shootist
Senior Heliman
Location: New York State, East Coast US
| Those books you're waiting for should answer your questions. You can hack stuff out with no finesse (and the wrong tool angles, and the wrong speed, etc), but the right speed, and angles, and materials makes a whole lot of difference in the end result, and the safety of getting there.
Yes, millers can cut sideways. You need a vise or table that will travel sideways, which most of the three in one machines do have.
Lathe tool angles depend on the direction of cut, the material, and the finish. You usually wil not use a pointy cutter unless you're cutting a thread. Your books will probably recommend something like a 15 degree approach. You're trying to "break" off long stringy chips, not little chips.
Lathe speed depends on lots of stuff. Generally the bigger the diameter, the slower the rotation. Stay slow while you're practicing: if you get that thing up to 1000 rpm, the workpiece or tool will throw themselves (almost always at you) wildly if you haven't learned to secure it yet. (yes, I know that).
Carbon fiber plate is best "routed" at a high rotational speed, rather than milled at speeds slower than a few thousand rpm. People do mill caarbon fiber. Carbon fiber produces dangerous dust, containing little metal particles which head for the bottom of your lungs.
Machining fluid (not necessarily oil) always helps the cut and cools the work..
Start with aluminum, not steel. |
