Re: Sturdiest CNC For Aluminum Milling
I do have a customer that cuts exclusively aluminum on his router, and I have to say it does an adequate job. It's a 5x10 MultiCam, weighs over 5000 lbs with a 7.5HP spindle, he normally runs it at 12,000 RPM with heavy mist coolant.
Having said that, lightweight home shop type routers are just not built sturdy enough for a steady diet of aluminum. When metal cutting, mass is your friend. If I needed a machine that would handle cut areas larger than my mill will handle, I would be looking for a used fixed gantry machine like an old Thermwood or other machine of that class. I scrapped one about a year ago (and kinda wish I hadn't), would have made you a heck of a deal on that one.
Jim Dawson
Sandy, Oregon, USA