First Aluminium cut

[JAZZCNC]

Eh Jonathan don't know if you saw hint in earlier post but I've gone and done it.!! . . . .She's now up against the wall. . It's . .:dance::dance:

Should have done it months ago, it's still in test mode and one piece in case it didn't work or didn't like it.!!. . . .BUT BLOODY LOVE IT. . .so she'll be getting the chop and a face lift very shortly while I've got the Mig out on another job (Yes I've started Neil..lol)

It works absolutly fantastic makes absolutly no difference to the performance, not had to change a thing. No retuning nothing.

I've postioned it different to how said I was going to and the X Axis(twin screws) are vertical so gantry goes up and down, Y goes horizontal. Better this way for access and chips etc not falling on screws and just easier in general. . . . Down side being heavy gantry fighting gravity not lighter Y axis, which was a fear and why it didn't get chopped.
Basicly it just got up-ended and lent/bolted against the wall for testing. . . . If didn't work then would have put it on it's side to try. If still didn't work nothing lost but several hours setting backup. . . . BUT MAN did it work, far better than expected. (Gob smacked me even!!)

To test I cut several piece's of Ali at different depths and feeds like I would normaly with the max being 3mm DOC, using 6mm and 12mm cutter and it handled them no probs.
Then as a test I did a 10MM single pass thru that resin impregnated MDF which is hard and abrasive full length of the machine 1200mm on the vertical up stroke where it's working the hardest against gravity at 7mtr/min which is basicly flat out on my machine(thou it's tuned down and capable of 11mtr/min) with a Knackerd 6mm single flute cutter in case it snapped and it didn't bat an eye lid. !!

All the chips just fell away while cutting making perfectly clean cut, no chip recutting, no air needed (thou I will still use a little) with lovely nice neat pile of chips on the floor and when I make a tray/tank it will have full flood cooling with chip collector in the bottom . . . BUT BY FAR THE BEST BIT . . . I've got my work shop back because now it takes no more space than a double wardrobe. . :dance:. (Infact it's going to look just like a fat wardrobe when I put wardrobe doors on the front..:rofl:)

It's still very rough at minute but when finished and properly in place and setup I'll post a thread.

Edit: Sorry James I won't nick anymore of your thread, I'm just stocked with how well it's gone and Jonathan's one of the few who knew the plan.!

[Jonathan]

Eh Jonathan don't know if you saw hint in earlier post but I've gone and done it.!!

I did notice, but there's been a day since I read that post and I've been watching too much star trek so I forgot to respond!
You've nicely proven the point that a bit more force, and therefore more mass, on the gantry doesn't make that much difference to the feedrate you can get which is why rotating ballnuts are so good even thought they add a bit of weight to the gantry. I wont bore you with the calculations but I'm not surprised it didn't make much difference to the feedrate.

Does it still work as well when cutting on the axis which is still horizontal? I should think it would as the cutter will tend to throw the chips out...

Originally I was going to go one step further (pun not intended) and mount mine on the ceiling ... but now it's too heavy for that. Perhaps I should reconsider.

with a Knackerd 6mm single flute cutter in case it snapped and it didn't bat an eye lid.

Do you regrind the single flute cutters when they get chipped or worn? I do and can get equal if not better finish after grinding the cutter by hand...

when finished and properly in place and setup I'll post a thread.

I look forward to it and not post any more on the subject in this thread.

[JAZZCNC]

Does it still work as well when cutting on the axis which is still horizontal? I should think it would as the cutter will tend to throw the chips out...

Originally I was going to go one step further (pun not intended) and mount mine on the ceiling ... but now it's too heavy for that. Perhaps I should reconsider.

Last I'm going to say on james thread and I will start a thread later tonight when I get time so you and others can ask Q's. . . .But I'll answer this here.

Yes it works almost as good thou obviously not got full gravity and clearence like on up stroke, but still far far better than when flat and like you say chips throw and fall away better.

There is only one negative over conventional and that is clamping, well not clamping but holding the material while clamping. This is an easy get round and I'll just have an sliding rest that holds material while I clamp then slideout the way for cutting. This I think would be the biggest flaw to your Idea of ceiling mounting.!!

Yes I regrind some times but usually when stuck for a cutter not as a matter of course. Thou I have got a nice little collection growing to give a friend to take to work for regrinding on a proper tool grinder.