Originally Posted by
MasonAtom
Just remembered that i started this thread but didn't follow up on it yet.
So far so good with the Velox. Ron made me a special design with a travel size of 18" X 36" to accomodate my shop space. I have been using it a lot to make cabinetry for guitar amps with very good results. It seems very precise, is easy to use, and the build quality is excellent. I've machined some plastics with it, and done a bunch of pcbs (well, I guess I should call them RCBs, right - routed circuit boards?). Everything I've done on it has come out great, except for one thing...
I've been cutting some 0.025" anodized aluminum sheeting (for control panels for guitar amps), and I've had some difficultly in getting the thin sheet to lay flat. If it pops up a little off the board, the cutout ends up a little warped/not straight. This is more a problem with how I've done my setup than the a problem with the Velox machine though. It hasn't had any problems cutting holes or making outlines in the aluminum.
Anyone have any recs on how to hold down thin aluminum sheet? I have read where some people lay a thin sheet of playwood over it and just mill through that. I've tried double stick tape and it sorta kinda works, but not really.
Also, any recs on good endmills for cutting thin aluminum? I have read that 2-flute is better than 3- or 4-flute for aluminum. I used a 1/8" end mill from precisebits and the chips jammed the bit and basically ruined a piece for me... guess I need to read up a bit more on feed rates and RPM.
Mason