Cutting aluminum sheets

[ljdm]

Need info/advice on cutting .025 anodized aluminum sheet. Going to cut small pcs approx 3"x 5" from 24" x 48" sheet. Figured to use vac to hold down, as each piece is cut, tape the kerf to avoid losing hold down, rather than double sided tape, less chance of bending pcs getting tape off? Any tips on feed, rpm, bit, etc...

[Brady Watson]

Onsrud Spiral-O cutter @ 1.2, .5 IPS & 13,000 RPM.

-B

[ljdm]

Brady.........as usual, thanks.

[ljdm]

In cutting these sheets - actually 12" x 24" - want to use .125" bit, keep kerf as small as possible, speed not an issue, so can go as slow as need to. How many passes to cut it? Thanks for any info.

[Brady Watson]

You can cut it in a single pass, but the sheet cannot move or you'll break that tiny 1/8" bit. Be sure that you are running a spiral-O or things will turn ugly quickly.

-B

[ljdm]

Guess I'll have to use a 1/4" bit, onsrud doesn't make the spiral O in 1/8". There that much difference in the spiral o bit geometry from an ordinary carbide 2 flute end mill, besides the spiral o has 1 flute?

[garyb]

Onsrud make spiral O flutes from a 1/16" and up, 65-000 series for upcut starting at 1/16" (65-010 1/8")and 64-000 series for the downcut (64-012 1/8")

[ljdm]

Didn't see that on their site, ordered the 1/4". Using the part number, I did find the 1/8". Should have searched their site better. Thanks.