Cut speeds in Baltic Birch plywood

[kencraft]

I am wondering if anyone is cutting Baltic Birch plywood with either a 1/4" or 3/8" spiral bit, and what speed they are using. I have been cutting using up spirals 1/8" deep per pass at 2 ips. Is anyone cutting faster and what bits are they using? Right now I cut using tabs vs onion skins.

[hh_woodworking]

I cut at the same speed but use down spirals. Tabs will slow the process down. cutting a 4" circle out of 1/4 plywood 1/8 cutter

[gabepari]

I cut 1/2" BB daily. Centurion 1/4" compression bit, 5ips 12k rpm. First pass .4" deep in climb direction, Second pass, .51" deep in conventional direction.

I have 15hp vacuum, so no tabs or skin.

Gabe

[kencraft]

Gabe,

How do you change the cut direction on the second pass. I see the check box for setting up the tool path. Do you use 2 separate paths or can you assign which direction per pass? Thanks for your help.

[gabepari]

I use two separate paths.

[coach]

I cut same speed as Gabe 5 ips on 1/2" and 3/4". I go half way thru each pass. I use a 63-123c from onsrud. I don't change directions.
I just started using this bit last week and it gives awesome results. I use 2 feins for vacuum and unless the parts are small I have no hold down issues. This bit is supposed to allow faster feed rates but I haven't tried speeding up yet.

[knight_toolworks]

the cut direction is with two toolpaths. that's the easy way to do it because you can set the depths you want. I use a climb cut to get a overlarge part then a regular cut for the cleanup pass.
why can't everyone give me bb or appleply to cut? everything else sucks.

[macmccraw8]

Why do you cut both directions.... i am thinking this could fix an issue I am having with not getting a perfect corner (bottom right) with a conventional cut.....but getting a perfect corner but rougher cut when using the climb setting.

[beacon14]

Two pass cutting is explained in great detail here (http://65.36.212.143/notes_from_the_sandbox.htm#Almost%20There)

[dlcw]

Ken,

I use a 1/4" compression at 16K rpm at 4ips. I set a pass depth to .25" and leave a .0156" skin for a final pass. The first passes I make climb cut and the final cut is conventional. With the climb cut the machine flexes away from the cut line. The final conventional cut pulls the bit back in right to the line and since there is so little to cut, there is little or no machine deflection. I just finished 15 sheets of 5/8" prefinished baltic birch and the cuts were excellent.

Don
222.diamondlakewoodworks.com