[ronateah]

I need help.

I built a 24 X 60 X 12 inch router. I am using a 2HP bosch router and I am planning on working in ceder, oak and maple. I am using Artcam for my design work. This is a totally new frontier for me. I have obsessed about building this router for 20 years. I have finally built the unit and now going about the process of

1/ learning the software and
2/ optimizing the process of building stuff.

So far I have done some 2 1/2 D signs in Cedar but I am clearly having some difficulty with router bits. The common bits used with a hand held are not cutting it. What would be a good resource for bit selection and what could you recommend for my router bit arsenal.

[Haydn]

Sorry I can't tell you where to get them in Canada, but what you need are spiral fluted cutters, prefereably tungsten carbide.

https://www.wealdentool.com/acatalog...Fluted_31.html

Thats a link to a catalogue page of the company I buy from in the UK (just to give you an idea what I mean).

You should use up cut spiral for chip clearance (routing channels etc). Made sure your hold down is good as the work piece may be inclined to lift due to the up spiral. Use down spiral for clean edge finishes.

You can also get these in ball nose cutters, good for carving etc.

Carbide spiral cutters arent cheap so I'd say buy what you need when you need it rather than buying a load and not using many of them.

The ones I use commonly are 1/8", 1/4, 3/8, 1/2" dia straights
I also use 1/8", 1/4 and 3/8 ball nose.
A V groover is useful for carving/engraving

Hope this helps

[Ringleboy26]

There is a company in my town that is specialized in making cnc router bits. Their website is www.vortextool.com. From what I hear it is some of the best woodcutting tools around.

[Haydn]

Found this, may be of help

http://www.sharpco.ca/

[ger21]

If you buy from Vortex, you'll get a 30% discount when buying in quantities of 3, sometimes 2. Just add the quantity to your shopping cart to see the discount. They are very competitively priced with the discount, and are very high quality tools. We use them exclusively in our shop. They'll resharpen them, too.

[ger21]

The common bits used with a hand held are not cutting it.

This could be due to improper feed and spindle speeds. What tools are you currently using, how fast are you cutting and what spindle speed? And what materials are you having problems with, and what types of problems?

[ronateah]

gerry

So far I have done a few 3D routing projects in Cedar. I have used a ball nose bit at 100 inches a min. the ball nose was not a spiral up cut bit and limited depth 0.25 inch. I think my spindle speed is about 15000. I have no experiance with this and I am trying to figure out the best approach to optimize machining time. I would really appreciate some advice on this.

Thanks

Ron

[Haydn]

Does the cutter clog up with resin? If it does clean it off (cellulose thinners is good for this), apply some ptfe dry lube to the cutter to help limit resin build up. Your cutters need to be sharp. As a rule (depends on HP of spindle) you should only go for a cut depth of half the diameter of the cutter. Try putting the spindle speed up if its variable speed, most variable wood routers go from 10,000 to 23000 rpm. The biggest cause of premature failure of spiral cutters is insufficient feed rates, my supplier recommends 10m per minute which is out of the range of most affordable cnc machines, I can feed at this sort of speed om my Wadkin pin router but thats manual and 10HP spindle.

If your cutters are going black/brown then you need to experiment as this is resin build up which causes heating of the cutter and the problem worsens. Clean them, sharpen them, dry lube them and up the spindle speed.

Here is a link to Trend cutting tools speed data

http://www.trendmachinery.co.uk/saferouting/#speed

[ger21]

Can you post a pic or explain the problem better? Soft woods like cedar can be difficult to cut without the tool tearing the wood. try to cut with the grain, and the tool must be like new sharp. Also, if there's any buildup on the tool, clean it. Clean tools will stay sharper longer.

[ctllc]

Try Centurion Tools. In the process of creating a new web site, Can sell over the phone until the web site is up next month. Have most cutters people are looking for, but no "O" flute cutters. Currently have tools running in many furniture manufacturing companies. www.centuriontools.com

I need help.

I built a 24 X 60 X 12 inch router. I am using a 2HP bosch router and I am planning on working in ceder, oak and maple. I am using Artcam for my design work. This is a totally new frontier for me. I have obsessed about building this router for 20 years. I have finally built the unit and now going about the process of

1/ learning the software and
2/ optimizing the process of building stuff.

So far I have done some 2 1/2 D signs in Cedar but I am clearly having some difficulty with router bits. The common bits used with a hand held are not cutting it. What would be a good resource for bit selection and what could you recommend for my router bit arsenal.

[EStegall]

I have been using Integra Tooling for about 6 years, now. Brian is terrific, and knowledgeable. He will work through any issues you have and drop ship if need be. They are just great. The quality is excellent and the pricing cannot be beat.

www.integratooling.com

[nathant]

Hey ronateah, I may be coming in a little late on this one, but I work at a Canadian tool store that's got a pretty good selection when it comes to router bits (http://www.kmstools.com/woodworking-...ters-23060800/).

The woodworking guys tell me that Freud would be a good way to go as they last a lot longer.

I need help.

I built a 24 X 60 X 12 inch router. I am using a 2HP bosch router and I am planning on working in ceder, oak and maple. I am using Artcam for my design work. This is a totally new frontier for me. I have obsessed about building this router for 20 years. I have finally built the unit and now going about the process of

1/ learning the software and
2/ optimizing the process of building stuff.

So far I have done some 2 1/2 D signs in Cedar but I am clearly having some difficulty with router bits. The common bits used with a hand held are not cutting it. What would be a good resource for bit selection and what could you recommend for my router bit arsenal.

[HomerSimpson]

I just finished my cnc router build and was talking to one of the experienced model makers in our model shop at work about what end mills to purchase. He said that:

1) to work with wood, you need a much steeper angle on the cutting edge. For steel this might be <15deg or so, for plastic <30 but for wood it wants to be 40-50deg.
2) he said that if you use the shallower angle bits, at the speeds that routers operate at (8000 to 25000 rpm), then they will build up with the resins in the wood, sticking to the bit, and at these high speeds will heat up and anneal the steel, which causes it to get soft, and therefore dull very quickly.

Need to buy bits designed for wood but I'm struggling to find a good source for bits/end mills. Anyone have more suggestions?

[ger21]

There are several threads from the last few months that listed many suppliers. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any with a quick look.

then they will build up with the resins in the wood, sticking to the bit, and at these high speeds will heat up and anneal the steel

You really only want to use carbide bits with wood, as steel dulls very quickly. Also, resin buildup is only a problem when cutting softwoods like pine, or some plywoods. The key to keeping heat down is to run at the proper feedrate for the rpm you're using.

Here's a few suppliers.

www.eagleamerica.com
www.vortextool.com
www.onsrud.com
http://www.discount-tools.com/endmills/3915.cfm
http://www.centuriontools.com/
http://www.american-carbide.com/Woodworking/RB.php

[Mike 1948]

I use these, they are not the cheapest but hold up very well.

http://www.beckwithdecor.com/index_files/Cutters.htm

FYI for finish 3D cuts I "normally" run a 1/8 dia ball @ 20,000 rpm with .010-.015 stepover. Feed at about 100 IPM, depth around .75 max. Many times I don't need to use a roughing cut. Saves alot of machine time.

Have Fun
Mike

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