My adventures in aluminum milling

[NeilFerreri1]

4.2mm DOC, 0.6mm Optimal Load, 1250mm/min feed (ramped up some during cut)

New video by Neil Ferreri

Here’s a similar one from the Carvey category (link to pics and videos in post):

Not rigid enough? working with 6061 Aluminum

If aluminum is your main work material, you’re going to be putting some serious time in. The machine is capable if it’s your option. As @Zach_Kaplan said, it’s all about the toolpaths. Here are some pics and video of a recent Aluminum/Carvey job. I ran this with a .125" spiral, single flute bit. Feed 250mm/min. Depth per pass was an experimental 3.5mm with an optimal load of 0.127mm. Generated in Fusion 360. I ended up stopping every once in a while to remove chips and, eventually, add so…

I’m no aluminum milling pro, but I’m learning that by having control over the toolpaths, these machines can do a lot.