Router Table Cut Aluminum

[Hellbringer]

hi,
is a router able to cut aluminum or is the RPM of the router to high?

thanks mike

[dertsap]

router will cut aluminum , i usually give a squirt or two of chainsaw chain lube to avoid a melt down ,its thick enough that it sticks and doesn t get blown around ,

[Hellbringer]

you lube the router or the bit to the aluminum (maching oil)

also if i do make one to cut aluminum (that is all i would be cutting with it) i should put in like a air nozzle?

are there routers that run a little slower speed that would be more suitable to cutting aluminum?

thanks again mike

[dertsap]

the lube is to lubricate the tool , most diy routers probably wont do for constant cutting of aluminum basicaly due to rigidity and router motors are made to cut wood , air nozzle wont help on aluminum , if all you plan to cut is aluminum why not buy a small mill , you can buy a mill for what it will cost to build a router solid enough to do what you want to do

[Hellbringer]

i have a mill i would use the router to be able to cut many peices out of a sheet in one program. it would be more for speed more then anything else.

thanks for the info
Mike

[Med-Pac]

Hey hellbringer,

We've been using our router for everything non-ferrous. Alum, plastics, fiberglas, and wood all cut great. For coolant we're using a cool-shot system that takes compressed air and cools it to about -20 or -30. It works great for everything except 1" and thicker thick alum. then we use WD-40. Once the tool path gets deep the air has some issues getting into the bit. We did a build log on the DIY router thread about a year ago. It's under Med-Pac's new router. Here's a few pics of it in operation and the parts we've been cutting.

Mike