only a small fire!

[oakleigh]

on friday i managed to set fire to the cnc wasteboard (and my work)

i had set the feed rate for 500 mm/pm instead of 5000 mm/pm i was cutting through 12mm ply i realised how slowly i was cutting within 5 seconds of it starting
so i stopped the machine and preceded to change my feed rates by the time i changed it (under 2 minute later!) i had a small fire on my hands. undoubtly caused by my slow feed rate.
i later checked out the tool and found it hadn't been changed for quite a while and was very blunt.
i checked with the main man in the mill he seemed to think that the fire would have started much quicker if the cutter was newer.
i find this hard to believe. i have always assumed if the cutter is blunt it would burn the work quicker therefore if it would start a fire quicker.
does anyone know what is more likely to affect the speed of a fire!?!?!?

[Khalid]

I was cutting at 80IPM.. All was right..The fire occurred when i put the blower on

[oakleigh]

thats interesting because our suction bed was on and was feeding the fire as all the air was rushing past it!

[Big S]

Usually you use stir welding on metals I don't think it works to well on wood.

I would say the a blunt bit makes fire faster.

Cool pic though.

Shannon.

[keebler303]

In both cases the fire was caused by incorrect feeds/feeds and/or by dull cutters, which generate more heat and therefore will start a fire faster.

And it doesn't help to be actively feeding it oxygen with the blower. You have to be real careful about this because your dust collection/vacuum system could suck in a spark and set the whole place on fire.

Keep the fire extinguisher close by.

Matt