Works fine ! Re: Using a porter cable router to cut aluminum

Hello Tyson,

I must've missed that thread. That person needs to check their
collet, nut and spindle- collet seat area- immediately; and repair or
replace whatever is dirty, burred, bent or broken...

Because PC routers are used with helical cutting bits every day in
industry to cut both wood and aluminum!! All day long...

Another thing to check if the router is not new is the spindle
bearings. If worn, they could be allowing resonances to build and
create the vibration... (Even if they're not so bad as to be sloppily
CAUSING the vibration: but that should also be checked.)

If the router was pushed hard, there could be pitting of the
commutator and brush "burn" and "jumping"...

Finally, though not "necessary": Most WW routers use only "motor
grade" bearings. If you're planning to use a WW router in this way on
a cnc machine, consider replacing the "stock" spindle bearings with a
higher grade precision bearing... This not only makes the router
quieter, it definitely improves the cut, regardless of the material.

I should also mention that the Bosch and Makita 2-and some-odd HP
router have been steadily replacing PC routers on cnc machines. PC
was the "standard" (7518 and 690), but these other brands are
quieter, and seem to hold up as well, or better. Along with having
nearly the same "effective" cutting abilities as the higher HP PC
routers...

Hope this helps,

Ballendo

P.S. With a new PC router, this should not be a factor at all.
However, most woodworkers don't seem to be as careful with their
router collets as they "should" be... And the water and extractives
from the wood can combine to make things even worse than a machining
setup (tannic acid, from oak, for example, or ammonia creation
causing corrosion) Additionally, there has been more than a bit of
frankly, bad advice given to woodworkers over the years regarding
their router collets; things like using "just a bit" of silicone to
keep things from sticking. Or oil. Or sandpaper!

You can bet that the collets of large commercial Woodworking CNC
routers ARE treated careully, cleaned religiously, inspected
regularly, and replaced if need be, immediately...

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Tyson S."
<timbercutter@y...> wrote:

> There is currently another thread active here at
> this group about the very same thing. The problems the
> other person was having was that an end mill bit with
> a helical cut will be pulled out of the bit holder on
> a router. because of the spiral twist on a end mill
> bit the rotational force is converted to a linear
> pulling force, combine that with vibration and you get
> slippage.
>
> --- camfambmw540 <jcameron@f...> wrote:
> > Hi all, new to the group...seems like a very
> > excellent group :-)
> >
> > My name is John; I live in the Chicago area. I have
> > a nice compound
> > milling table that I would like to use in a very
> > simple cnc setup.
> > My plan is to fabricate a very sturdy z axis for a
> > porter cable
> > router (1.75 hp), use the compound milling table as
> > my x-y axis. I
> > have 2 nema34 173 oz in stepper motors for the xy,
> > still have yet to
> > get the z motors. I also have yet to get the
> > controllers or power
> > supply. I have a 1 GHz pc dedicated to my shop
> > needs.
> >
> > I plan on cutting odd shaped holes (1.5"x2.5") into
> > 1/4 and 1/2 inch
> > 6061 aluminum. I also would like this setup to be
> > able to assist me
> > in making a much better cnc sysem (when wife
> > approved funds become
> > available).
> >
> > Question: Does anyone see flaws in my idea? Will I
> > be able to cut
> > holes of this size in aluminum (if I go slow and
> > keep lubricant
> > constantly sprayed on the metal)? Any suggestions
> > on how to
> > fabricate a z axis that will hold a porter cable
> > router (simple
> > plans??)
> >
> > Thanks all...sorry for such newbie questions
>
> =====
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