Aluminum Speeds&Feeds

[dlange]

Alright
I haven't had much luck with these calculators from different websites, Take your pick, american machinest, Gwizard.. so on

The machine I use reads in IPR along with RPM

To have a nice finish I've come to such conclusions as

For example with 6061 Aluminum
cutting through a thickness of .135" with one pass for nice finish works to
850 IPM 14K RPM single flute. which give me an IPR of .061

cutting through a thickness of .350 with one pass, milling out ward
same.. one pass for nice finish works out to
2800 IPM 14K RPM single flute. which gives me an IPR of .2

My question.. Are these IPM numbers irregular? Are the RPMs irregular. I'm trying to see if I'm doing something wrong or missing something.

Thank You!

[christinandavid]

Are you saying you are feeding at .2" (5mm) per revolution with a single-flute cutter?

5 cuts per inch in other words. That is an amazing tool if it is giving a good finish.

DP

[dlange]

yes that is correct. I can go slower and get a good finish but its not shiny, its not reflective at all.. almost like the aluminum chips just push themselves into the cut. I am completely new to this.

I have learned quickly that speeds and feeds are one of the hardest things to figure out in this CnC world. I some how have to go fast enough to where the cutter isn't going to break, there isn't a lot of vibration, and a clean, reflective finish is left over.
Here is a picture of the tool


I believe in this picture an 8mm is shown, I'm currently using a 12mm same style.

PEACES!

[christinandavid]

What is the traverse range of the machine?

DP

[dertsap]

the best thing to do is contact the tool manufacturer and get their recommended feeds and speeds

[dlange]

I want to say traverse range is 24 inches but I could be wrong.. I mean, I am a total newb with a tape measure.

Dertsap.. already done it, awaiting the e-mail :-)

[christinandavid]

So, is that the range in X, Y or Z? What is the largest job the machine can do? Just give us a rough estimate in all three axes.

DP

[dlange]

Looking at 141 inches for X axis, 24 inches for Y axis, and 24 inches for Z axis

And I just cut with a 2 flute helical downcut 3/8 end mill, what a beautiful shine ran it at 15k RPM with .133 IPR feed

[dlange]

I'm still not 100% comfortable with these speeds and feeds because I run over to the tool after the cut and feel it, and there is quite a bit of heat staying with the tool, so thats telling me the heat isn't staying with the chip.. same 15K RPM .133 IPR feed

[christinandavid]

So - from corner to corner of your X Y traverse is 143 inches.

You are feeding at: - 15000 revs per minute x .133 inches per revolution = 1995 inches per minute.

Your cutter will feed from one corner to the opposite corner in 4.3 seconds.

Does that sound right?

DP

[dlange]

Right now I'm just cutting circles out of aluminum.. Would it go corner to corner in 4.3 seconds.. that sounds about right, its moving pretty quick while cutting
My day is over, talk to ya'll tomorrow bright and early!

-D

[dertsap]

thats going to be a mighty large chip/tooth