Newbie looking at 6040 (China CNC) for polypropylene 15mm sheet

**Zeeflyboy** · 15-04-2017

6mm Single Flute is my general use bit when cutting Alu unless I need smaller for radius/slots etc. I have a 2 Flute 12mm I tend to use for hogging out plastics, that's the largest I have used so far, works great.

3 Flute roughing bits also pretty useful but I do find them a bit harder to get right without coolant, easy to start welding chips if you're a bit off the sweet spot. Single Flute is much more forgiving in my experience and well suited to the high speed spindle.

G-wizard can be a good place to start for feeds/speeds. Think it has a 30 day free trial.

**Zeeflyboy** · 16-04-2017

I've used these guys before (UK based) for their Belin Single Flute Downcut bits... not the cheapest but good quality.

http://www.cncroutershop.com/uk_en/

They have a good selection of Single Flute upcut bits too, including their own brand.

Other than that I tend to use AliExpress, most stuff comes within a couple of weeks at most even slow boating. I've used these guys before and quality was great.

http://s.aliexpress.com/QRnaE3ia

Roughing bits might be worth looking at too:

http://s.aliexpress.com/j6vqyuAN

**Zeeflyboy** · 16-04-2017

Oh and another thought - if you are just doing a small levelled area for the clamp to bolt into, consider using something that will be a bit more resilient than mdf like tufnol kite board or even a skimmed Alu plate. You could thread directly into either and it'll be more moisture resistant.

Also re fusion - set up cloud library and do your own tool library. Much quicker and easier than searching through their generic one and you won't have as many mishaps with wrong feeds/speeds.

**JOGARA** · 16-04-2017

Originally Posted by Zeeflyboy

I've used these guys before (UK based) for their Belin Single Flute Downcut bits... not the cheapest but good quality.

http://www.cncroutershop.com/uk_en/

They have a good selection of Single Flute upcut bits too, including their own brand.

Other than that I tend to use AliExpress, most stuff comes within a couple of weeks at most even slow boating. I've used these guys before and quality was great.

http://s.aliexpress.com/QRnaE3ia

Roughing bits might be worth looking at too:

http://s.aliexpress.com/j6vqyuAN

Originally Posted by Zeeflyboy

Oh and another thought - if you are just doing a small levelled area for the clamp to bolt into, consider using something that will be a bit more resilient than mdf like tufnol kite board or even a skimmed Alu plate. You could thread directly into either and it'll be more moisture resistant.

Also re fusion - set up cloud library and do your own tool library. Much quicker and easier than searching through their generic one and you won't have as many mishaps with wrong feeds/speeds.

I was just editing my thread with my findings on Ali as you replied. :p

These are the ones that I have spotted on Ali. The second store being about twice the price of the first store.
Saite_Cutter Store
3.175mm http://www.aliexpress.com/item/5pcs-...999.262.ohQh0J
5mm http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-...999.268.ohQh0J
6.35mm http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-...999.265.ohQh0J

Shanghai CNC HOME Ltd. Co.
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pro...612.0.0.1GtQBZ

Looks like the Shanghai CNC HOME is the one to go for then if you are suggesting it.
Happy to pay more for the bits if they are better obviously.

Those roughing bits look good too. Seen NYC CNC use them and they just rip through the material.

Was thinking of getting a sheet of Polypropylene for the spoil board as it is pretty strong?
Ideally i'd go Aluminium but I wont be ordering again for a few weeks to make it worth shipping the dam thing.

I have already started putting the tools I have so far in the library.
Did not bother with their stock items as I pretty much guessed that the eBay and Ali stuff would not be on there.

Also got a trail of the G-Wizard and making sure I have the correct feeds and speeds set up for those bits.

I have been reading up on the flutes being up or down.
Isn't the up flute better suited for chip evacuation?
Going to be mostly milling out 15mm deep stock so pulling up the chips rather than having them go down would be better over the down cut bits?

Its not like my vice can't handle it, that thing is a little beast.
(Obviously not as good as the ones you get on the industrial machines, but you know what I mean....)

Again thanks for the help.
Really do appreciate it.

**Zeeflyboy** · 17-04-2017

Price isn't necessarily an indication of better quality, if the reviews are decent and the parts look good then have a go - I just linked to the store that I have personally ordered from in the past.

For Alu, yes upcut is definitely what you want as chip evacuation is vital. Ideally one would also be using compressed air (with added bonus points for mist coolant) with a nozzle aimed to blast any chips out of the way.

I initially bought Downcut for some closed cell foam I was machining for custom cases/tool trays. They are mostly of use in softer materials where the top edge can be a bit rough with an upcut bit. Compressed air or a vac shoe can help with chip evacuation there.

**JOGARA** · 17-04-2017

I bought one of those cheap misters off eBay for like £7. Not installed it yet as I need to tap a hole for it.
Not looked into what coolant to get for it yet though.

I see what you mean about the down cut now. Like on that wood I tested on, would have been better having a down cut as it does not pull the fibres up.

https://www.shop-apt.co.uk/economy-3...-diameter.html
Probably best bet in terms of roughing end mills to get delivered this week?

**Zeeflyboy** · 17-04-2017

Yeah exactly, gives a very sharp clean top edge on plastics like acetal etc too. Just something else to consider playing with :)

Shop apt are very good, I've used them plenty in the past.

**JOGARA** · 17-04-2017

Can't for the life of me work out what this is called.

Fusion wants to helical down all the way through this 15mm and then circle around.

Rather it go down 1-2mm to cut then step down.

If not, is this the correct way to do deep stuff?

Also, new bit arrived to day.

Not bad? Ignore the stuff to the left of it :p

**Zeeflyboy** · 17-04-2017

Which bits are those?

Side finish is a bit poor, looks like a lot of chatter. Chips are also a bit small and fluffy suggesting too slow a feed rate. What bits and what feeds/speeds?

This is the sort of wall finish you should be able to get out of this machine with a bit of practise

You can set max depth under multiple passes in fusion, even on the adaptive stuff.

**JOGARA** · 17-04-2017

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Think your right about feed rate. Upped it to 0.01 per tooth.
Was on 0.004

Originally Posted by Zeeflyboy

You can set max depth under multiple passes in fusion, even on the adaptive stuff.

That's it. Found it now.

[edit]
Still got chatter.

[edit2]
Upped my feed rate in Mach3 to 200%. Improved a bit.
Here are the F&S that I am going to try now.

Previously it was 0.01 per tooth.