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IndustryArena Forum > MetalWorking Machines > Tormach Personal CNC Mill > Would Tormach 1100 be able to do a slotting application like this bridgeport 1.5 hp
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2018
    Posts
    4

    Would Tormach 1100 be able to do a slotting application like this bridgeport 1.5 hp

    Collaborating on feed and speed settings between old and new tech with a friend. And asking others here if they have experience in such an application. I have an old bridge port 1.5hp variable and it seems strong on a slotting application to me at full 1/4" depth, single pass cut and 4" per minute 300 rpm with this 1/2" HSS/cobalt roughing cutter in cold roll steel. Would the Tormach 1100 do the same only add in CNC capability instead of milling in straight lines like my bridgeport is limited to ? or would there be an already proven faster way to get to the end. We are doing semi round parts but with perimeter details and about 24" of cutting travel per part if it can be done in a full depth single pass. I am going to try to link a 40 second video on youtube that I put up. Not a good one but a video none the less of how and what works on an old Bridgeport and it is leaving a good chip as a report card of settings. Chips are just a tinge into straw color from silver here. Addition of coolant would allow even faster MR. What would be the best T1100 translation to this process or just do it like this ??

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86t3E6CHfec

    3 different parts, all 2d slotting with some bored holes and they are all similar to this one.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Posts
    1777

    Re: Would Tormach 1100 be able to do a slotting application like this bridgeport 1.5

    Quote Originally Posted by MadisonCNC View Post
    Collaborating on feed and speed settings between old and new tech with a friend. And asking others here if they have experience in such an application. I have an old bridge port 1.5hp variable and it seems strong on a slotting application to me at full 1/4" depth, single pass cut and 4" per minute 300 rpm with this 1/2" HSS/cobalt roughing cutter in cold roll steel. Would the Tormach 1100 do the same only add in CNC capability instead of milling in straight lines like my bridgeport is limited to ? or would there be an already proven faster way to get to the end. We are doing semi round parts but with perimeter details and about 24" of cutting travel per part if it can be done in a full depth single pass. I am going to try to link a 40 second video on youtube that I put up. Not a good one but a video none the less of how and what works on an old Bridgeport and it is leaving a good chip as a report card of settings. Chips are just a tinge into straw color from silver here. Addition of coolant would allow even faster MR. What would be the best T1100 translation to this process or just do it like this ??

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86t3E6CHfec

    3 different parts, all 2d slotting with some bored holes and they are all similar to this one.

    The Bridgeport is geared down for low speed which increases the power. The Tormach lowers the speed with a VFD which does not increase the power at lower speeds. What you are doing could be done but not necessarily in one pass at full depth.

    The Tormach is more of a high speed machine, and CNC is wonderful for repititious jobs, especially in aluminum which is most of what I do.
    mike sr

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Posts
    1602

    Re: Would Tormach 1100 be able to do a slotting application like this bridgeport 1.5

    I am sure you can get a similar removal rate from the Tormach but you aren't going to be able to hog it at 300 rpm with a 1/2" end mill. At that speed in low range, the Tormach is only putting out about 1/2 hp. That isn't the fault of the Tormach it is just the reality of VFD speed control vs mechanical speed control i.e. with mechanical speed control, the motor is running at its rated speed whereas the VFD slows the motor and HP is proportional to speed...

    You will have to use a different approach, probably using a smaller end mill and higher speeds and feeds. With a bit of testing and a good feed and speed calculator, you should get a similar removal rate.

    bob

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Posts
    109

    Re: Would Tormach 1100 be able to do a slotting application like this bridgeport 1.5

    You are removing about .75 cubic inches of material in 40 seconds.

    Just ran some calculations. I use a 770 so that's what I have HSM set up for. But if you use a smaller altin or tialn coated carbide end mill and do 2 passes sure the 1100 ought to be able to keep up with that cut with a smaller end mill at a much higher rpm and sfm. It just has to do it differently as It's just not going to have any power at all with a 1/2" at 300rpm.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    1332

    Re: Would Tormach 1100 be able to do a slotting application like this bridgeport 1.5

    Quote Originally Posted by Advil View Post
    You are removing about .75 cubic inches of material in 40 seconds.

    Just ran some calculations. I use a 770 so that's what I have HSM set up for. But if you use a smaller altin or tialn coated carbide end mill and do 2 passes sure the 1100 ought to be able to keep up with that cut with a smaller end mill at a much higher rpm and sfm. It just has to do it differently as It's just not going to have any power at all with a 1/2" at 300rpm.
    Exactly. The 1100 would just do it slower with a smaller diameter EM.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Posts
    591

    Re: Would Tormach 1100 be able to do a slotting application like this bridgeport 1.5

    Note that the 1100 has a slower spindle than the 770.
    When you're cutting steel, that doesn't really matter, but I've found that for aluminum, spindle speed was a limitation on the 1100.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Posts
    624

    Re: Would Tormach 1100 be able to do a slotting application like this bridgeport 1.5

    Doesn't the original post specify 24" travel on the part? No big deal on a Bridgeport table, but a showstopper on the 18" or so available on the 1100. About 2-3 times a year I really really miss that big ol' table. Didn't watch the video, maybe I missed something.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Posts
    151

    Re: Would Tormach 1100 be able to do a slotting application like this bridgeport 1.5

    Quote Originally Posted by GLCarlson View Post
    Doesn't the original post specify 24" travel on the part? No big deal on a Bridgeport table, but a showstopper on the 18" or so available on the 1100. About 2-3 times a year I really really miss that big ol' table. Didn't watch the video, maybe I missed something.
    I think the OP meant 24" total of travel, not necessarily in one cut (the cut in the video was 3"). But obviously, a bigger table is a bigger table. I think the question was basically if the Tormach 1100 could attain similar MRR in steel as the Bridgeport. The answer is yes, but the Tormach lacks the gearing of a Bridgeport and would have to cut at a much higher RPM. Probably a 3/8" carbide end mill running at 12 FPM in multiple shallower passes. In the end though, the same amount of time overall.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    1332

    Re: Would Tormach 1100 be able to do a slotting application like this bridgeport 1.5

    The 1100 also has flood coolant which would not be practical on a knee mill Bridgeport. No straw colored chips with flood cooling.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    May 2018
    Posts
    4

    Re: Would Tormach 1100 be able to do a slotting application like this bridgeport 1.5

    I meant 24" of total travel distance to do one part. I was just thinking in terms of 8x what was in the video could mean 6-8 minute cycle times with a few holes added in. Thanks for the replies guys. I worked with MSC for this particular feed, speed and tool specifically for long slots on my bridgeport which had a 4200 rpm max and 1.5 hp so I was curious what the optimum strategy would be on the CNC for comparison. I found it interesting that MSC tooling Engineer was clear that the HSS being sharper than carbide options would help make the most of my low hp. machine. I cannot help but continue thinking that since the Tormachs are not 20+hp hog mills that they would benefit from the same concept of the sharper HSS requiring less HP, and being the better chioce for them. I was at the NAMES show up in Detroit a few weeks ago. North American Model Engines Show. and I noticed a vender from a tool insert company that was selling specific HSS tool inserts for fitting in what was typical carbide insert holders since that clientele often had small machines for the model engine craft. He was getting a ton of attention. I also have a 2hp lathe and it is hard to make carbide work optimally on it as well compared to larger more powerful machines.
    Manual mill owner, considering a Tormach CNC for obvious reasons.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Posts
    30

    Re: Would Tormach 1100 be able to do a slotting application like this bridgeport 1.5

    Surprised no-one's pointed you at it, but here's a video of the 1100's little brother cutting steel.
    You can see what people are talking about though, smaller tool (1/4") turning faster (4500rpm) and delivering decent removal rates in steel. The 1100 had double the power available and with a coolant system, would do better still.

    https://youtu.be/YNNFjNyeOYM

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Posts
    1788

    Re: Would Tormach 1100 be able to do a slotting application like this bridgeport 1.5

    I wasn't at NAMES this year but I suspect that the company you're thinking of is AR Warner (Arthur Warner Co. | Specialists in High Speed Steel). I've used their HSS inserts on my small Myford lathe because when making interrupted cuts the HSS is less prone to chipping than carbide. Carbide inserts intended for aluminum are far sharper. In fact you'll probably find it difficult to even cut your finger with their inserts unless you hone them prior to use.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    1332

    Re: Would Tormach 1100 be able to do a slotting application like this bridgeport 1.5

    I also use AR Warner inserts on my CCMT lathe insert tools. HSS inserts are good where diameter is small and I need less surface speed for my 2K rpm max on the Graziano SAG12.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Posts
    692

    Re: Would Tormach 1100 be able to do a slotting application like this bridgeport 1.5

    Maybe with a 2 flute carbide on the Tormach? 1200-1500 RPM, Same 4 ipm?
    Or could go crazy and do 40 passes with a high-feed mill like the Dijet at 110 IPM.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Posts
    311

    Re: Would Tormach 1100 be able to do a slotting application like this bridgeport 1.5

    A 1/4" rougher with HSM tool paths could come close to the same MRR.

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