Re: Re: Turbocharging a bigger MaxNC

Robin,
thanks for your comments.

Most if not all of my work is in HDPE or PP, so i only use HSS, and keep
them very very sharp. My understanding (please correct me if i am wrong)
was that given the low speed of my current 150mm (6") per min and
running around 350 rpm on a 2 flute 6mm (~1/4") ball mill cutter, with a
roughing depth of cut of 2.5mm (~0.1") not much could be improved.
assuming that i go for a much faster machine of 2m (80") per minute,
what cutter would u recommend? A friend has introduced some potential
for regular work, involving organic surface modelling and then machining
a prototype with approx. size 700mm x 200 x 100 ( 28" x 8 x 4) in
aluminum. Apparently have freedom to pick the grade, as long as i can
give them a good finish. They will not accept machining marks, and will
allow hand polish. Any recommendations folks?

On the ATC, even though am involved in CAD/CAM sales at work, have never
really studied the mechanical workings of a tool changer. Lazy me! Any
good websites for ideas?

Why i need one is that often i go away overnight on business and my wife
who does cnc hygiene duties ( vac's the plastic swarf) is not up to tool
changes level yet. If she gets that certification, will probably have to
do another night of baby-sitting duty per week!

Jokes aside, the job (roughing usually z-level, parallel plane finishing
and cross or optimized finishing) is normally sitting there when i get
back. Another part of my logic it that most of my work is surface
modelling not solids, which tends to keep me in the office at night
doing the homers. Actually looking at some notes i kept on recent
projects, gives a ratio of modelling to machining time of just over
1:3.5, and i also must do my day job, hopefully not for much longer.

John


Message: 5
Date: Wed, 09 May 2001 03:14:56 -0000
From: "Robin S." <lasernerd@...>
Subject: Re: Turbocharging a bigger MaxNC

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., John <machatak@t...> wrote:
> To give some better ideas of the way i abuse the current
machine, some
> programs are over 4 MB without line numbers and longest duration was
> over 52 hours continuous machining, just tidied up with a
industrial vac
> cleaner every few hours. Main reason it is soo long is that i use
same
> tool for roughing and finishing pass, a bit of a compromise, but
beggars
> cannot be choosers! Anybody got a solution for economy ATC????
>

Have you considered a rounghing mill to rough first and then use a
normal mill to finish? With some of the TiAIN coated roughers you
MUST increase your feeds by something like 2X that of HSS or the
cutter will not work. Of course you need a very powerful spindle and
powerful drives, but if you can do it you'd get your work done a lot
quicker.

A very cheap tool changer is your hand :) If you seriously need one,
I'm sure it would be fairly easy to design one, given the automation
control to run it.

Regards,

Robin