I previously worked for one of your competitors, DSM/ERTA, when they had an Exton PA facility. There I machined prototypes from various thermoplastics and composites. Since we formulated and produced our own materials, each composite had it's own unique machining properties. For the type of composite you describe the general rule was to rough with carbide insert tooling and finish with diamond. We had a difference of opinions internally as to the application of coolant. I would always use flood while another programmer would always run without. (He didn't like to clean up the wet chips) Speeds and feeds would greatly vary with the individual materials. Generally we were quite "aggressive" with the roughing. �
============================================= Fred Lauzus, CAM Programming Coordinator High Steel Structures, Incorporated mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.highsteel.com ============================================= -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2001 9:04 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [mfg-smartcam] machining abrasive plastics Good Morning, Does anyone have any experience machining abrasive plastics? My new company manufactures and molds is own proprietary polymer composites, most of which are extremely hard and abrasive. The worst I've seen so far is a carbon-fiber laminate that grinds down carbide like it was held against a diamond wheel. I've ordered some laser-coated carbide mills to try, and I know PCD will do it, but the cost of PCD is a big factor. Any suggestions for tooling, speeds and feeds, etc.? Robert T. Callahan Greene, Tweed & Co. CNC Programmer Corporate Manufacturing [EMAIL PROTECTED] ====================================================================== To find out more about this mailing list including how to unsubscribe, send the message "info mfg-smartcam" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ====================================================================== ====================================================================== To find out more about this mailing list including how to unsubscribe, send the message "info mfg-smartcam" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ======================================================================
