Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] orange peel on aluminum

george@... wrote:

> I used a flycutter on a peice of 6061-t6 and got a organge peel type
> texture.
> What causes this?

Orange peel? Like little divots randomly all over the surface? It could
be you need to cut deeper, use a lube/coolant, change speeds, or use
flood coolant or air blast to keep the chips from collecting on the surface
and being re-cut by the tool. One other thing that some people do is knock
the head very slightly out of tram, so that the 'lower' side makes the first cut,
and the higher side then doesn't touch the clean, already cut surface.
When the cutter comes around, it cuts on the 'leading' side of the workpiece,
and then can swipe across the surface without digging in, marring the previously
clean-cut surface on the 'retreating' side. So, that is what they are trying to avoid.
You may be able to see this when you flycut, that the work directly under the
flycutter looks good, then it gets messed up by the trailing side cut.

Jon