How Do? Fast track advice?

[ChrisWesley]

Hello Forum Folks.

I want to build a CNC router to make plastic injection moulds - certainly from aluminium and hopefully from stainless steel.
These would be less than 30cm square and maybe 20mm thick.

If anyone knows of an obviously superior path to take to this destination, I'd appreciate you pointing to it for me.
I'm in Bedford, so if anyone's local to me, I'd be happy to meet for a chat.

Cheers,
Chris

[magicniner]

You are describing a requirement for a Mill, not a Router, even some lighter weight mills will prove lacking in mass and rigidity for Stainless.
I would look at a CNC conversion of a suitable milling machine,
Regards,
Nick

[ChrisWesley]

You are describing a requirement for a Mill, not a Router, even some lighter weight mills will prove lacking in mass and rigidity for Stainless.
I would look at a CNC conversion of a suitable milling machine,
Regards,
Nick

Thanks for your reply Nick.

I've seen things like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRf7...wsysRD&index=5
He's upgraded a cheap Chinese engraver and it's now cutting steel. I don't have his skills, but I was thinking there might be another path to a similar steel-cutting machine.

[magicniner]

No mate, that's utterly wank, it's struggling with brass and sounds like a cheap shit router that's being asked to do far more than it's physically capable of.

There is no substitute for Mass and Rigidity, for decent finishes on steel parts you are best off with a CNC mill conversion, seriously, I shit you not!

[m_c]

Nick is on the money.
With a good quality router, you could probably manage aluminium to a good enough standard for moulds, but good quality certainly doesn't come from cheap Chinese.
Stainless is likely to kill even a good quality router type of machine, as it really does need rigidity. Without rigidity, you'll quickly learn the pitfalls of how easily stainless work hardens.

[cropwell]

I'm a bodger on a budget, but all my miserly strings sing in unison - No Way!!