CNC build

[DangerousR6]

Um, maybe. But milling works pretty good by all accounts. Just takes a long time if you have the wrong bits.

Yes, tooling is key here in this instance. Your cutter is way too long, thus resulting in flexing and the need for slower feeds. You're in need of a stub length cutter for such an operation.

 

[DarkPenguin]

So it occurs to me that for more vertical travel one can just lift the machine up and drop the y axis ends.  Then just increase the z axis length.

 

[DarkPenguin]

Dual belted the x axis. Need to do some 3d printing to do the y axis belts.

Not sure I'm noticing a difference. Haven't tried aluminum yet, tho.

 

[DarkPenguin]

Seriously think out how to set a repeatable home if you do not have all the limit switches set up. A fretboard takes a while to make and there are multiple tool changes. Considering how flakey this can be it is best to do these as completely separate operations. The only issue is you can't lose your work position.

This is a particular problem when windows decides to update in the middle of cutting the fret slots.

The upshot is if things kill in the middle you can often sort through the gcode to find out where it left off and count the moves to get you back home. Then reverse them. (Don't do the Z axis. That can be reset.) Or if your starting point is easy to spot (the fretboard blank was wider than the fret slot I was cutting) you can reposition to that point, find the initial move to get to that point and reverse it.

 

[Cagey]

While Windows is much better than it used to be, it's still enough to piss off a saint sometimes.

 

[DarkPenguin]

Yep.

Also this is a really nice bit for milling fret slots. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007BTRL64

 

[DangerousR6]

Yep.

Also this is a really nice bit for milling fret slots. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007BTRL64

You'd be better off with a 2 flute stub end mill as such, and get HSS instead of carbide. The abrasiveness of wood will dull a carbide very quickly, and a 4 flute will load up too fast in softer materials as wood.
http://www.atlascuttingtools.com/products/0.031-Carbide-Micro-Size-End-Mill-2-Flute-Square-End-Stub.html?msclkid=510b9333875f15b3efd2c8964397a615

 

[DarkPenguin]

That's presumably why I have to run it so slow.

 

[DangerousR6]

That's presumably why I have to run it so slow.

That would be correct.. :icon_thumright: