[cjdavis618]

I read alot of posts about the Feeds and speeds of cutting different materials. Obviously, that varies depending on the machine and your personal setup. I thought it might be a good idea to dig a little deeper and see what feeds and speeds you run for your materials. Also whether your cutting style is fast, small passes or deep slow passes.


Please post a general list of what Depth of cuts, RPMs and IPMs that you cut your materials with and still have good results. Please list your machine as well. Maybe by adding this info, we can give new CNCers a better idea what to expect of the machines.


I will start with my CNC mill which is a SX3 that I CNCed with Gecko's and steppers.



Aluminum (6061-t6) .040-.050 at 3600rpm and 30 IPM (Coolant - HSS and Carbide Bits) (I know I could do more, but this doesn't stress the machine hardly at all.)
A36 plate and bar .010-.015 at 1000rpm and 10-15IPM (No Coolant) 2 Flute (Tailn Coated HSS) ( 3/8" to 3/4" end mills )
1018 plate and bar .010-.020 at 1000rpm and 15-20 IPM (No Coolant) 2 Flute (Tin Coated HSS) ( 1/4" to 5/8" end mills )

(Haven't cut Plastics, Brass or Copper as of yet.)

So, what do you run on different materials? Any of you do deep, slow cuts on steel with coarse or fine roughers in an X3 size mill?

[tikka308]

As a bump, I'd like to see more of this. I use a TAIG and have recently been experimenting with 1018, 12L14 and, soon, 4140.

In the meantime, I cut a lot of 6061 with a 1/4", two-flute HSS end mill at 6500 RPM at 12IPM (0.00093 chipload; just under 1-thou). Take a max DOC of 0.05"

I have also cut 12L14 successfully with a 4-flute, 1/4" end mill at 800 RPM, 3IPM (0.000938 chipload) with a max DOC of 0.03". I know this is slow, but I'm taking it easy right now until I get more comfortable.

[cjdavis618]

Thanks for the bump Tikka,

I was beginning to wonder if I was really doing something wrong and no one wanted to tell me. I thought information like this might be a way for new users to see what to expect, as well as experienced users could give tips on how to get more from the machines.


As a side note, the other day I needed to cut some A36 plate that was 3/8? thick with a 1.25" circle for a bushing. I used a 3/8" coarse rougher and tried the deep slow method. It worked out pretty good. I did a plunge downward through the plate at .10 ipm and then it cut in one pass at 1.2 ipm. I still have alot to learn, but I am starting to get time to test different ways to cut materials.

I am waiting on my first indexable mill to come in so I can try it out. Hopefully, someday I can start taking time to get some great mods going for the Sx3 that I want to do.

[Andre' B]

S7, A2, etc. 60Rc
3/8 end mill ALTIN coated carbide
1" DOC
0.008" stepover
350 SFM
0.0025" per flute
No coolant just an air blast to get the chips out of the way.

Mit V60E

I guess you could put it on a bench, its only about 30,000 lbs..:rainfro:

[LeeWay]

Home made 80/20 mill with an upgraded X2 head with 2 HP DC motor. THK HSR25's and precision ground and preloaded ball screws. Gecko 203V's, 495 oz steppers and 72 VDC 12 A PS.

Coolant always. Koolmist 77 mixed very lean.

6061 aluminum.
6600 RPM 1/8" tp 3/8" endmills sometimes coated and sometimes not, but all HSS. 50 IPM at .04 and .05" DOC

6061 aluminum sheet .063" thickness. Three passes @ .028" DOC @ 6600 RPM 3/16" HSS end mill both three and four flutes. @ 50 IPM High helix is best to keep from lifting the sheet.

CRS sheet held on a mag chuck. .022" DOC, 15 IPM, 3/16" 3 and 4 flute end mills at 2900 RPM.

CRS steel bar. .03" DOC, 10 IPM, 1500 RPM 1/8" and 3/16" 3 and 4 flute HSS end mills

Free cutting brass bar. 50 IPM, .075 DOC, 4500 RPM, 1/8" to 1/2" end mills. 2, 3, and 4 flute end mills.