Do test runs in wood or machinable wax or plastic. Could try spraying a dry graphite film on the cutter. NAPA auto parts has spray cans of that. Don't mill the crappy aluminum alloy.
On Thursday, April 13, 2017, 8:46:03 AM MDT, Todd Zuercher <zuerc...@embarqmail.com> wrote:Here I go again. Unfortunately, the aluminum jig was a big hit, and now they want more. So I thought I'd take a crack at a trochoirdal milling path. My first try gave mixed results. Looking for advice. My CAM software still doesn't have a trochoirdal option, so a faked it with a line of small circles strung together. I tried milling with a Vortex 1230 1/4" solid carbide up spiral @ 18000rpm feed rate set to 100ipm (but due to machine acceleration limits the feed was really only 60ipm). The path was made with 3/8" circles with a female climb milling path strung together with a 0.05" step, milling 1/4" deep. It cut beautifully, for about an inch, then the flutes clogged and the bit promptly broke. This was a dry test cut in the Mic-6 chewing gum and I forgot to turn on the air blast. Suggestions on where I should go from here? Smaller step? Lower or higher RPM? Larger circle (to allow faster feed)? I know Getting the air blast turned on and a squirt of WD-40 will help, but will that be enough? Better Aluminum stock should also help, I have 3 sheets of 6061 for the next ones, but I would like to cut a few things from the Mic-6 scrap left over from the last one. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
