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IndustryArena Forum > Community Club House > Only non-ferrous metals???
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    37

    Only non-ferrous metals???

    In my research, I've seen the majority (actually all, but i'm leaving room for hope) of places say that you can engrave and work with non-ferrous metals. I'm learning so correct me if I'm wrong in saying that steel is ferrous, and therefore, you cannot/should not attempt to mill any steel parts with a cnc mill.

    A blanket statement like I just made usually doesn't hold up in all situations. I am sure there are some that will say "If you want to mill metal, make a CNC mill, not a CNC router." Of course that's an oversimplified response to a not-as-simple question.

    I, like so many others here, care about costs and if I can get a CNC router to do double duty, I will. What I love about DIY-ers is that most believe "If it can be done, then it should be done...at least once."

    My questions:

    1. What is it about most CNC router designs that prohibt their uses on non-ferrous metals? (Maybe it's more about the metal than the cnc design)

    2. What would it take to make a CNC router that could do light applications on mild steel? I'm thinking of small sprockets out of material 1/8" or 1/4" thick.

    I have come to my conclusion that steel + cnc router don't mix based upon the fact that I don't find much coverage of this one websites or in forums. If this was possible, I believe I would find much more information on it than presently available.

    Could it really be as simple as use the right bit at slow RPM and slow IPM?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    37
    FYI for others that find this thread...

    http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_bas...NC_Router.html

    What about aluminum? This is a non-ferrous metal right? I might be able to make the sprockets i'm thinking of out of aluminum.

    What thickness is "too thick"? (Taking into account heat build-up, and anything else I can't currently think of.)

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Posts
    2712
    Typically a router is not built sturdy enough to machine most metals. When you build a machine capable of light milling, you have built a light duty MILLING machine.

    Also, routers usually have speeds higher than mills. There probably is a cross over point where you could do slow routing and very light milling. Problem is, it won't do either very well.

    Dick Z
    DZASTR

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538
    To cut steel you usually will need more rigidty and mass than a router has.

    To cut steel you usually will need a lower rpm spindle than a router has.

    To cut steel you usually need coolant, which doesn't get along well with the wood you'll also be cutting with a router.
    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)

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Posts
    1237
    Quote Originally Posted by ger21 View Post
    To cut steel you usually will need more rigidty and mass than a router has.

    To cut steel you usually will need a lower rpm spindle than a router has.

    To cut steel you usually need coolant, which doesn't get along well with the wood you'll also be cutting with a router.
    Add power to this also. It takes more power to push an axis and more power to spin the spindle to machine steel than aluminum. " " to machine aluminum than wood. So it takes a good bit more to do steel than wood.

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