Milling Partical Board/MDF

[OOZ662]

I'm unsure of what I can do to keep my cutters happy (and alive) in this stuff. I don't have any real experience, so help is greatly appreciated.

 

I'm using a Techno DaVinci with stepper motors. The facts sheet says I ought to be able to run up to 94.5 IPM feed speeds and the 600W spindle varies from 8000 to 24000 RPM, but it's controlled by a colored dial so I can't really get an accurate assumption on the speed. I'm cutting with two flute 1/4" Onsrud 40-107 bits.

[Thee Starry™]

I generally ran MDF with a 3 flute upcut or compression cutter at 18,000 - 24,000 RPM at 400-700IPM. Been known to push it faster, but that was the ballpark on a Komo. On my Thermwood 3 axis I run the same tool but 300-500IPM. Vortex makes some very nice tools that last quite a long time at these speeds and feeds. I have used a 4 flute tol, but prefer 3 flute. Faster feed rate is better. Much less heating time on the tool.

[Robert Critelli]

I am running Vortex bits exclusivly on my Thermwoos 3 -axis. try their viper or tornado c3 and 4 flute compression bits, they cost a little more but last a long,long time and I am cuttin at 18000rmp at 1200 in per.

[Todd Tracey from Fastech]

With the stepper Techno, he may be lucky to get actual 30 ipm if he is cutting a complex toolpath. They are rated at 120 ipm in a straight line. As soon as you vary from that, the cut speed goes down a lot.

[Westgate Hardwoods]

Depending on the thickness of the material and how your holding it down, given that you can't run very fast, I would use a 1/2 or 3/8 2 flute spiral down cutter @ approx 18,000-20,000 rpms and crank that baby up as fast at it will go. You should be able to cut 3/4 MDF or Part. Board with one pass.

[Todd Tracey from Fastech]

Craig, it only has a 600 watt spindle (approx 1 HP) not gonig to drive that size tool in one pass. I sold the educational steppers for several years. It only has a 1/4" max size on the spindle. I tried some light cuts in Cherry with a 1/2" 2 flute and it was a no go.

[OOZ662]

Spiral toolpath cutting pockets about .3" deep, is all. I didn't realize how limited this machine is until this project as we've just broken out from learning the basics to trying to use it in semi-real world applications.

[Westgate Hardwoods]

Whoa... My bad, I didn't realize the limitations.

[BrintC]

We quit using MDF because of the tool wear. But I agree with Robert, Vortex tools are the best if you can afford them. The powers that be here are too cheap to buy them so I have to make do with inferior tools. I suggest you try several passes. It's a longer process but it may help with wear.

[CH]

quote:

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We quit using MDF because of the tool wear

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BrintC , what kind of tool wear are you seeing and how long do you expect a tool to last?

 

We cut MDF and PB all day , every day with 1/2" tools @approx. 10-18k rpm feeding from 200-500ipm with no adverse tooling issues.

[OOZ662]

On the bigger pockets, they're ramped in and cut in either three .1" passes or two .15" passes, depending on the shape. I managed to get about 75 IPM today and it's doing much better. Still browning the bit quite a bit, but it'll do for the run. Suggestions still appreciated, though. =)

[BrintC]

CH, We do custom cabinet parts and dado's have to be precise. Also in perimeter bits,as they dull, when they take a slow winding path or tight corner the friction and heat cause a smoldering coal to emerge.And in a shop that was devastated by fire once already,smoke is a good way of getting an unwanted extinguisher blast.Our bits generally last about a month between changing. Running about 70% of a 10/hr day,4days a week.

I guess I should be thankful they last as long as they do.