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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
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    0

    Cnc router steel cutting

    Can i use cnc router for steel cutting?
    How much speed for spindle and linear feed i should use ?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Posts
    692

    Re: Cnc router steel cutting

    Depends upon the router. Need way more details (what type router, what spindle, what thickness steel, what diameter end mills, etc.)
    You should probably try searching before asking such a broad question.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Posts
    3920
    The general answer to this question is no!

    For a specific answer it requires understanding your machine and your expectations. If you can arrive at an acceptable spindle RPM for the intended cutter you might be able you machine steel. The might due to machine rigidity issues.

    You will never get Bridgeport like machining done on the average self built router. You will be running very small diameter cutters in the range often associated with engraving. Using techniques such as trichordal machining you can do a bit better on some machines.

    Your best bet here is to read up on potential techniques and see if they meet your desires and machine capabilities. If your expectations are low you may be able to do what you want.

    Quote Originally Posted by Muhammad_Haroon View Post
    Can i use cnc router for steel cutting?
    How much speed for spindle and linear feed i should use ?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Posts
    0

    Re: Cnc router steel cutting

    Quote Originally Posted by skrubol View Post
    Depends upon the router. Need way more details (what type router, what spindle, what thickness steel, what diameter end mills, etc.)
    You should probably try searching before asking such a broad question.
    Router is 5.5kw water cool spindle. I can manually adjust its spped by inverter. I have 6mm end mill. 10mm mild steel sheet.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
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    0

    Re: Cnc router steel cutting

    Quote Originally Posted by wizard View Post
    The general answer to this question is no!

    For a specific answer it requires understanding your machine and your expectations. If you can arrive at an acceptable spindle RPM for the intended cutter you might be able you machine steel. The might due to machine rigidity issues.

    You will never get Bridgeport like machining done on the average self built router. You will be running very small diameter cutters in the range often associated with engraving. Using techniques such as trichordal machining you can do a bit better on some machines.

    Your best bet here is to read up on potential techniques and see if they meet your desires and machine capabilities. If your expectations are low you may be able to do what you want.
    I've Chinese cnc router with 1900mm by 3000mm table size and 5.5kw water cooled spindle. By changing frequency from inverter i can manually adjust spindle speed according to requirements. Attachment 390936Click image for larger version. 

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  6. #6

    Re: Cnc router steel cutting

    Quote Originally Posted by Muhammad_Haroon View Post
    Can i use cnc router for steel cutting?
    How much speed for spindle and linear feed i should use ?
    Hello Muhammad,
    Will you cut or engrave? We suggest not.
    The machine you have now is a machine for woodworking. Its gantry and machine structure are not strong enough to do the metal working.
    Tools may broken,inverter may burn.
    If you insist, cut it bit by bit.
    Take care.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Posts
    15362

    Re: Cnc router steel cutting

    Quote Originally Posted by Muhammad_Haroon View Post
    I've Chinese cnc router with 1900mm by 3000mm table size and 5.5kw water cooled spindle. By changing frequency from inverter i can manually adjust spindle speed according to requirements. Attachment 390936Click image for larger version. 

Name:	uploadfromtaptalk1523411290998.jpg 
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Size:	54.7 KB 
ID:	390938Click image for larger version. 

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ID:	390940
    The slowest speed you can run your spindle is 6,000 RPM below this speed your spindle won't have much torque to drive a cutter to cut steel, 7,000 RPM is where must can get just enough torque to cut aluminum, the other problem is your spindle is not designed to cut steel, this is how the spindle bearings have to be assembled, for these cheap high speed spindles

    Try this and you will see why it is not suitable to cut steel, no matter what speed your spindle can run at, with your Z axes up with no power on the spindle, pull down on the spindle where you mount your tool, you will feel that the spindle will move down, buy doing this the front Bearings become unseated, this is normal for these AC Bearings in these high speed spindles, what you are feeling is the preload on these high speed spindles, its around 4 to 6 Lbs preload

    So when you put more load than normal the Bearings become loose from the cutter pulling down on the spindle, this over a short time will damage the Bearings as they are just rattling around as the preload is over come by the cutting forces

    Small cutters for engraving would not be a problem, 1mm Etc. but machining steel with bigger than 3mm cutter would be

    There are other Chinese Spindles that are low speed and can be used for cutting steel Etc,
    Mactec54

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Posts
    0

    Re: Cnc router steel cutting

    Quote Originally Posted by mactec54 View Post
    The slowest speed you can run your spindle is 6,000 RPM below this speed your spindle won't have much torque to drive a cutter to cut steel, 7,000 RPM is where must can get just enough torque to cut aluminum, the other problem is your spindle is not designed to cut steel, this is how the spindle bearings have to be assembled, for these cheap high speed spindles

    Try this and you will see why it is not suitable to cut steel, no matter what speed your spindle can run at, with your Z axes up with no power on the spindle, pull down on the spindle where you mount your tool, you will feel that the spindle will move down, buy doing this the front Bearings become unseated, this is normal for these AC Bearings in these high speed spindles, what you are feeling is the preload on these high speed spindles, its around 4 to 6 Lbs preload

    So when you put more load than normal the Bearings become loose from the cutter pulling down on the spindle, this over a short time will damage the Bearings as they are just rattling around as the preload is over come by the cutting forces

    Small cutters for engraving would not be a problem, 1mm Etc. but machining steel with bigger than 3mm cutter would be

    There are other Chinese Spindles that are low speed and can be used for cutting steel Etc,
    Ok

    Sent from my SM-J710FN using Tapatalk

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538

    Re: Cnc router steel cutting

    I've seen people cut steel with much smaller machines, but you need to take very light passes, at low feed rates. It will take a very long time to cut through 10mm steel.
    You can find examples on YouTube.
    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)

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