Jon Elson wrote: > Andrew Ayre wrote: >> Sorry if this is a bit OT, but I'm stuck. I have EMC2 running and my CNC >> machine assembled and now it's time to try cutting. I want to focus on >> wax and wood and start with some pine. I'm using a Dremel for the spindle. >> >> I've been reading the CNC forums and various websites but I cannot >> figure out what kind of endmills I need. Can anyone give me some >> pointers? Is there a beginner's guide on the web somewhere? All I want >> to do at this stage is: >> >> - cut objects in pine >> >> - expect to break a few endmills so looking for cheap >> >> - want to avoid junk endmills >> >> - not sure when you would use a ballnose mill >> >> - difference between endmills for roughing and finishing >> >> I expect to be cutting parts that are perhaps 20 - 30mm on each side >> with the smallest feature perhaps 2mm. My scrap pine for testing is 3/4" >> thick so I guess I have to do some pocketing before cutting. > Well, the Dremel's collet and speed steer you to a smaller size > endmill. I used to get 1/8" 2 and 4-flute endmills in solid > carbide for about US $3.00. They probably are more, now. I > would buy them by the dozen at one of the eBay sellers like > Reliable End Mill, I think they are now Relaibel Tool. > > It may be in these materials, that standard Dremel router bits > would work fine, these should be available at hobby shops, > hardware stores, etc. In these sizes, you are not likely to > find roughing end mills. Ballnose mills are good for profiling > 3-D surfaces. You probably won't find junk in solid carbide. > There were some true junk in HSS end mills with 3/8" shanks, in > square blue plastic tubes with the size rubber stamped on a > paper label. These were the worst crap China ever made, and I'm > insulting the sight-impaired by saying they looked like they > were hand sharpened by an 80-year old blind man with shaky hands!
Thanks Jon for the information - now I know what to look for to get started. Of all the lists and forums I belong to, this one is the friendliest and provides the best information. Andy -- Andy PGP Key ID: 0xDC1B5864 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out the new SourceForge.net Marketplace. It's the best place to buy or sell services for just about anything Open Source. http://sourceforge.net/services/buy/index.php _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
