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CNC Router knowledge

Terminolgy

  • Candle
  • Collet
  • Collet Nut
  • Ball note end-mill
  • Chatter - Machine struggling to cut through material, vibrating
  • Chips
  • Chip-load
  • V-Bits (Engraving bits)
  • Bull nose end-mill
  • Channel (flute)
  • Corn-cob style cutters (vs spiral cut)
    • Good for fine detail
  • End-mill
  • G-Code
  • Feed-rate
  • Feeds & Speeds
  • Flat end-mill
  • Flute
    • Two flute flat end mill
    • One flute flat end-mill
  • Insert Bit - Clamps down on bit
  • Shank
  • ER11 (Collet)
  • Run-out
  • Tapered ball-nose end-mill
    • Good for 3D carving
    • Fine detail
  • Up-cut
  • Down-cut
  • RPM (Spindle speed)
  • Compression
  • Spoil Board
  • Spindle
  • Torque
  • Surfacing-bit
    • Bottom-cleaning bit
    • Used for surfacing a spoil-board
    • Make sure surfaces are flat
  • UGS
  • V-carve
  • V-bits
  • Tool Database
  • XYZ
  • Zed

Installing a bit

Videos: - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obwwoEAbBjc

Make sure bit is inserted 1/3 or 1/2

Slide in right up to the flute, then tighten

Common bits

1/4

Flat End-mill

End-mills

  • 1/4 inch end-mill
  • 1/8 inch end-mill
  • Corn-cob end-mill

Down-cut

Feeds & Speeds

  • Feed-rate

Feed Rate = (Spindle Speed) x (Chip load) x Flutes

Chip load = Feed Rate / (Spindle Speet x Flutes)

Expertiments

  • Test shapes: Square
  • Start slow, 400-500 mm per minute
  • Feed rate:
  • Depth:

Materials

Wood

  • Hard-wood
  • Soft-wood
  • Aluminum

Notes

  • Changeable blades
  • Color coating
    • Stays sharper
  • CNC Calculator - Put your things out, get the end result you are after

Advice

  • Keep a journal with projects, when you make successful cuts.

Design Software

Easel

Unsolved Problems

  • Calculator to find Feeds and Speeds for a Material