Slotting Aluminum with CNC Router
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- čas přidán 7. 07. 2024
- I need to prototype some motor brackets, so I'm figuring out the best speeds and feeds for slotting, so I can make quick adapter plates with minimal machining time. I use single flute end mills for fast cutting and good chip evacuation.
Onsrud 63-620 1/4" - amzn.to/3v34B7i
NYC CNC has a good video on slotting here: • Slotting Aluminum - Ti...
Avid CNC Routers - www.avidcnc.com/
Avid CNC Router Overview - • Avid CNC Router Overview
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00:00 Intro
00:34 CAM/CAD Discussion
04:48 Workholding
05:58 First Cuts
07:21 Drilling
07:45 Removing the Part
08:23 Finished Parts
09:46 Start to Finish Cutting - Jak na to + styl
loved the Cad/cam part thank you for the video
oh, cool. I worried about it being too long, but sometimes it's nice to actually see all the settings.
@@RobertCowanDIY not at all please do go over them !
You can do it by hand of course, but I always like taking a chamfer of V bit and doing a precision deburr on all the edges for my aluminum parts. it doesn't take long, and make things look and feel really good afterwards. Great video, thanks for sharing!
Oh agree. This part will go in the trash after testing. But yeah, you could do this on a router table with a chamfer bit pretty easily.
Excellent
Nice info, thanks :)
Drill first, if you do feel it could move this is potentially another method to then secure it ahead of any other operation, but also if there is a chance the part moved it's more likely to happen during a profile cut.
I usually do that, but with these tool paths, I was pretty confident it wasn't going to move on me. The painter's tape and glue method can hold quite a bit of cutting force.
Two questions:
#1 - aren't you supposed to do the drilling operation before the slotting operation? or does it not really matter?
#2 - if I wanted to lay a 4x8 sheet of aluminum on this CNC router, and then proceed to cut out ~hundred nested parts from that sheet, what would be the best way to attach the sheet, and prevent the parts from getting loose while cutting?
I usually drill holes and screw the metal in flat into my cnc machine(i have 1" hdpe scrap board) and then make tabs in the gcode using software
At the end, it looks like it didn't cut through completely on the near corner - was the part not level after you mounted or the tape thicker there?
Could have either been inconsistent material thickness, high spot on the MDF or tape, or an unlevel bed. I was barely cutting the tape even, so it was VERY close. I ended up just bending/tearing off that part, it was VERY thin, like aluminum foil.
Excellent information and video for me to begin with thicker aluminum.
Do you have a video explaining your air setup? Im not sure where to start and seems like your not losing a ton of air and compressor running non stop
Yep, here it is: czcams.com/video/QV9zMs4t_NE/video.html You should probably just watch all my videos in order to make sure you don't miss anything ;-) But the compressor is a very small airbrush compressor, which is why it's constantly running. I don't have an air compressor for the whole shop unfortunately.
@@RobertCowanDIY i have gone back and watched you CNC vids. Thanks for sharing
I'm using a 6mm 2 flute carbide tool in Stepcraft M700. Do you think the same settings would work? Isn't the feed rate too fast?
I just bought the tool yesterday and don't want to break it.
Isn't it cutting like 3 mm at one point???
and the solidworks cam is so different on my computer. Settings are somewhat similar but the interface is completely different.
I'm not very familiar with the Stepcraft, but it looks like it has a MUCH smaller spindle. The settings should be similar, but you might need to adjust for your spindle speed.
What carbide cutter is suitable. Straight or some other types? Please advise. Thanks
I'm using a single tooth Onsrud made for aluminum. I like single flutes for edge finishes. Straight flutes are too aggressive, look for single or 2 flute end mills made for aluminum.
Hello rob,
I noticed you use Solid works, I’m looking into getting it. We’re and how did you get a post proceser? I have a avid pro 4x8 Nema 34 8.7ho spindle.
How do you find it over fusion?
Any input would be greatly appreciatated
Sam.
I'm using the HSMworks CAM package for solidworks, which is basically the same thing as Fusion's CAM. So I just use that post-processor and it works just fine. There's one for Avid on their site. I prefer Solidworks over Fusion just because of the ability to import/export freely and I don't like having files in the cloud, I like just keeping them local. Maybe some of these things have changed, but I'm just more experienced with Solidworks overall.
Thanks Rob,
Are you able to explain to me how to get that avid HSM post processor in to solidworks??
I have been trying to cut a 3mm aluminum plate but with little success. The aluminum after cutting has burrs all around and the aluminum gets welded into the workpiece. today i used 13000 rpm with 1800 mm/min feed rate and 0.3 mm depth of cut. Please help
That seems too fast for that machine. You should really reach out to the manufacturer though, they should support their machines.
With 3d printers they have a 'nozzle cam', maybe you can do something similar for the CNC?
Yeah, I'd have to fit it inside the dust shoe, and that might be tricky. I'll figure something out.
@@RobertCowanDIY For 3d printers they used USB endoscope cameras, I don't know how reliable they are but it seemed to work well in the videos. Depends on how much time you have to tinker I guess :)
I know it is pretty off topic but do anyone know a good website to watch newly released tv shows online?
@Jad Theo flixportal xD
@Benson Miguel thanks, I signed up and it seems to work =) Appreciate it !!
What is the tube you have going into your dust show housing? Thank you.
6" spiral duct.
@@RobertCowanDIY I'm guessing the question was about the fogbuster.... which I was going to ask about - I'm guessing you cut this part dry?(as it looked like your turned down the needle valve at the start) do you use the fogbuster ever for Ali, or always dry?
@@MarkMellors The needle valve was backing out due to vibration, so I just closed it. I would normally use coolant and air, but I just used the air blast here. I need to figure out a way for the needle valve to stay put when cutting.
Hi Robert. What is your depth of cut? 1/8"?
I think so, the material was 1/8" or 3/16", I can't remember. You can usually do a full depth cut at 1/2 the diameter of the tool.
@@RobertCowanDIY Thanks!
👍😎👍
Uhm, this question is kinda unrelated but also somewhat related xD
Is it reasonable to buy a CNC Machine or just 'outsource' it when you don't do too many, too big or too complex parts?
you need to make a lot of parts for it to be worthwhile having your own CNC equipment. it can be really useful or not so much depending on your projects. If you have a good place to outsource parts then I would probably just do that most of the time.
Yep! I SHOULD just outsource, it would be cheaper. BUT, it's nice being able to prototype, and toys are fun.
It also depends on how many iterations you may have while prototyping. Even a fast place would probably take about a week to get parts at least. that means if you have to make a change there is a week between each change where as having your own cnc its minutes. that adds a lot of value to it as well, depending on what you're doing obviously.
what machine is this???
I pretty clearly mention it in the video.
@@RobertCowanDIY sorry, Its Avid CNC