Thanks. Yeah the OF and Makita seem to handle it just fine. The spindle should improve that too. I still want to upgrade my work surface to metal from MDF for more versatile work holding options and rigidity. I tried to upload some video but no dice unfortunately.
I am really interested in the tolerances you can hold. Can you hold .005" in aluminium? What depth of cut are you taking per pass? Speeds and feeds info would be appreciated You finish looks very professional.
Nicely Done! That is a thing of beauty for sure.
Love Aluminum milling!!!
-Alex
Love it Nate (@42SqFtWoodworks)!
That just amazes me that you’re getting those results from a basic router. It certainly lets us all know the rigidity of the 1f is truly quite good considering it’s more meant for wood.
So how long does it take to machine that piece and what kind of heat is the Makita having to deal with if you don’t mind me asking?
Oh yeah .005" is doable even with that Makita. I’ll generally run 0 stock to leave in the adaptive programs and then any deflection with the inner and outer walls I’ll finish up with a contour tool path. Depth of cut for roughing is .03 for my 2 flute tool paths and .04 with a single flute. 60 inches per minute and .002" feed per tooth.
Thanks! It takes about 15 minutes without tool changes so that’s why I have been building some fixture plates to run multiple parts at a time. The Makita gets warm but nothing I’d consider hot by any means. I have been milling the aluminum dry and the tool path strategies I have put together are giving good chip load and evacuation so most of, if not all, of the heat is flying off with the chips. The part gets slightly warm and the end mill stays completely cool. The warmest part after milling is the router, but it just feels like normal wood cutting operation warm. Yeah these Onefinity cnc machines are great! I want a Haas now though LOL. Truth be told I only picked up CAD and CAM a year ago. Was designing a product and after seeing how they worked inside of the 3D CAD space it made sense to me how it worked. I picked up Fusion 360 and never looked back. That and the bills they were sending us…WOW.
This is very helpful @alldaysammyj . Thank you very much. Awesome that you could learn this so quick. I use a Haas CNC by day and my Onefinity by night…once it arrives.
Thanks. Yeah this stuff seems to make sense to my brain so I’ve found it kind of natural to pick up. That being said there are a lot of things that I have to discover and figure out but they will come. Once I purchase the 1.5KW spindle I will be testing some 1x depth and maybe 5%-10% step over tool paths and see how those turn out. Oh I forgot to add earlier, the step over on those tool paths ranges from 0.125" to 0.15" on a .25" endmill. So like 50%-60% step over. Contour tool paths (2 flute) are full depth of pocket. On this part the deepest pocket is about .75" and I run the tool at full depth, .001" feed per tooth with spring passes enabled. The wall finish is really good but I think would be even nicer with a 3 flute end mill.
Thanks for the information. I have a manual mill and that’s why I am so surprised at what you are doing with the 1f. I’m still waiting for mine but getting more excited because of what people are showing they’re doing with them. Is yours the MACHINIST or WOODWORKER version and do you think it would even matter?
@alldaysammyj What software are you using for generating toolpaths?
Thanks again. Yeah I’m surprised at how well this thing performs too. Mine is the machinist but to be honest, with the stiffy 3rd X axis rail installed I don’t think it would be much different using the wood worker model. These onefinity machines are built pretty stout for what they are. Definitely the most rigid and capable for consumer/prosumer level machines.
@Techrise I use Fusion 360 for all of my CAD and CAM
Fantastic!! Excellent idea!
well after several weeks of frustration before I discovered one of the Y axis motors wasn’t engaged, I completed my first fully successful projects. I borrowed lots of ideas but this is what I came up with. My software was Vectric Pro. I learned a little of 3d carving and two sided cutting. The wood is its natural color since all I used was a homemade bee’s was concoction with a good buffing. I doubt I will share much cause that is not my nature, but this one time to encourage everyone not to give up. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. This is fun. Now all of my kids want one. Cool way to deal with retirement. .
Dick - that’s great. How many separate operations? How did you drill all the holes (drill bit? endmill?)? Any challenges?
Last question: why doesn’t anybody put a skunk line on their crib boards?
-Mark
I use a tiny skunk outline
Wow Dick, that really looks good. I like the removable center, I assume the indentations are for magnets. Great outcome for sure. I’m still waiting for mine and all of you have me so fired up with the fantastic results. I am a NOOBE and hope to eventually do what all of you have. Thanks for sharing
Tried doing some inlay work
Still on the table with some water applied to raise the grain for final sanding.