Hello Gene, What about the Bosch Colt (trim router), would that be any better? Going to a PC690 would be an option but not sure whether there are fine engraving/cutting end mill available for a 1/4" shank size?
Shaffin. On 06/18/2010 11:51 PM, Gene Heskett wrote: > On Friday 18 June 2010, Shaffin Bhanji wrote: > >> Hello, >> >> I am working on cutting and etching on aluminum, due to very fine detail >> work I have resorted to using a Dremel tool (with 1/8" shank) on my CNC, >> has anyone had any success using a Dremel tool to work on aluminum? If >> so, can you recommend where to get some good 1/8" shank end mills for >> cutting and etching on aluminum. >> >> Thanks, >> Shaffin. >> > Don't waste your time with a Dremel, it has a floating in rubber collet > assembly that is not rigidly connected to the motor shaft, and one can > usually insert a 1" long bit, put a dial indicator on the side of it and > wiggle it at least 1/16". Without moving the Dremel at all. > > Black& Decker has an Orange lookalike that is a lot more rigid, but I > believe the Proxxon (sp?) is probably the best of those from what I read. I > have one of the B&D's but have not used it as a milling spindle yet. > > Check the catalog at Hemley.com, they seem to have, for more normal bits, a > decent selection, at decent prices for solid carbide stuff, and in ALU, > carbide is almost required, as is some sort of a method to keep the surface > wetted so the air cannot get to the ALU until you are done. ALU becomes > coated with its own oxide, the 2nd hardest substance on the planet, in under > .001 seconds after the cutting edge of the bit has passed and exposed fresh > surface. So unless the surface is coated with oil, and the bit is not > throwing it away, bit wear is high. The alternative is to cut at high > motion speeds, but none of the above have the moxy to cut at 20 IPM > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ThinkGeek and WIRED's GeekDad team up for the Ultimate GeekDad Father's Day Giveaway. ONE MASSIVE PRIZE to the lucky parental unit. See the prize list and enter to win: http://p.sf.net/sfu/thinkgeek-promo _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
