Do you guys want to talk machining here?

[Shield Arc]

Anybody know a rule of thumb for how much you can hog out at one cut? Is it as long as the chip size is right, you can take as much as the power will allow?

You need to find a copy of each of these books!

 

[underdog02817]

I like to talk machining.

I have a small 4 axis milling machine, lathe, a host of accessories and all the usual fair like belt sander band saw etc.

 

[jake98]

Thanks for the pointer Shield, I have a Machinery's ordered and will order up a Machine Tool Operations in the am.

Welcome to the forum Underdog! (I always root for the underdog..)

 

[troutsqueezer]

Don't be silly, that's what we're all here for..

Anybody know a rule of thumb for how much you can hog out at one cut? Is it as long as the chip size is right, you can take as much as the power will allow?

You can go as fast as you dare in aluminum and other easily-machined materials. It is difficult to wear out a cutter in aluminum with a conventional machine. Basically go as fast as safety and common sense dictate but not so fast that you end up crashing the machine.

Put your hand on the machine table when the machine is cutting to allow you to feel how much the table is deflecting under load. If you can mildly feel the cut through the table then the machine is likely working below its capacity.

 

[underdog02817]

You can go as fast as you dare in aluminum and other easily-machined materials. It is difficult to wear out a cutter in aluminum with a conventional machine. Basically go as fast as safety and common sense dictate but not so fast that you end up crashing the machine.

Put your hand on the machine table when the machine is cutting to allow you to feel how much the table is deflecting under load. If you can mildly feel the cut through the table then the machine is likely working below its capacity.

I have to disagree. The problem with aluminum is it gets "gummy" and sticks to cutters.

Feeds and speeds will vary based on material and cutter size

 

[SPYDERLK]

I have to disagree. The problem with aluminum is it gets "gummy" and sticks to cutters.

Feeds and speeds will vary based on material and cutter size

A little Kroil is very good at preventing this. ... kerosene too.
larry

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I have to disagree. The problem with aluminum is it gets "gummy" and sticks to cutters.

Feeds and speeds will vary based on material and cutter size

This is what coolant is for. Not only to keep heat down, but to actually act as a contaminant so that welding doesn't occur. Meaning for the material to actually start sticking to the tool.

There are so many factors involved. Full slot cutting is generally the slowest feeding type of cut. Try to plan your attack so that you can side mill. On a manual, you have to conventional cut which is not optimum. On a CNC, you can climb cut which is superior. In the last few years, "high feed" machining has become a standard. This involves "chip thinning" where you basically take a full depth cut, side loaded only a very small amount (usually around 10-20% of the cutter diameter) with a very high feed. Sometimes the feed can get up to .020" per flute or higher depending on conditions.

 

[wdchyd]

This is what coolant is for. Not only to keep heat down, but to actually act as a contaminant so that welding doesn't occur. Meaning for the material to actually start sticking to the tool.

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X 2......Once you rely on coolant, you'll never go back..:thumbsup:

 

[jake98]

Somewhere I heard that steel is best cut dry.. You guys run coolant for most materials?

 

[wdchyd]

Somewhere I heard that steel is best cut dry.. You guys run coolant for most materials?

Everything but cast iron or bronze