Comments sought on new build: A CNC Router for RC Gliders and Planes

[njhussey]

Air and mist system now on and working. Will get a solenoid and get it controlled through Mach3 along with the water pump, LEDs and cyclone....😁



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[njhussey]

Job at work I'm doing necessitates lots of holding down (double sided tape doesn't work...I've tried!) so I got the router to make lots of countersunk holes on 50mm centres for 6mm threaded wood inserts...





Should be able to hold down most things I want with this spacing...

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[njhussey]

Noticed the Y axis was getting some play in it as the finish was suffering and also things that fit together that I've made obviously weren't quite round as they were binding at 90°. Grabbed the Z axis and wobbled from side to side and there was a definite movement....so pulled the back plate off the gantry and hoiked out the ballscrew. Pulled apart the BK bearing and shimmed the bearing outer races by 1mm by making a shim on the lathe.



Now its all solid again but I've noticed one X axis ballscrew is clunking so going to pull them all apart (and Z) and shim them all.

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[njhussey]

Started the enclosure (got fed up with plastic chips being flung everywhere) and put the screen and keyboard arm up....much better now! Also made a quick tray to catch whatever drops down instead if letting it go on the floor.



Had a first bash at engraving today with a 60°bit, chap at work wanted his house nameplate redoing as he hated the gothic hand carved one his wife got years ago...seems to have come out ok.

Before...


After...



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[Davek0974]

Nice, should keep things cleaner :)

[njhussey]

It certainly does, that and the CamVac/dust shoe.







When cutting the above sales samples out of Acetal the chips fair went everywhere....well now they dont 😁

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[njhussey]

Ok, question guys. What speeds and feeds do you guys use for ply? I'm cutting 12mm structural ply (3 ply) full depth with a 6mm two flute carbide cutter (also used 2 flute straight router bits) and its squealing away and no matter how I tweak the speed and feed it squeals and then invariably the cutter snaps. My machine is capable of 10 m/min and I've the 2.2kw w/c spindle. I'm trying to cut the words Merry Christmas by the way....

Just wondering as last week was cutting fine with the same feeds and feeds.

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[Davek0974]

My calc is giving me 24,000rpm, 4000mm/min feed with hard plywood and 6mm 2 flute carbide tool, max depth slotting of 4.5mm

[Wobblycogs]

Obviously I don't know what you'd use on a CNC (yet) but if you were routing by hand with a 6mm bit you'd use the fastest router speed (24,000 rpm usually) and take 4mm deep cuts max. Feed can be anything fastest enough to prevent the bit from burning the timber. By hand and with a jig I'd guess I'd be doing about 2.5m/min but it's mostly done by ear. If you can use a 1/2" straight bit you can go much much faster they are nearly indestructible in wood.

[njhussey]

Cheers guys, ill reduce the depth and up the speed, Graham I managed to snap a 1/2" bit 😁

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