Climb or Conventional cutting

[Glidergider]

I've got a newbe question for you. What are the traits of Climb vs Conventional cutting? These are options on my CNC CAM program.

Which gives me the smoothest edge, and why would I choose the other method?

[ger21]

When cutting wood, conventional cutting will almost always give a better cut. The only time I climb cut is when the cutter breaks the edge of the workpiece, and tearout is a problem.

[Al_The_Man]

Another thing to consider when climb milling, problems arise if backlash is present as the cutter tends to pull the table into the tool.
Al.

[Glidergider]

Thanks guys for helping this rookie out with the details of cutter rotation.

[Adam M.]

I am going to disagree with Ger a litle bit. Climbcutting is great on the long grain, especially where chipout presents a problem, but leaves endgrain feeling a bit fuzzy. When running moldings and doors components through the shaper, I always climb cut. But, it is not as efficient as feeding into the wood. If doing surface type machining on a CNC, as a rule of thumb, always feed into the work piece.

[RoboArmBuilder]

What exactly is climb cutting?

I've got so much to learn!

Dan

[HuFlungDung]

Climb cutting is when the tool wants to grab the work and huck it across the shop. You know, the warning on the radial arm saw that says "Do not rip from this end"? That's the end we cut from when climb cutting. All onlookers are advised to 'climb to safety'

[bp092]

I am going to disagree with Ger a litle bit. Climbcutting is great on the long grain, especially where chipout presents a problem, but leaves endgrain feeling a bit fuzzy. When running moldings and doors components through the shaper, I always climb cut. But, it is not as efficient as feeding into the wood. If doing surface type machining on a CNC, as a rule of thumb, always feed into the work piece.

You climb cut on a shaper? Are you crazy? Only time I would ever climb cut is with a router, manually and sometimes I do it to relieve the exposed edges of frames, glass doors etc. I take about an 1/8th to a 1/4" inch off climb cut, then run conventionally (left to right) for the rest of the meat. And I only do this with woods that chip out, like oak for example. I've heard of a lot of people losing fingers climb cutting on shapers before. I wouldn't ever do it, not even with a power feed.

[Adam M.]

Whoa, hold on. I have a pretty sizable shaper and power feed. My fingers don't get within 3 feet of the cutter. As most professional woodworkers will tell you, there is nothing wrong or inherently dangerous about climb cutting on a shaper with a power feed. I don't understand what you think is so dangerous.

[bp092]

Whoa, hold on. I have a pretty sizable shaper and power feed. My fingers don't get within 3 feet of the cutter. As most professional woodworkers will tell you, there is nothing wrong or inherently dangerous about climb cutting on a shaper with a power feed. I don't understand what you think is so dangerous.

Because I've seen people lose fingers doing it. It's perfectly fine to do, and it works. But if you aren't paying attention and using really sharp cuttings and your power feed can't handle the feed climb cutting will push at times, then you can really get yourself or someone else hurt. In a controlled situation it's fine. But you won't catch me doing it. And I don't think its really all that necessary if you have a good set of cutters to get a nice finish cut.

[Adam M.]

I really don't want to beat a dead horse here. I know what you are saying about not paying attention, but I wanted to respond to your point about a good set of cutters making climb cutting needless. There are some woods that, no matter how sharp your cutters, chip out. When running door frame material, I climb cut everything so as not to worry about chipping. Mahogany and maple are two good examples of wood that can chip, no matter how careful you are. That's all I wanted to say. You would never catch me climb cutting anything where there is a significant amount of material being removed.

[ImanCarrot]

Deleted by myself- explained Climb and Conventional metal machining in a wood forum. My bad! soz... can only blame lack of caffine and nicotine!

Iain.