[waukeenahbob]

Just picked up a 2012 and am working on getting it dialed in and could use some help. This is my first tormach I have some experience with CNC Routers and a Benchtop Mill I converted to CNC.

Big step up for me and lots to learn.

I believe I have everything trammed and have lost motion under .002" in all the axis.

I have not adjusted the gibs or angular contact bearing nuts yet

Decided I would face off a piece of 1/4" steel just to get starting doing stuff using a 50mm face mill off of ebay and the conversational stuff from pathpilot

The surface I wound up with is not what I was hoping for at all and I could use some advice on how to proceed in getting things dialed in to an acceptable level.

Thanks in advance!

[metalmayhem]

dialing in your machine isn't necessarily going to help the situation . That looks like vibration is your problem
A chunk of 1/4" thick plate that size is going to be prone to vibration . If your using a vise then tap your part with a hammer and you will hear the vibration if it is there . Slide dense foam , rubber or something similar under the part and this will help dampen it . I like making wood wedges for this but a guy needs to be careful not to lift the center of the part , so a dial on top helps to avoid this .

It looks like your using a 50%" diameter step over , knock it to 35% . If it persists then take a rough cut leaving .002" and then skim off the top at a low rpm and high feed rate . Rpm and feed rate often plays a big roll in reducing vibration . if your not running coolant then you should be or add a layer of oil
The problem could also be a result of crumby inserts that often come with those ebay face mills , but for the most part I automatically think vibration the second i look at a part like that

[waukeenahbob]

I was holding it with a SMW mod vice... did hit it with a hammer after tightening, running flood coolant

I understand what you are saying about vibration on a piece of that shape and size

I'll try a smaller thicker piece of metal and see what that does.

Was worried that those swirls etc was a symptom of something needing to be adjusted

Thanks!

[metalmayhem]

I . did hit it with a hammer after tightening,!

I'm not talking about hitting it down after tightening , vibration should be noticeable by the sound of lightly tapping on the part with a steel hammer . If you hear vibration or a hollow like sound then you'll need to damper it somehow
It very well could be machine slop causing vibration but it looks more like part vibration to me . The thicker chunk should be able to rule one of the factors out

[popspipes]

I was holding it with a SMW mod vice... did hit it with a hammer after tightening, running flood coolant

I understand what you are saying about vibration on a piece of that shape and size

I'll try a smaller thicker piece of metal and see what that does.

Was worried that those swirls etc was a symptom of something needing to be adjusted

Thanks!

I see vibration as metalmayhem said, the swirls are one of the characteristics of machining some grades of steel, Maybe try some aluminum and see what that looks like, and using oil will help too. (coolant cools well but not so much on the lubricity)