Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: lumber60 on March 23, 2019, 04:31:13 PM

Title: router bits
Post by: lumber60 on March 23, 2019, 04:31:13 PM

ANY SUGGESTIONS ON ROUTER BITS FOR CUTTING IN MDF??

BULL/BALL NOSE AND END MILLS
1/4 SHANK

LUMBER60

Title: Re: router bits
Post by: ger21 on March 23, 2019, 04:46:30 PM

Depends on what you want to do with them.

For general cutting, I use a 2 flute downcut spiral bit.

Title: Re: router bits
Post by: lumber60 on March 23, 2019, 04:52:58 PM

Nothing special, where to buy, what brand! who has the best luck with what!
Just looking for pro's and cons, good luck, bad luck.

Just doing some carving and came across a need for some bull/ ball nose bits to try a different project setup.

lumber60

Title: Re: router bits
Post by: reuelt on March 23, 2019, 05:30:54 PM

In America start with bits made by
Whiteside USA router bits
https://www.whitesiderouterbits.com
In Australia
I would use Carbitools
You can change to lower cost brands once you know which shape/model dimension suits you.

In principle,
you need to calculate Spindle Speed and Feed Rate and depth of card for your material
by using a calculator say:
https://pub.pages.cba.mit.edu/feed_speeds/
MDF chipload is listed there.
After calculations, always do a test on scraps to confirm the CALCULATION is correct.

You already have excellent dust system (otherwise I would NOT cut/mill MDF).
Upgrade  to a VFD drive so that Spindle speed can also be controlled by S##### in Gcode.
If you use a router then a table of dial position vs estimated RPM is handy but RPM must be preset before running a job.

Reuel

Title: Re: router bits
Post by: lumber60 on March 23, 2019, 06:08:39 PM

Yes feeds and speeds .
I just wanted to get some input on bits and brands, success and failure on no brand in particular. 
Who is using what for what. Knowledge


lumber60

Title: Re: router bits
Post by: joeaverage on March 23, 2019, 06:31:58 PM

Hi,
one of the main uses I have for CNC is PCB isolation routing. While most people use engraving bits for the
purpose I prefer small diameter endmills. I have found an excellent supplier of quality tools (Kyocera Tycom
among others) of small diameter drills and endmills at very fair prices.

https://www.ebay.com/str/carbideplus (https://www.ebay.com/str/carbideplus)

Craig

Title: Re: router bits
Post by: reuelt on March 23, 2019, 06:59:32 PM

"no brand" ebay/amazon  two fluted TCT
1. 60deg v-carve bits (1/2" diameter 3/4" diameter or 1" diameter)
2. and most straight TCT bits
Are pretty OK.
(They are easy to make)

I do not have much success with cheap bull nose & spiral bits and precision endmills.

Title: Re: router bits
Post by: lumber60 on March 23, 2019, 07:01:10 PM

Thanks Craig,
That's exactly what i am looking for.

Title: Re: router bits
Post by: joeaverage on March 23, 2019, 07:22:26 PM

Hi lumber60,
drillman has quite a range of stuff but it is slanted to PCB manufacture, how much you will find of use for woodworking
purposes I don't know.

The quality and value of the tools he supplies means I keep going back, I've placed a dozen or so orders with him over
several years. His international freight is very reasonable.

I have bought a few Destiny Tools Raptor endmills from him, they are reasonably pricey being a named brand but they are the best
endmills I've ever used in steel, up to and including hardened and tempered (1100 MPa) 4340 chrome-moly steel.

I have also bought from Harvey Tools poly-crystalline diamond tools, very pricey and their international freight is a rippoff,
but great tools and a HUGE selection. I have also bought from Harvey Tools some of their DiBoride coated endmills,
best coating for sticky aluminum I've ever seen.

Craig

Title: Re: router bits
Post by: ger21 on March 23, 2019, 07:47:42 PM

Drillman on EBay for small bits.

Best bang for buck are Yonico on Amazon.
Amana or Whiteside for high quality.
Top of the line are Vortex and Onsrud.

Title: Re: router bits
Post by: joeaverage on March 23, 2019, 07:50:31 PM

Hi,

Quote

I do not have much success with cheap bull nose & spiral bits and precision endmills.

This too is my experience with cheap Chinese tools.

I realize now however that a part of that was my own fault. In particular I was very new to CNC, hence
I was buying cheap tools, but more importantly had but one high speed (24000 rpm) VFD spindle.

The challenge was to mill steels.
I had all sorts of battles and wrecking tools because I was spinning them way too fast.  I blamed the tools
being cheap and Chinese. As time went on and I started buying branded tools and especially since I made a second spindle
(3500 rpm at 6.2Nm cont) and now I can chew up steels, including hardened and tempered, up to the limits of
the rigidity of my machine.

Given my much improved understanding about the use of carbide tools in steels I think I would get much better results
with Chinese tools than I had initially. Having said that I have a Destiny Tools Raptor 1/4 endmill in my machine from
which I've had about 16 hours cutting in hardened and tempered 4340 and its still going. When I do replace it I wont be
buying cheap, I'm more than happy to buy another. I have no doubt that there are any number of high performing branded
tools on the market and I would be happy with most of them but NONE of them are cheap.

Craig

Title: Re: router bits
Post by: reuelt on March 23, 2019, 11:09:39 PM

Someone at Routerforum claimed that ARDEN from Taiwan (not mainland China) makes good router bits at (not so high) prices.
www.arden.com.tw/

I haven't used Arden myself since I prefer to buy more expensive bits from  Carbitools.