Pros and cons of climb milling in wood

[HiltonSteve]

Think that we are on a different wavelength slightly, i am not talking about the cutter pushing off as you describe I am trying to say that the effect of climb milling pulls the work towards (or across) the cutter.

In the 2 sketch's below I have shown worse case scenario....


The sketch shows the two operators standing next to the machine, Monkey B has bigger balls than Monkey A and decides to stand at the end of the table in the 'danger zone'. Monkey A puts a 4mm cut on a 50mm x 20mm piece of aluminium bar and starts a climb milling cut.




Monkey A notices the clamps are not very tight but does not stand back or stop the feed, Monkey B can not see this from where he is standing and moves closer to see what the noise is. Job comes loose and gets pushed towards him with enough force to embed the job in his chest. Monkey A has no injuries and calls for an ambulance.





Monkey C says, "can't believe that we are having a discussion about this"..... Lights up a fag...


Best get on with some work.....

[Ger21]

e I am trying to say that the effect of climb milling pulls the work towards (or across) the cutter.

The word "towards" is the key here. As you clarified, it does not pull the work towards the bit, but rather along it. I was just trying to say that it doesn't pull into the cutter. If the parts were not clamped down, climb cutting would simply push the work away from the bit, and not throw it out the end of the machine. In order to be thrown, it's position must be constrained in the perpendicular direction, so that the cutter can actually grab the workpiece. If not constrained, it won't be thrown, and monkey B's larger balls would remain intact.

At my day job, we have a large router with two 25HP vacuum pumps to hold sheet goods down. When a part moves a little while climb cutting, it's simply pushed out of the way. If it moves while conventional cutting, the part is pulled into the cutter and typically gets cut in half.

[HiltonSteve]

The word "towards" is the key here. As you clarified, it does not pull the work towards the bit, but rather along it. I was just trying to say that it doesn't pull into the cutter. If the parts were not clamped down, climb cutting would simply push the work away from the bit, and not throw it out the end of the machine. In order to be thrown, it's position must be constrained in the perpendicular direction, so that the cutter can actually grab the workpiece. If not constrained, it won't be thrown, and monkey B's larger balls would remain intact.
.

Totally agree....

Thing is, I was Monkey B! the job did not embed itself in my chest just hit me and made me jump. Still bloody hurt but I suppose thats what happens when trying to run 3 machines and answer the phone at the same time..... My mate found it funny though!

At my day job, we have a large router with two 25HP vacuum pumps to hold sheet goods down. When a part moves a little while climb cutting, it's simply pushed out of the way. If it moves while conventional cutting, the part is pulled into the cutter and typically gets cut in half.

Not enough experience with cutting wood but what your saying does make sense, with steel you tend to clamp things down the best that you can so they dont move at all, if they do move then it starts costing you money!