Cutter Bit Question

[wxman]

I am new to CNC and have a Shopbot Desktop. To help me understand what cutter to use for differing material, I a have input the various bits into a spreadsheet.

I have a bit with part number PCL583659 and cannot find online what material this bit would be used for?

Any help would be appreciated...

Regards,
John

[steve_g]

John,

I can't find this part#, is it a bit that came as part of the starter set? can you describe it? Photograph and post an image?

Oh... and welcome to the forum!

Steve

[wxman]

Hi Steve and thanks for the welcome...

I believe it came with the starter kit; I have bought some other bits for composite material but it isn't one of them. Here is a photo...

[steve_g]

Interesting... I didn't find that part # in the onsrud catalog.
It's a taper bit typically used for 3D routing

Steve

[wxman]

Interesting... I didn't find that part # in the onsrud catalog.
It's a taper bit typically used for 3D routing

Steve

Thanks Steve...

I will just use it for wood 3D type cutting.

[gsartor_1999]

I too was confused about which bit was which. Apparently the numbers listed in the tool database are ShopBot part numbers and the one you are showing is not in the Onsrud catalog. By process of elimination and an email to SB I came up with

1/16” ball nose = Onsrud PCL583659
1/8” ball nose = Onsrud 52-240B
1/8” straight = Onsrud 61-040
¼” spiral = Onsrud 65-023 (which is the "1/4 end mill in the tutorials)
1/2” straight = the loose PO93006
Engraving 30 = Onsrud 37-21
VBit

I am on my way to school now (while the kids are on vacation) to "play" around some more! This forum is a great resource so keep posting. ;-)

[wxman]

I too was confused about which bit was which. Apparently the numbers listed in the tool database are ShopBot part numbers and the one you are showing is not in the Onsrud catalog. By process of elimination and an email to SB I came up with

1/16” ball nose = Onsrud PCL583659
1/8” ball nose = Onsrud 52-240B
1/8” straight = Onsrud 61-040
¼” spiral = Onsrud 65-023 (which is the "1/4 end mill in the tutorials)
1/2” straight = the loose PO93006
Engraving 30 = Onsrud 37-21
VBit

I am on my way to school now (while the kids are on vacation) to "play" around some more! This forum is a great resource so keep posting. ;-)

This helps a lot; I appreciate you tracking this down....

[dana_swift]

When you are new to CNC routing it seems as if there is a special purpose bit for everything. There is- as you can tell from reading the catalogs. However, you can use most any bit on most any material. What happens is the edge will be a little fuzzier, more jagged, etc. Or the bit may not be able to cut at the absolute peak possible speed.

Dont be afraid to use what ever bit you have on whatever material you have. Some materials eat bits not made for the job: composites like carbon-fiber and G-10 make bits go dull faster than cutting metal.

If you are cutting any kind of wood or soft plastic- chuck up what you have and try it. Worry more about the profile of the bit and nominal chip-load for the RPM and number of flutes. That keeps you from cutting too slow or too fast.

Maximum depth of cut is determined by four factors: density of the material, RPM, real horsepower available at the cutting edge, and strength of the bit material.

If in doubt when using a bit in a new material, cut at the fastest feed rate you would expect from chip size based on RPM. Cut a shallow cut to make up for the uncertainty.

When you have experience, you will be able to listen to the router working and be able to tell how it is doing. Also pick up chips and inspect them, that is a great cutting diagnostic.

In the Vectric products you can define custom bits. So I define each bit size for each type of material: "1/8 end mill soft wood", "1/8 end mill hard wood", "1/8 end mill for 6061", and "1/8 end mill foam", etc.

What is different between all of those is the depth of cut except aluminum where I drop the feed rate (a lot).

Then when I pick mount material to cut, I just need to pick the bit definition for that material. I dont keep specialty bits for specific materials.

If the bit is sharp, it will cut most anything (including you!). I have never seen a bit that was optimized for cutting humans, yet I guarantee that all of them will.

Be adventurous, and be safe!

D

[wxman]

I am struggling with the two sides of my personality; the scientific side and the ‘get-r-done’ side and trying to balance them as a newbie to CAM/CNC.

Thank you for your advice D…

[myxpykalix]

John,
So which would you prefer to be called by...Dr. Jeckyl or Mr. Hyde?:D

What you will find is that there is a mix of both types here, those that have a spotless shop and analyze every aspect of technical aspects before hitting the start switch and those like me who just throw a bit in and let 'er rip.

There is something to be said for both approaches. For me, besides the normal safety precautions, i would rather be consumed by the creative aspects of this otherwise for me it would turn into a production job and no fun...:D

[wxman]

John,
So which would you prefer to be called by...Dr. Jeckyl or Mr. Hyde?:D

What you will find is that there is a mix of both types here, those that have a spotless shop and analyze every aspect of technical aspects before hitting the start switch and those like me who just throw a bit in and let 'er rip.

There is something to be said for both approaches. For me, besides the normal safety precautions, i would rather be consumed by the creative aspects of this otherwise for me it would turn into a production job and no fun...:D

Dr. Jeckyl or Mr. Hyde? - It depends if I have had my 60oz of coffee or not yet...

[wxman]

One more newbie question and then I will try to find other questions within the forum.


Can I use mixed units? What I mean is, can I take a PartWorks drawing in metric and then cut it with 1/8 bit and expect it to be right?

Is PartWorks smart enough to handle the mixed units and normalize them?

[adrianm]

One more newbie question and then I will try to find other questions within the forum.


Can I use mixed units? What I mean is, can I take a PartWorks drawing in metric and then cut it with 1/8 bit and expect it to be right?

Is PartWorks smart enough to handle the mixed units and normalize them?
Yes, I do it all the time. It converts everything depending on the Post Processor you're using. So if you use metric and imperial in your design and use a metric Post Processor everything comes out metric with the correct conversions.

[wxman]

Yes, I do it all the time. It converts everything depending on the Post Processor you're using. So if you use metric and imperial in your design and use a metric Post Processor everything comes out metric with the correct conversions.

Perfect....

[QUICK-BURN]

Where can we buy replacements for the PCL583659?

[adrianm]

Anywhere that sells Onsrud bits I would think going by the rest of the thread.

[Brady Watson]

Where can we buy replacements for the PCL583659?

ShopBot or Gary (http://www.beckwithdecor.com/index_files/Cutters.htm)


Another alternative, since these bits are pricey (but last a really long time!), is to get some different collets for your spindle. An 1/8" will let you run an 1/8" shank tool. All bits under 1/8" take a 1/8" shank. Then buy end mills and ball end mills for a fraction of what Onsrud wants. I wouldn't waste any money on coated end mills. It does precisely zero on a wood cutting machine.

-B

[QUICK-BURN]

Found out from Onsrud it's a special bit made for ShopBot and only available from ShopBot..

[QUICK-BURN]

$74.10/each from ShopBot

[QUICK-BURN]

http://www.imcousa.com/catalog/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=59

The 30428 cutter is similar to the PCL583659 and less than half the cost! I bought 4 of them for $29.68 each + tax... I'll report back and let you know about tool life after I use them for a while!

[knight_toolworks]

One more newbie question and then I will try to find other questions within the forum.


Can I use mixed units? What I mean is, can I take a PartWorks drawing in metric and then cut it with 1/8 bit and expect it to be right?

Is PartWorks smart enough to handle the mixed units and normalize them?
the way I deal with metric is I open in in aspire with metric set on. then I copy it and paste it into a English version. well that's if you want to convert it. if you don't need to then just do as others say.