has anyone cut brass?

[jdwykrent]

Has anyone cut or carved brass on there machine? I have person wanting a carving done in brass and i was wondering if i could get a starting point for feeds and speeds.

[scottp55]

https://www.google.com/search?q=let%27s+talk+shopbot+cutting+brass+site:w ww.talkshopbot.com&biw=1280&bih=665&sa=X&ei=_zfYVJ-GNoj1yATOqILYDQ&ved=0CCkQrQIoBDAA

[harryball]

I read "Anyone cut bras?" Whole different set of feeds and speeds needed for that.

I have vcarved brass. I had trouble with burring followed by trouble dis-coloring. I tried a range of changes and could not defeat it. I then tried a different brass plate and it worked flawlessly. So try some samples of the brass you plan to cut before buying a ton of it. I have no idea what the difference was, I think the problem one had a mix of something in it because it had more of a silver tone to it. But both plates were sold as "brass".

/RB

[Kromet International]

Has anyone cut or carved brass on there machine? I have person wanting a carving done in brass and i was wondering if i could get a starting point for feeds and speeds.

I have cut tons of brass in the past just not on a shopbot, you will need to take smaller cuts and run the feed quite a bit slower and use to proper coolant flood if possible not misting. As for speeds and feeds I would consult your supplier that you purchase your tooling from they will have a good starting point but I would still back it off a bit because of how robust the shopbots are.

Brass is a pretty easy material to cut but difficult to drill.

[Brady Watson]

https://www.google.com/search?q=let%27s+talk+shopbot+cutting+brass+site:w ww.talkshopbot.com&biw=1280&bih=665&sa=X&ei=_zfYVJ-GNoj1yATOqILYDQ&ved=0CCkQrQIoBDAA
X2.

The biggest question I would have is, what kind of brass? Free-machining brass cuts WAY better than say, Naval brass (http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=945) which has a lot of other metals in it for corrosion protection that makes machining a challenge. Depending on your application and properties required, you should choose an alloy that favors machining. Generically saying 'brass' is like saying 'aluminum' - which can either cut like butter or a gooey smeared mess - depending on the alloy.

I'd either look in Machinery's Handbook or McMaster which has a very helpful chart on different alloys here: Brass & Bronze Chart (http://www.mcmaster.com/#about-brass/=vu1h5c)

-B

[kern]

The brass you are looking for is called 360 and is free machining. All other brass alloys are compared to this to determine how well they machine.

[jdwykrent]

I just purchased a piece of 360 alloy free machining brass to carve the attached...

Brass is 1/4x4x6. Size of the carving is 1/8x2x3. I plan to do a test cut off to the side. I will post results with bit info and speeds/feed after I complete this project.

[Chuck Keysor]

Jeff, speaking of making brass coins, the following video from Tools Today came in my email this morning. You may like to watch them make a brass coin. Chuck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVFdVJmwSZ8&list=UUkUNA_ociQ8aFXAYWZ4d7ug&utm_source=Toolstoday+List&utm_campaign=6e8e453b0a-Coin_Video2_4_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_923e535be0-6e8e453b0a-187995105

[jdwykrent]

2422724228242292423024231

I would say this was a success!

[scottp55]

I'd have to agree! :)
What bits were involved?
Congrats!!
scott

[MogulTx]

NICE! I have done aluminum with an onsrud 63-712 (IIRC) and 1.7 /.5 move speeds... what did you wind up using?

BEAUTIFUL work!

Monty

[khaos]

Very nice. I like the brushed accents.

[jdwykrent]

Rough cuts were done with a $13 CMT 1/4" straight. Part #812.064.11. Finishing cuts were done with the Onsrud 1/8" tapered ball nose that came with the starter set. I used a 18000 spindle speed. .8ips feed. 5% step over. .006" per pass.
I'm using the same speeds and bits in aluminum (6061 & tool and jig quality).

[Brady Watson]

Looks great for only an 1/8" ball. Imagine how a 1/32" ball around those details would look... :D

I bet you're beamin' like that brass right now. :cool:

-B

[jdwykrent]

Really loving the machine and its abilities.