What wrenches is everyone using for tightening the spindle end mill?
Good question. I use a pair of adjustables which really aren’t suitable. I seem to remember someone had a design for some to be cut for 1/4" alu but can’t seem to find them.
There we go. Thanks @Eclsnowman I know what I’m cutting this weekend!
@Ben_Delarre this was the first thing I ever cut on my machine. If I wasn’t out on a job site posting from my phone I would make a few tweaks (corner clearances are a bit overboard).
I use a wrench set that inventables used to sell. They are just 1/4" aluminum. Should be easy enough to just cut some with your R7
Ok, is there some trick to this wrench? I’ve broken more bits than I care to admit trying to tune my R7 for 6061-T6 aluminum and cut it. My most recent cut attempt was with a 1/8 2 flute carbide square end mill @ 12500 rpm, 17.7 ipm feedrate, .02 in doc.
I’ve tried both 2D contouring and 2D adaptive toolpaths in Fusion360. I can’t seem to get more than 1-2mm into it before snapping a bit. It pretty much always snaps along one of the rounded corners on the inside of the wrench.
@Brandon_Byrne you could always do a drill operation in the problematic corners, then a mill of the perimeter using rest machining. You can also open up the radius or change the relief to minimize the extent of those reliefs hence your percentage of endmill engagement. The issue is you go from a standard tool engagement along the perimeter to a high % engagement in those pockets.
@Eclsnowman is that how you did the CAM for it? I’m curious if/how people have done a profile cut on this. I checked my x axis earlier after I had given up for the night and the lock nut on the lead screw had come loose and the acme had a bit of play. I’m wondering if that was enough flex it in those pockets and go boom.
Seems likely. You really want your machine dialled in tight for aluminum. And as Eric says those corners are very tight with high tool engagement. Aluminum is tricky, especially with the 3mm bits. The 4mm are much more forgiving.
This guy… @Eclsnowman Awesome>> Only thing that jumped out at me @Brandon_Byrne is the 2 flute thing.
Aluminum I have found single flutes are best for me.