On Friday 18 June 2010, Shaffin Bhanji wrote: >Hello, > >I am working on cutting and etching on aluminum, due to very fine detail >work I have resorted to using a Dremel tool (with 1/8" shank) on my CNC, >has anyone had any success using a Dremel tool to work on aluminum? If >so, can you recommend where to get some good 1/8" shank end mills for >cutting and etching on aluminum. > >Thanks, >Shaffin.
Don't waste your time with a Dremel, it has a floating in rubber collet assembly that is not rigidly connected to the motor shaft, and one can usually insert a 1" long bit, put a dial indicator on the side of it and wiggle it at least 1/16". Without moving the Dremel at all. Black & Decker has an Orange lookalike that is a lot more rigid, but I believe the Proxxon (sp?) is probably the best of those from what I read. I have one of the B&D's but have not used it as a milling spindle yet. Check the catalog at Hemley.com, they seem to have, for more normal bits, a decent selection, at decent prices for solid carbide stuff, and in ALU, carbide is almost required, as is some sort of a method to keep the surface wetted so the air cannot get to the ALU until you are done. ALU becomes coated with its own oxide, the 2nd hardest substance on the planet, in under .001 seconds after the cutting edge of the bit has passed and exposed fresh surface. So unless the surface is coated with oil, and the bit is not throwing it away, bit wear is high. The alternative is to cut at high motion speeds, but none of the above have the moxy to cut at 20 IPM -- Cheers, Gene "There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order." -Ed Howdershelt (Author) I don't understand you anymore. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ThinkGeek and WIRED's GeekDad team up for the Ultimate GeekDad Father's Day Giveaway. ONE MASSIVE PRIZE to the lucky parental unit. See the prize list and enter to win: http://p.sf.net/sfu/thinkgeek-promo _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
