Re: CNC polishing with a mill?

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Tom Hubin <thubin@e...> wrote:

> Hello
>
> If you are talking about a flat top surface then try flycutting instead
> of, or after, milling. I flycut aluminum top surfaces to get a very nice
> finish. You can see the fine flycut marks but I am only cutting about
> 0.004 to 0.001 inch deep with travel at about 0.001 inch per cut. I do
> most of my flycutting in 0.004 inch (0.1mm) vertical steps but then do
> the last pass one or two more times wwithout adjusting the vertical.
> This just skims the surface to leave a very fine finish.
>
> If you did choose to grind with a fine grit and polish with rouge then
> fine flycutting would get you close before you grind and polish. That
> will save you lots of grinding and polishing time.
>
> I have also done flycutting on an outside vertical wall by rotating my
> Sherline spindle 90 degrees. A bit confusing to program but it works.
>
> Tom Hubin
> thubin@e...

I'm thinking that a gantry type table could be used for polishing.
vacume hold down and small motors are all that is needed for lots of work.

I think that if one wanted to hone off a half a tenth or something,
that could be done on such a machine.

It would be an interesting unit if one wanted to have a great finish
on a lot of parts.

possible 4th axis.

I am trying to figure out how to de-burr odd shaped extrusions that
are sliced into 12 inch lenghts. The few internal passages are a pain.'


I have about 500 parts that I would like to finish the OD on, tumbling
may be the way to go, but I don't have a tumbler that large.

This idea of a polishing machine seems like an interesting one.


Dave