Re: Re Router / Mill

Dave,

This is a very good question! It's going to be tough to give a very
good answer...

It used to be that the main difference between a CNC router and a CNC
mill was threefold: The router had generally larger travels, higher
traverse rates, and higher spindle RPMs.

Nowadays, the technology of CNC has pushed "mills" squarely into
the "router" arena in all three of these areas. When a "mill" has a
high speed spindle, large travels, and goes 1200IPM in rapid, there's
not really much that could be used to distinguish it from a "router"

Mills used to be "defined" by a Y axis significantly smaller than the
X, a relatively narrow table, and the three items above (slow
spindle, small-ish travels, and slow traverse speeds)


So nowadays about the only thing that defines a router (besides the
three items above, which still apply), is that it has a generally
LARGE XY table, and is most often "open", since many routers don't
have need of coolant supply. (because they're used in materials like
wood and plastics. But as there are more than a few CNC routers these
days aimed directly at the machining of aluminum,; you'll find even
this not a reliable indicator...

It's a bit like the old politician's statement about certain
offensive material, "I can't define it, but I know it when I see
it..."<G>

Hope this helps,

Ballendo

P.S. Perhaps spindle speed remains the best indicator. Hi-
speed "mill" spindles are typically in the 10-15K rpm region,
whilst "routers" are most often at least 18K RPM's.


--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Dave Fisher" <dave@d...>
wrote:

> In planning a new website for general access, showing and detailing
> the ongoing progress of our DIY router / mill - I wonder if I could

ask any

> members of
> this group to advise me, as to what defines a Router as opposed
> to Mill ? or in fact vice versa ?
>
> Rgds
>
> Dave Fisher
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]