Starter Kit Advice

[minium]

We've just bought our own CNC machine - a Heiz S-400 fitted with a Kress KME-1050 spindle. Its main job will be to machine out Al front panels and to put holes into plastic boxes for small batch production of electronics equipment.

However, we also want to do our own front panels in rigid 3-ply laminate materials (Traffolyte/Formica). Having looked at the array of cutters available I am now very confused.

Could someone suggest a basic 'get you going' kit of cutters. I want to do basic lettering, full depth cutting for cut-outs, and cutting out the finished panel. Also, an indication of where to get them from in the UK - I've found Mastergrave/Pantograph/CNCroutershop so far.

Thanks.
Brian

[maxbela]

Hi Brian
Try www.chronos.ltd.uk and www.sussextools.co.uk for milling cutters for cutouts and recesses, they may have engraving cutters too, I haven't looked.
Also Heiz themselves sell a set of engaving cutters (V groove) which is pretty good.
You can use wood router cutters on most plastics but for small diameters I find milling cutters far better.
One problem you may encounter is shank size on some cutters not matching the collets in your Kress spindle, try www.engineerstoolroom.co.uk for different size collets.
If you can arrange it try to cut with a water spray on anything non-absorbent, you get a much better finish and far less dust and mess.
I use a Heiz Z-1000 with Win PCNC pro and Filou NC.
Very quick learning curve and few problems. Had it 2 years now and still happy!

Regards,
Max