chaz's Avatar
    Lives in Ickenham, West London, United Kingdom. Last Activity: 2 Weeks Ago Has been a member for 9-10 years. Has a total post count of 1,600. Received thanks 110 times, giving thanks to others 69 times.
    Quote Originally Posted by Davek0974 View Post
    Thanks, looks like small cutters and solid carbide are the way forwards. HP does not really factor until you get up in the 10mm dia range and a 10mm carbide tool is quite spendy. But at that size machine rigidity would be a serious factor so conservatively I would guess that carbide cutters <5mm dia are the order of the day for aluminium.

    Good calculator in that link BTW
    Ye, very good as a starting point.

    Stick to 2 flute for alu, my 'favorite' sizes are 8mm roughing, 6 and 10mm for finishing, 4mm for smaller if needed.

  4. #14
    Quote Originally Posted by Davek0974 View Post
    I've got a 2.2kw WC spindle coming for a new build, what size cutter could these handle in aluminium??

    I have read that torque drops badly at lower speeds but what is the usable range???
    The usable range is between 5000 and 24000 rpm if the VFD is setup properly. But yes torque does drop at lower speeds so does have limitations.
    You can use the full cutter size range upto 13mm in aluminium but it will affect DOC and Feedrate. I cut lots of aluminium and find 8mm with 3 flutes is nice size that allows good DOC and feed rates. If used with trochiodal toolpaths the removal rate is brilliant and shifts large amount of chips.

    My 2 most often used cutters are 8mm 3 flute rougher and 6mm 2 flute spiral flute for finishing. When ever possible I use Trochiodal toolpaths.

  5. #15
    Quote Originally Posted by Chaz View Post
    Stick to 2 flute for alu
    Not always the best for Alu. It depends on the job and type of cut. If your profiling for instance and not slot cutting then more flutes are better. They allow faster feed rates with higher MRR and give better finish.
    I find 3 flutes are best at roughing.? They are Stiffer and more ridged so can cut deeper. Feed rate and MRR is higher. They give a better finish if not roughers because More flutes.
    The only thing is they need more attention to chip clearing and chip clearence. So not ideal for Slotting or small pockets and tight corners where tool cuts on two edges. When used with trochoidal tool paths they rock compared to 2 flute and can be run much faster with more DOC.
    Last edited by JAZZCNC; 19-02-2016 at 09:49 PM.

  6. #16
    Chaz's Avatar
    Lives in Ickenham, West London, United Kingdom. Last Activity: 2 Weeks Ago Has been a member for 9-10 years. Has a total post count of 1,600. Received thanks 110 times, giving thanks to others 69 times.
    Quote Originally Posted by JAZZCNC View Post
    Not always the best for Alu. It depends on the job and type of cut. If your profiling for instance and not slot cutting then more flutes are better. They allow faster feed rates with higher MRR and give better finish.
    I find 3 flutes are best at roughing.? They are Stiffer and more ridged so can cut deeper. Feed rate and MRR is higher. They give a better finish if not roughers because More flutes.
    The only thing is they need more attention to chip clearing and chip clearence. So not ideal for Slotting or small pockets and tight corners where tool cuts on two edges. When used with trochoidal tool paths they rock compared to 2 flute and can be run much faster with more DOC.
    Agreed but generally this is good advice. I use 3 flute 8mm corn cob to rough. The rest are 2 flute.

    Certainly anything higher than 3 in alu generally is a problem for most.

  7. #17
    Great, thanks.

    Things are simpler on my manual Bridgeport - just throw in a tool, set the speed to the chart and turn the hand wheels at a rate that keeps her happy :) Got a lot to learn - my reason for building a CNC partly.

    So i have a g-code file from SheetCam and it was programmed for say a 6mm roughing cut leaving an allowance for finish, do i need to make a second file for the finish cut or do you use the same cutter but just program a final cut for the finish pass??

    One job i have in mind has some 3mm holes in it, i would be looking at ramping in with a 2 or 2.5mm tool for them and then do the outside profile with a larger tool maybe - I am lacking knowledge of how you change tool and get back to exactly the right place OR do you use the tool dia offsets in Mach3

    As i said, lots to learn;)

  8. #18
    Chaz's Avatar
    Lives in Ickenham, West London, United Kingdom. Last Activity: 2 Weeks Ago Has been a member for 9-10 years. Has a total post count of 1,600. Received thanks 110 times, giving thanks to others 69 times.
    Quote Originally Posted by Davek0974 View Post
    Great, thanks.

    Things are simpler on my manual Bridgeport - just throw in a tool, set the speed to the chart and turn the hand wheels at a rate that keeps her happy :) Got a lot to learn - my reason for building a CNC partly.

    So i have a g-code file from SheetCam and it was programmed for say a 6mm roughing cut leaving an allowance for finish, do i need to make a second file for the finish cut or do you use the same cutter but just program a final cut for the finish pass??

    One job i have in mind has some 3mm holes in it, i would be looking at ramping in with a 2 or 2.5mm tool for them and then do the outside profile with a larger tool maybe - I am lacking knowledge of how you change tool and get back to exactly the right place OR do you use the tool dia offsets in Mach3

    As i said, lots to learn;)
    Get Fusion 360, watch lots of good utoob vids on how to CAD and then CAM in it. Sorted.

  9. #19
    Quote Originally Posted by Chaz View Post
    Agreed but generally this is good advice. I use 3 flute 8mm corn cob to rough. The rest are 2 flute.

    Certainly anything higher than 3 in alu generally is a problem for most.
    No it's not generally good advise because depends on the type of cut and machine, along with several other factors like cooling etc.
    Slot cutting is worst case for most because chip clearence is less so people use less flutes to give more clearence. But if the machine is strong enough and cutting parameters are correct then 3 flute will work just fine and give higher MRR. It's generaly only good advise to those that don't know there machines capabiltys.!
    Like wise for finishing or cutting with plenty of chip clearence like profiling then multi flute cutters work great provided the machine can handle the higher feed rates. People go wrong by using multiflute cutters is wrong situations or more often much too low feedrate. If run correctly in right places multiflute cutters give a much better finish.
    Last edited by JAZZCNC; 19-02-2016 at 10:09 PM.

  10. #20
    Quote Originally Posted by Chaz View Post
    Get Fusion 360, watch lots of good utoob vids on how to CAD and then CAM in it. Sorted.
    I have that installed, trial period. I found it very complex TBH.

    For what i need to do, SheetCam should be ok, I am very familiar with that as I use it a lot for my CNC plasma table, but that has no tool sizes - just the torch and that never changes size :)

    Will be watching some videos though

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