Routing steel

[Dean Fowell]

Has anyone done steel on the shopbot Alum or steel

[mikeacg]

Dean,

I once accidentally cut aluminum on my Buddy. I set the z too low and ended up cutting into the table (the old Buddys had a 2 foot aluminum table standard)! The machine didn't even slow down. I heard a different sound and looked over to see funny colored chips coming up through the cut but otherwise the machine handled it just fine. I saw a guy (Gary Spear - see below) cutting mild steel to make a 4-link rear end on one of the forums. I'll do a search...

Mike

Talk to Dana:
http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4637&highlight=rear

and Gary Spear:

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=891&highlight=rear

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/pro70z28/media/CamaroRollerrearlow.jpg.html

[Brady Watson]

Aluminum is no problem, provided that you make proper provisions for cutting it. Cutting .040 AL sheet is one thing; Cutting thick AL bar is another. The SB is a light machine, unlike a cast iron milling machine, and you have to keep this in mind. Also on thicker parts the material gets heat soaked and deep cuts make it hard to use air coolant. Most jobs don't require any coolant at all.

Steel is a whole different game. It is best cut with some lubricant and/or liquid coolant at low spindle RPM. Most milling machines max out between 4,000 & 6,000 RPM, and these higher speeds are really better suited for cutting softer alloys like AL and magnesium. Steel is usually under 2,000 RPM depending on cutter size & SFM required.

You can get away with cutting steel sheet metal on the bot with some well thought out programming and the proper tooling. There have been some that have cut thicker materials like 1/2"+ bar etc, but because of the SB being so light, the depth of cut was limited to around .003-.005 deep per pass, which is painfully slow. Can you dig a house foundation with a soup spoon? Yes. Is it the right tool for the job? No.

I'm not sure what your requirements are for your project, but you might also want to consider something like an aluminum composite, like DiBond or similar, rather than pure AL.

-B

[Simops]

I cut aluminium but only what I need for prototyping and small jobs that need to be done quickly. The speeds and feeds have to be just right especially if cutting with a 1/8" bit.....otherwise be prepared for breakages.
The grade of aluminium also effects the quality and ease of cut.

One offs or small runs OK but when I need to do a lot of parts or thick parts in al or steel I still use the Laser Cutting business that I've used for past 10 years! Just email my DXF file and pick it up week later. (Be nice to be able to fit a laser cutter head to the Bot ....if it was viably possible.....don't think it is yet!!!)

Cheers