[QUOTE=Ger21;98845]Whether you do it in one pass or two (onion skin) depends on the size of the part, and the quality of your vacuum hold down. (you do have a vacuum table, right?)

Do NOT climb cut, as it will leave a rougher edge. Conventional cut always with melamine (and most wood products).

Gerry
Thanks for the reply. Invaluable knowledge and massively appreciate the advice.

Yes I do have a vacuum table (sorry cant find spec...) and am machining large parts (kitchen carcass panels). Had spindle speed about right but feed rate less than half what you are suggesting



one last question (sorry) regards cutting direction - will I gain anything (mainly cutter lifespan?) from running an initial offset 'climb' pass before doing final dimension profile as a conventional (melamine + most wood materials) ?

thanks again in advance

Nicko