At the time of posting, this page has 50 vanilla PCI cards listed. Click

I'm working in a room that could be compared to a medium-large closet, so it's a dust storm no matter what until you have the vac directly on the bit. I rigged up a holder for the vac's hose a while ago, but the weight of it would actually begin to pry the spindle motor out of its holder; thanks to whoever thought holding a mill together by friction alone was so great.

Obviously when a tool gets too hot, having the wood dust/chips around it is a bad idea, but...for a bit that isn't to that point, would leaving the "remnants" on it (rather than constant vacuuming) keep the bit cooler? It seems like it'd work as a kind of solid coolant, but at the same time could be an insulator. P.S. Yes, I know, make chips, not dust. Unfortunately, that isn't possible here.

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. =)

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.

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.

Speed isn't really an issue, as I have a year and a half to pump out 30 pieces. I just need to know how to do it without setting fires...again.

Still, would the tricoidal cut give the bit what it needs to complete the job? Should I really crank the thing on spindle and feed rate?

High-speed with tricoidal cuts looks like it could be helpful. I'd like to make the circles a bit bigger...but I've run out of time today. Any help with this or feed rate/spindle speed would be appreciated.

I've discovered that I've been running the spindle at the "medium" speed and only cutting at 35 IPM and 16000 rpm, but you say I ought to be able to do over 100 IPM. The best I can do clearing-wise is a shop-vac on the bit. We don't have the cover and blowing this dust all over isn't an option where I'm located. EDIT: I just reread the above post; will cutting faster really do the trick even though I'm sucking the dust/bits immediately out of the way? I can't afford new bits and if part of this machine bites it, I'm done for. EDIT2: Max speed for a one-axis linear cut on this machine is stated as 140 ipm. The spindle speed varies between 8 and 24 thousand RPM. [ 02-01-2008, 04:41 PM: Message edited by: OOZ662 ]

Everything results in the bit ramping a hole about 1cm in width, then resuming the normal pocket cut. I need to ramp the whole first "line," don't I? the bit overheats while engaged with more than the usual cutting amount.

The "tray" will hold 10x12, but will only cut about 7.5x9x3 with a very short bit. The "wiggle" is only about a centimeter in length...and it starts what looks like an inch over the top of the piece and slowly winds down. I'm so new at this it's not even funny...I'm trying to get enough interest in this machine that we can add an entire CNC section to our CAD classes. Obviously I have a way to go. Thanks for the help so far. I'll mess with it some more tomorrow.

Setting it up to ramp makes a very odd result; the bit wants to cut the first two pockets the same as before, then wants to "wiggle" down into the middle of the third pocket, then continue cutting just like before.

I'm cutting press board with a 2 flute 1/4" HSS flat endmill bit, cubic pockets with a depth of .3 inches. I'm cutting at a feed rate of "30" or less (I don't even know what that translates to in "real" units). I really can't figure out what is wrong. Can you go into detail of how to and what "ramping the bit in" means? I don't have Mastercam handy at the moment, so I can't see what you mean.

I haven't a clue what the deal is. Mastercam's feed rate calculator thing says I should be able to run this three to four times faster than I am, but if I do the bit heats up, discolors, and eventually begins chirping. The heat seems to be damaging our spindle motor too. (Side note; don't cut plywood with HSS. =P)