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carol
10-29-2001, 11:49 AM
It would be really cool if there would be a chart of materials, thickness, bits, spindle speeds, and feed rates. I wonder if ShopBot would list a page on the forum menu that we users could contribute to with this kind of information. For, example, if I wanted to cut a shape in 3/8" thick acrylic, I could look at the chart and see what bit(s) (including part number and manufacturer) other users have used, what spindle speed they ran it at and what their feed rate was. Also any comments about how well they felt that worked for them.

It would sure give me a place to start, maybe even some choices, if several were available to try. Sure would cut down the trial and error and the time it takes.

This one woman shop still has only 24 hours in the day! :-)

But I'm workin' on it!

Donna
10-29-2001, 01:44 PM
Carol,

That's a wonderful Idea!

Router@southeasttool.com
10-29-2001, 02:08 PM
The following list was first posted here by Dave, I think it is helpful and am posting it again. Check out the web sites for helpful information about bit use:


CNC Router Bit Supplier Information

Many companies manufacture router bits suitable for CNC use, and a few are listed below (this list is not exhaustive). For any given application the suitability, longevity, and price of bits from different manufacturers can vary greatly. Bit manufacturers can offer advice on selecting bits and feed rates suitable for your specific application. Bits with unusual diameters and/or cutting lengths and bits designed for specific applications may only be available from certain suppliers (so it helps to have several bit catalogs on hand when searching for the bit you want). Keep in mind that not all manufacturers sell direct, so you may need to call the manufacturer to get the name of a distributor near you. Local distributors listed below serve the North Carolina area.
To produce your part with the lowest possible cost-per-part, identify the appropriate bit size for your application, then experiment with different bit types, different suppliers, and different feed rates. The right combination for your application can increase the usable life of your router bits while improving the speed and quality of your cuts.

Manufacturer/Distributor: Local Distributor:

Onsrud Cutter C R Onsrud Inc.
800 liberty Drive P.O. Box 419, 867 S. Main St.
Libertyville, IL 60048 Troutman, NC 28166
(847) 362-1560 (router bit selection advice) (704) 528-4528
(847) 362-5028 fax (704) 528-6170 fax
www.onsrud.com [Contact Scott Feimster at 528-1137 for Onsrud cutter advice]

Whiteside Machine Co. Burnette Ltd. / Carbide Saws Inc.
4506 Shook Road 701 Garrison Ave.
Claremont, NC 28610 High Point, NC 27260
1-800-225-3982 1-800-578-7197 or 1-888-882-6838
(828) 459-1252 fax (336)-882-7912? Fax

Velepec Tools Wesley Tools Ltd
346 Maple Avenue
Westbury, NY 11590
1-800-397-6867
(516) 338-5555
(516) 338-4706 fax
Contact: Bill Wiggington (sales)
Send in old tool when you buy a new one and get 20% off order

FS Tool Corporation Burnette Ltd. / Carbide Saws Inc.
210 South Eighth Street 701 Garrison Ave.
P.O. Box 510 High Point, NC 27260
Lewiston, NY 14092-0510 1-800-578-7197 or 1-888-882-6838
1-800-387-9723 (336)-882-7912? Fax
(905) 475-0347 fax

Amana Tools


Jesada Tools
310 Mears Boulevard
Oldsmar. FL 34677
1-800-531-5559
(813) 891-6160

Southeast Tool, Inc.
P.O. Box 5326 – 124 1st Ave South
Conover, NC 28613
1-877-465-7012 toll free order line
(828) 465-7012
(828) 465-7013 fax
Router@southeasttool.com (mailto:Router@southeasttool.com)
www.southeasttool.com

Vortex Tool Company Inc
5605 E. Jelinek Avenue
Schofield, WI 54476
1-800-355-7708
(715) 355-7707
(715) 355-7353 fax
www.vortextool.com

Freud, Inc. Call 1-800-472-7307 for name of nearest distributor
218 Field Avenue Raleigh/Durham area: Specialty Tool Service
High Point, NC 27264 2420 Atlantic Avenue
1-800-472-7307 Raleigh, NC 27604
(910) 434-3171 (919) 833-5903
Feudinc@aol.com (mailto:Feudinc@aol.com)

North American Products call
1180 Wernsing Road
P.O. Box 647
Jasper, IN 47547-0647
1-800-634-TOOL
(812) 482-2000
1-800-457-7458
www.naptools.com

Guhdo call
1135 JVL Industrial Ct.
Marietta, GA 30066
1-800-544-8436
(770) 592-4766
(770) 592-1714 fax
Guhdo@aol.com (mailto:Guhdo@aol.com)
www.guhdo.com

Bosch / S-B Power Tool Company Call 1-877-267-2499 for name of nearest distributor
4300 West Peterson Avenue Raleigh/Durham area: Specialty Tool Service
Chicago, IL 60646-5999 2420 Atlantic Avenue
1-877-Bosch99 (1-877-267-2499) Raleigh, NC 27604
www.boschtools.com (919) 833-5903

Micro 100, Inc. call
875 N. Virgil Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90029
1-800-421-8065
(323) 668-0491
(323) 668-0183 fax
Info@micro100.com (mailto:Info@micro100.com)
www.micro100.com

Various brands Woodworker’s Supply (Nationwide; 24hrs/day, 7 days/week)
1108 North Glenn Road
Casper, Wyoming 82601
1-800-645-9292
1-800-853-WOOD (1-800-853-9663)


Jesada Tools 1-800-531-5559 http: //jesada.com

Onsrud
1-800-234-1560
http://www.plasticrouting.com/

Rockler Woodworking
1-800-279-4441
http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/searchrslts.cfm?&DID=6

sea_nc@bellsouth.net
10-29-2001, 05:49 PM
Carol,

When I compiled the list above I did not emphasize enough the need to use cut quality as the final indicator for your choice of bit, speed, feed rate, and cut depth. Granted, someone looking for a quick rough cut might choose different cut parameters than someone attempting a one-pass finish cut, but for a given bit/speed/feed/depth it is surprising how often two persons can look at the same part after machining and disagree on whether the edge is "acceptable" for their purpose. Likewise, a combination that produces acceptable edge quality today can produce unacceptable results tommorrow if the part is not held rigidly during cutting.

Given the subjective nature of edge quality and the wide variation in materials and hold-down techniques, it's no wonder that we all experiment on our own until we find a combo that works for us. Your idea is a good one, though, because it always helps to have someone suggest a good starting point and to benefit from the experiences of others machining similar materials on another ShopBot. Because edge quality varies between different machinists with different objectives, my suggestion would be to include a measure of edge quality when letting others know the bit/speed/feed/depth that is being used successfully to cut a material on a ShopBot. For instance, edge quality could be described as "Rough Cut", "Slight Sanding Required", or "Finish Cut".

Dave

carol
10-29-2001, 10:43 PM
Are Donna and Dave ShopBot people? Is there a chance that there will be a chart we can click on to get information? I certainly like Dave's idea to cut depth and cut quality.

Cool!

Describing quality of cut will be somewhat subjection, but hey, gotta start somewhere.

So the first thing is to devise a fill out form for contributors?

How about adding the contributor's e-mail if they are willing to answer specific e-mail?

Hey, ShopBot, you listening? Bet you are. This would make your famous customer service even better!

gerald_d
10-30-2001, 05:08 AM
We started out making notes, and gave it up after a few months - there are just too many variables and also too many basic truths!

A slightly dull bit makes a heck of a difference to the quality, but how does one measure "slightly dull"? Some re-sharpening outfits will charge for re-sharpening, but the bits actually come back less sharp. So, for top quality, we use a brand new bit from a top supplier.

Router speed is always set to max (27000rpm) because we only use a 1/4" bit. Haven't yet encountered a wood or plastic that doesn't like this speed.

Sanding an edge is always quicker than a second finishing cut, so we only cut once.

The normal PC on our PRT96 is a 486 computer which limits the max speed to 1.5 inches/second (even though the display shows a lot more) So our cut speed is normally 1.5 inches/second.

In rare cases, when we have strange materials and odd-shaped/sized bits, we do some test cuts and fiddle with speeds, depths etc. Practically always we come round to: Use the sharpest bit at the highest speed and if there is fuzziness left then sandpaper is better than cutting twice . . .

Just my 2 cents as I hear you guys saying

donna@shopbottools.com
10-30-2001, 10:33 AM
Carol,
Yes indeed I am a ShopBot people :-) I've worked with ShopBot since November 1997! I mostly concentrate on Schools and educational modules, and the probes. The bit information would be very useful for a lot of applications. I don't think we want to reinvent the wheel so we may want to look at the web sites already posting this sort of information and then share our own experiences here in the forum. If you will email me at
donna@shopbottools.com (mailto:donna@shopbottools.com) I will pass along the information I have, and maybe we can come up with a shopbot version.
Thanks for the kudo's on customer service. The guys and gals around here really work hard to keep the customers satisfied!

Thanks!

scott
01-11-2002, 08:08 PM
Although new to shopbot I Have been in the woodworking industry for 20 or so years. I have called many of the techies from bit manufactures(such as onsrud, amana, etc.) None of them recomend using bits that are design for the larger and faster cnc machines. These bits can cost big bucks and the feed speeds that the they require to clear chips is at least 3-4 times faster than what the shopbot can handle. That's what they tell me. So where does that leave us. Experimentation. We cut lots of foam,mdf and melamine. In the last four months I still am looking for the right bits for each of these materials. Please anyone who might have done research, especially 3/4"mdf and melamine please e-mail me.