Doing things backwards

[Dabbler]

I soon will be the President of the "Broken End Mills Club",

That goes to anyone starting out in CNC -- I have to introduce you to "Janger" one day - I bet he's broken 100 end mill by now!!

 

[Flyinfool]

Only broken 100???? Rookie.......

Looks like a nice acquisition.
I often wish I had CNC every time I need or want to cut a curve. (says the green eyed monster)

 

[great white]

CNC would be cool, but not breaking end mills. I've broken exactly two since I started using my mill about a year ago and both were a result of my own inexperience/stupidity..

I have rudimentary functioning in CAD and G-code (from 3d printing) but have no desire to learn it any further so CNC will probably always be outside my reach. Not to mention the cost to computerize my existing mill.....ouch.

I'll stick with the rotary table when I need to cut a curve I think......certainly not as versatile as CNC, but it's good enuff for the girls I go out with.....

 

[Boswell]

it did not take to long to learn to avoid breaking end-mills on the CNC. In fact. I initially broke more while doing setups and indexing my commanding a move in the wrong direction (mental fart). For the first time in probably 2 years I broke a mill. It was a 1/16" and my mill only goes to 3000 rpm. I thought I was running a slow enough feed rate but ....

 

[Turbine-Wine]

Well, I will document everything CNC as I do it, including explosions, fried wiring, broken stuff including bones and the need for a defibrolator. So assuming I live long enough I will have this Mill up and running with conFusion 360 and Openbuilds by Xmas. One of my buddies is a 3D printer specialist, so I will get him to print me some end mills so I can test the CNC functions without ripping up anything. I will get him to print it so it takes a regular 2H pencil, then lay paper down on the bed to see if I can control finite settings before doing the harder stuff. I will also post the BOL so everyone knows all and what parts I am using.

 

[brino]

I will get him to print it so it takes a regular 2H pencil, then lay paper down on the bed to see if I can control finite settings before doing the harder stuff.

Of course the CNC mill will write "Hello World!", before it goes off to "What are you doing Dave? I am afraid I cannot allow that!"

Brian

 

[Turbine-Wine]

Of course he CNC mill will write "Hello World!", before it goes off to "What are you doing Dave? I am afraid I cannot allow that!"

Brian

Let it be written, Let it be done!

 

[Shotgun]

You'll want to skip the Nema 42 and look more toward the Neme 24. The 42 can give you more torque, but you don't need it, and they'll be slower.

 

[Turbine-Wine]

You'll want to skip the Nema 42 and look more toward the Neme 24. The 42 can give you more torque, but you don't need it, and they'll be slower.

Thats a great tip and a money saver 42s use bigger drivers and higher voltage. I am using 24s in my plasma table and was concerned they would bog down when driving a table. Do you have a working unit with 24s?

 

[Shotgun]

I used the 34's on my Bridgeport Boss CNC. Stepperonline has closed loop 1700oz-in (12Nm) 34s for about $80.
It has been plenty enough to shatter a 5/8" carbide endmill. And it'll do 100ipm in its sleep. Personally, that is to fast for me, but the incremental step-up was so cheap. How could I not. As a point of reference, BP shipped this mill with ~650oz-in open loop steppers that were twice as large and weighed three times as much.
Whatever you do, go with the closed loop.