I am fairly new to machining of metals and short on knowledge on feeds and speeds. My experience is primarily using solidworks 3D cad, mastercam programming and doing 5 axis machining wood mock ups of full sized front ends of vehicles.
A project has come along where I need to make a copper heatsink, well 50 at first but eventually 100's. Now copper is real PITA to machine I hear and so I have found a suitable replacement, tellurium copper, which seems to have a machinability rating of about 75-80 verses 10-20 for copper.
I have at my disposal an older bridgeport knee mill we have converted over to CNC. I have to manually change the rpm but isnt a problem. I believe it has a max rpm of spindle is about 3500-4000 with about 2 Hp but I dont think I will need it all, or even close, as the bits will be small enough they will not take much abuse anyways.
Will be doing some slots about 0.25" depth and 0.125" width. Looking at using a .125" or smaller flatendmill for most. Also have some smaller holes I would like to drill and tap using 0-80 thread. Now I know this is small, very small at 3/64" dia and need to countersink the heads using a 1/16" flat endmill. Holes are shallow so cutting time doesnt bother me at all at snail rates. And lastly, will be using 2 sizes of ball endmills for 3D surface contouring. Most 3/8" diameter but a small engraving with a 1/64" dia ball end.
Flute size, cutter material, depth,cut, feedrate or any other advice greatly appreciated!
Also, any idea of the price of this stuff? I am hoping to get it for less than $25 a pound. I have not yet inquired on pricing yet but will do so tomorrow.
thanks for help in advance! Long time reader, first time poster.