Best way to get Al engraving capability to VMC?

[AKFALAR]

I have a haas vf3 and a TM1 and I would like to figure out the best way to make engraved data plates in aluminum. They are 7000rpm and 4000 rpm spindles respectively. also CAT-40

Is there a faster spindle i can get?

Where should i buy bits? We also use OneCNC XR2


Thanks alot.

[Gary55Ford]

I have a TRAK DPM with PROTO-TRAK MX3 CNC control, I use an engraving program called MILL WRITE that converts the codes to suit many control codes. I generally use an 1/8" round nose engraving tool @ around 3,000rpm and get great results on 6061-T6 alum.

[Alex_Cole]

You could mount a seperate HF spindle off of the main spindle of your mill. This would give you high rpm for engraving at speed.

To use a setup like this you make a simple mount and then touch off the tool in the new spindle as you would with your main tools. Same goes for your work offset.

You would have to control the speed with a high frequency drive. I would think that the whole setup wouldn't cost more than $1500. if done right.

I have been thinking about making a mount for my benchtop cnc for this exact purpose.

here is the link.

http://www.kelinginc.net/CNCSpindle.html

AC

[Geof]

Google 'spindle speeders'

These are rpm multipliers that go in the spindle and boost the rpm at the tool; some will give output speeds of up to 40,000 rpm.