RPM and Feed rate for Aluminum

[nick]

Cutting 1/8" aluminum on my PRS standard for the first time with a 1/8 " Carbide bit.

What do you recommend for spindle RPM and feed rate and depth of pass?

Tolerance isn't critical for these parts.

Appreciate any help.

Thanks in advance

[paco]

Router or spindle?

[nick]

Spindle...Sorry

[jd_graphics]

Nick,

I recently cut some aluminum with my machine. I'm using a router and ran it at 21,000 rpm at about .8 inches per second. I don't know if I could have run it any faster because it was working great and I didn't want to screw anything up. I was only cutting .040 and used 3 passes. Once again, probably could have done better, but it worked great and I didn't need any cooling on the bit. Here's a picture of the finished sign. The face is the aluminum with acrylic backing. It's a camera phone pic, so it's not a great image, but the end result was great. Hope this helps.


8972

Justin

[paco]

First, you'll be better off with a cutter specifically designed for aluminum milling. Can be O-flute or end mill but choose one that offer more rigidity than wood and plastic cutters. Select the shortest cutter for the application.

For a such small CED, you want to spin the bit at 16000 or close to. I prefer to be prudent when milling aluminum; I make 0.02-30" passes at 1"-1.2"/sec. ramping in the cut. Try slower RPM and/or slower feed if you have spare bits...

Make sure your hold down method reduce/eliminate vibration. Either pocket openings or use tabs to retain the scrap or it may catch on the tool bit and break it. Use tabs to hold down the last bit of the cuts unless the parts is large enough (more than foot square).

Climb the cut. No cutting oil or coolant what so ever just air jet.