Re: CNC Toolpath Strategies for Smaller Machines
Originally Posted by
mcardoso
To go along with the above questions, I've heard the comment made about lathe inserts that you shouldn't buy more carbide than you need (choose the smallest insert that meets the depth of cut requirement). Not sure if I have heard the same for endmills. Is it better to run a larger tool but maybe not run it as hard as it can go, or run a smaller tool harder? Tool deflection comes to mind. I know I can do a 20% stepover on a 3/8" endmill, but would I be better doing a 40 or 50% stepover on a 1/4" endmill?
What happens if you use a 40% stepover with a 3/8 endmill and a trochoidal cutting path? This is what I use with my machine, with a 3 HP spindle, normally ~1D DOC, 20-40 IPM.
Jim Dawson
Sandy, Oregon, USA