Milling aluminum

[cliffaddy]

I'm looking at producing camera accessories milled from 7075 aluminum. They're small, but somewhat complex, so the finish toolpaths are numerous and speed is fairly important if I want to produce more than one per day

I was planning on using an X3-type mill, but they're limited to 1750 rpm. I see the Taig mills get get as high as 11K rpm, which would allow some pretty awesome feed rates in theory.

However, someone has told me that the Taigs are not rigid enough to support even moderate feed rates regardless of rpm.

Is there anyone here with actual experience machining aluminum with the Taigs? What kind of feed rates are you getting?

Is there any way to increase the rigidity of the Taig with some kind of column bracing? I assume it's the column flex that's the problem.

Cliff

[dneisler]

I have a X3 with a $80 upgrade to my belt and pulleys and I have 0-3k and 0-6krpm Range. So don't knock them off the list so quick. I have not pushed my mill yet, I am doing aluminum at 24IPM with no issues. I am sure I could go faster.

[cliffaddy]

Where did you get that X3? The only change was the pulleys?

[dneisler]

I got it from Grizzly, it is just a X3, not the super X3. I didn't see that I need the other stuff that the SX3 offered.

You can see info on the pulleys here:
Quick Sieg X3 Belt & RPM Upgrade