ally melts when machining

[mark.a]

can anyone help.
i have done a design for a radiator cover for my motorbike cut it out on my cnc machine on a piece of ply to check everything was ok.
then tried machining the design on some 1050 sheet alluminium using a 6mm twin flute end mill. im using a routeron my machine set to the lowest speed
and a feed rate of 3mm a second but the ally is melting quiet a bit while cutting.
two thoughts either i am cutting to fast or the ally is to soft to be machined.
has any one had experience machining this type of ally.

[Bob La Londe]

I am not familiar with 1050 sheet, but I do 3d work in 6061 regularly. This is what I have found works.

Higher RPM
Feed to match

SHARP! Cutters. For a finish quality job I'll often start with a brand new cutter each time.

Flood coolant. (for small jobs I can get away with either hand spotting with Wd-40 or sometimes just a continuous air blast) I prefer flood coolant.

The largest cutter that will fit in the job

[Geof]

1050 is almost pure aluminum and has very poor machining properties. If you have a really sharp cutter running fast using a low feed and good lubrication you might be able to machine it. Your best approach could be to get a different alloy. If the cover is only machined and does not need to be bent 6061 would be the best.

[Bob La Londe]

1050 is almost pure aluminum and has very poor machining properties. If you have a really sharp cutter running fast using a low feed and good lubrication you might be able to machine it. Your best approach could be to get a different alloy. If the cover is only machined and does not need to be bent 6061 would be the best.

7075 machines nicely to, but is hard to weld. Its strong, but have no idea how it brakes (bends) though.

[riche543]

Subscribed
Thanks for this info also had trouble cutting 1050 when the ally guy said it was 6061. Is there anyway of telling what grade it is so you don't have too take aluminum shops word for it?
Cheers
Riche


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[Bob La Londe]

Ask to see a copy of the mill certifications. Doesn't work if you are picking though the drops. Most bigger pieces are printed from the mill. Just about all the 6061 I buy says 6061 right on it. If you feel your problem is just a case of the metal guy selling you what he has instead of what you want you might want to find another metal guy. I do a lot of business over Ebay with either the 6061dude (2nd choice) or StockCarSteel (1st choice) for the smaller pieces of 6061 I use in mold making. They have both been very good at providing exactly what they say they are providing and StockCarSteel has been know to go the little extra for me.

[uli12us]

A simple but not very precise method is to put a drop of sodium hydroxide to the surface. If it colors black, it should be good to machining, cos it have copper or zinc in the alloy.
If white, than its better for bending, but not for milling.