Re: WidgitMaster's Largest Steel Router Table Project 9ft x 5ft x 8" Water Cooled Spi
Everyone comments on the quality of my plaques, which is much appreciated! So I've decided to make a little compilation of the types of cutters I use which enable me to make the fine details!
First I want to say that "Cutting Edge Geometry" is extremely important! If you look at the angles and construction of the little grey "White Side" cutter, the angles are all wrong for wood! As it produces such a rough surface that sanding would take 10x longer! Also, there is NO point!
The remaining cutters all have surgical sharp edges with all the correct relief angles for cutting wood! The yellow bits have a micro point, which allows me to carve extremely fine detail in soft pine! The Primary angle determines how fast the feed rate is.
Now there is much to be said about Feeds & Speeds, but it's my experience to say feed rate's depend on the machine's rigidity!
The Spindle Speed for wood is as fast as possible, for bits 1" and under in diameter. Speed is reduced to 15000 RPM for the big 2" diameter bits!
Most of my carving with small 2 or 3 flute end mills is done at 90 IPM, The fine detail V-Bit carving is done at 40 IPM or less! In VCarve Pro, there is a setting for the federate, along with the Plunge feed rate. My Plunge settings are always 10+ IPM less than the actual feed rates. This will prolong the delicate point, as carbide is brittle and will break off if poked into wood too fast! The chips need to escape as fast as possible!
Most of my cutters are available on AMAZON !
Kempston 202011 V Groove Bit, 1/4-Inch Shank, 1/2 Cutting Diameter by 5/8 Cutting Length by 60D - $17.99
Kempston 202021 V Groove Bit, 1/4-Inch Shank, 3/4 Cutting Diameter by 13/16 Cutting Length by 60D - $16.57
Magnate 707 V-Grooving Router Bits - 90 Degree; 1-1/4" Cutting Diameter; 1/2" Shank Diameter - $26.77
Magnate 708 V-Grooving Router Bits - 90 Degree; 1-1/2" Cutting Diameter; 1/2" Shank Diameter - $30.42
Magnate 709 V-Grooving Router Bits - 90 Degree; 2" Cutting Diameter; 1/2" Shank Diameter - $36.85
I hope this helps with your engraving projects!
Widgit
www.widgitmaster.com
It's not what you take away, it's what you are left with that counts!