Anyone use router to cut 16ga Aluminum treadplate?

We tried plasma cutting a fairly involved design in 16ga aluminum treadplate and it was warping considerably.
Was wondering if we could router it with a 1/4 HSS bit? straight flute double cut

If you think we can, please recommend RPM and feed rate. And appropriate bit.

thanks

Hi,

CNC Router would be the best way to do this. In our shop we would use a 3/16" single "O" flute bit, 22000 rpm, 80 ipm.

Little bit of oil to keep it lubricated.

Have fun

Greg

I do aluminum treadplate often with plasma, excellent cut quality, no warpage whatsoever. If you are experiencing warpage with plasma on this thickness of aluminum....you are using too much power, too large of a nozzle, cutting too slow, torch height too high....or a combination of the above!

On 1/16" treadplate the torch height is .062", I cut with the bumps up...the automatic height control climbs over them nicely, cut speed is around 150 ipm, cut amperage is 45. Very nice clean cuts with just a small fuzzy burr on the bottom edge that rubs off easilly with your finger.

Here are some pics of aluminum cutting wth a Hypertherm Powermax45 plasma on a PlasmaCam cnc machine:

Jim Colt