I have been struggling to figure out the proper speeds and feeds lately. I have gone through the math but I just can't seem to make it apply to the X2. I machine mostly 6061 aluminum with end mills between 1/4 and 1/2. I thought I had things working just 'OK' with the 1/4 but started using a 3/8 to save on some machining time but it didn't work out very well. Plunging was a nightmare. It would shake the entire machine.
I have a belt conversion and for the 1/4 end mill, I was running on the slower pulley at maximum (around 1700 RPM) with a Z-feedrate of about 1ipm, an xy feedrate of around 5.5, and a depth of cut of .1. I was using new endmills and noticed the finish on the Z was not too great. I tried these same rates with the 3/8 and it was even worse. I monkied around with it for a while last night and noticed that with the 1/4 end mill (two flute btw) if I put the belt on the other pulley and run it at max (around 4K RPM), .5ipm in the Z, around 5.5 in the xy and with a depth of cut of about .05 that it seems OK but I'm afraid I may be dulling the end mill.
Realistically, what should I expect to be able to do in 6061 with a 1/4 or 3/8 end mill on an X2? I have done the speed/feed formulas and the RPMs come out to something like 6K plus but I have read others state that it should be 1500.
thanks,
Kevin