show off time... got my new X4+

[TOTALLYRC]

Originally Posted by ataxy well first try today to cut aluminium... what is it to say but that i am...not impress slut cutting with a 3/8 coated carbide 4flute endmill @ doc of .1 with a feed rate of 10ipm made the machine vibrate so bad that i had to stop it the finish of the slut was as good as when i first tryed to see if it was possible to mill with a drill press ill be trying again some new test but thats it,

1. It sounds like it is the choice of end mill. 3 or less flutes is best for alum.
2. It must be razor sharp to do the best work. Speeds custom had a similar problem with his Taig and a new endmill made all the difference.
High helix works best.
3. Proper rpm for the tool and a matching feed rate.
4. Were you using coolant?

On my Taig, which is not known for being a rigid machine, I push a 1/4" end mill thru .200 thick 6061 at ten ipm and 7500/10,000rpm can't remember.One pass. It gives nice little slivers for chips and the finish is not bad. I would go for more IPM but that is as fast as it will reliably go . I use an alum specific 2 flute end mill uncoated carbide I think. Viper. I cant wait to try thier larger sizes on the bport.

http://corporate.marketworks.com/Sto...752&i=57605206

These guys are 40 min from my house and Steve treats me right.
I was just there and picked up the supplies to finnish my coolant on the bridgeport.


Mike

[MrWild]

Wow! Your basement reminded me of my old old house. My 6'2" buddy stood with his head between the floor joists. Looks as long as you stay seated everything is alright.

[ataxy]

Originally Posted by MrWild Wow! Your basement reminded me of my old old house. My 6'2" buddy stood with his head between the floor joists. Looks as long as you stay seated everything is alright.

Originally Posted by squale how are you liking the X4? I am trying to decide between the X4 and the Smithy cnc 622

now that i have the good mastercam post and its doing what i ask i like it alot there are some slight modification that can be made to make it use its full potential but its definitly a small good machine just have to get use working on such a small cnc, lets just say scalling down what you would normally do

Originally Posted by TOTALLYRC 1. It sounds like it is the choice of end mill. 3 or less flutes is best for alum. 2. It must be razor sharp to do the best work. Speeds custom had a similar problem with his Taig and a new endmill made all the difference. High helix works best. 3. Proper rpm for the tool and a matching feed rate. 4. Were you using coolant? On my Taig, which is not known for being a rigid machine, I push a 1/4" end mill thru .200 thick 6061 at ten ipm and 7500/10,000rpm can't remember.One pass. It gives nice little slivers for chips and the finish is not bad. I would go for more IPM but that is as fast as it will reliably go . I use an alum specific 2 flute end mill uncoated carbide I think. Viper. I cant wait to try thier larger sizes on the bport. http://corporate.marketworks.com/Sto...752&i=57605206 These guys are 40 min from my house and Steve treats me right. I was just there and picked up the supplies to finnish my coolant on the bridgeport. Mike

1.the four flut endmill that i am using is a special four flute high helix i got from my boss that whe use in aluminium at work... kudos to him by the way
but i will try a two flute to see if i get better result
2.well its a brand new niagara cutter worth something like 50$ so i doubt the cutting edge is my problem
3.well i run the syil at max since the formulated best rpm would be ~6500rpm so i run the syil at 3500rpm and put my feed at around 12 to cut it some slack as the proper feed at 3500 should be around 14
4.yep Shell highly toxic coolant, again thx to my boss for the donation (1 liter of concentrated) i keep the formula at the same as what we use at work 1/22

Originally Posted by MrWild Wow! Your basement reminded me of my old old house. My 6'2" buddy stood with his head between the floor joists. Looks as long as you stay seated everything is alright.

yeah that about the same for my 6'2" friend thank fully i am 5'9"

[iGG1e]

Normally on my SX3 I use a 3F 10MM carbide at approx 3400RPM (who know with this thing?!) and a feed of 400MMPM. It seems quite comfortable at this speed.

I find scaling back what is the ideal calculated to be a bit hit and miss. Quite often I find the ratio I apply results in still too much feed and it requires a fair bit of tweaking to get it right.

[TOTALLYRC]

Originally Posted by ataxy now that i have the good mastercam post and its doing what i ask i like it alot there are some slight modification that can be made to make it use its full potential but its definitly a small good machine just have to get use working on such a small cnc, lets just say scalling down what you would normally do 1.the four flut endmill that i am using is a special four flute high helix i got from my boss that whe use in aluminium at work... kudos to him by the way but i will try a two flute to see if i get better result 2.well its a brand new niagara cutter worth something like 50$ so i doubt the cutting edge is my problem 3.well i run the syil at max since the formulated best rpm would be ~6500rpm so i run the syil at 3500rpm and put my feed at around 12 to cut it some slack as the proper feed at 3500 should be around 14 4.yep Shell highly toxic coolant, again thx to my boss for the donation (1 liter of concentrated) i keep the formula at the same as what we use at work

Well it sounds like you have all the bases covered.
It is nice when the boss helps out.
I went to nNagra's web site and they have some nice info on the speeds and feeds. I just took a quick look, but I didn't see any aluminum specific 4 flute mills. Keep us informed as I would like to kno wwhat works for you.

Originally Posted by iGG1e Normally on my SX3 I use a 3F 10MM carbide at approx 3400RPM (who know with this thing?!) and a feed of 400MMPM. It seems quite comfortable at this speed. I find scaling back what is the ideal calculated to be a bit hit and miss. Quite often I find the ratio I apply results in still too much feed and it requires a fair bit of tweaking to get it right.

Thats 50 ipm, Cool

That is why I consider speeds and feeds to be an ART.

Mike

[ataxy]

15 not 50...400/25.4
ill try to find the info on the i think they have a paper on them at the foreman desk i will ask to have a look at them
edit:
humm i just checked there website and i cant find the info on them, i know there from niagara as the first time we, well they got them, was a batch that the representent brought with hime some 6 month ago
here is the number on them 3/8p022116 they have been doing wonder on my bf20 but on the syil no, but three things that is to be noted about the bf20 vs syil is 1- column to spindle on the bf20 is 6.25inchs while on the x4+ its 9.25inchs effectivly raising the cantilever effect on the x4, 2- the dovetaill saddle on the bf20 is 10inchs long while the syil is 8inchs, and finally correct me if i am wrong but 3-the bf20 is a .5 wall thick square box column while the syil is a .5 wall thick u shaped column

[TOTALLYRC]

Originally Posted by ataxy 15 not 50...400/25.4 ill try to find the info on the i think they have a paper on them at the foreman desk i will ask to have a look at them

Thanks, my mistake. I shouldn't use the mouse to run the calculator.

Mike

[iGG1e]

I wish it was 50IPM!

Not sure if the column is common between the SX3 and X4. Certainly I struggle to get the head running how I like and the dovetails do seem a bit short. I get a 'nice' thunk/thud noise from the column on power on. The fact remains that a completely open back isn't a good design for the column...a bit like choosing chocolate for a fire guard.