[apples000]

So, our team is going to try making some parts on a CNC machine, and we were curious as to what speeds and feeds people have successfully used in the past. We are cutting a small plate of 7075 aluminum, and a larger plate of 6061.

Here's the setup I'm planning, but I have no idea if the numbers are right at all.

W're cutting 3/8" plate in three 1/8" passes with an HSS 3/16" 2 flute end mill using flood coolant. The CNC machine we're using isn't a super-heavy-duty one, but it isn't that wimpy either. We are considering going with a feedrate of 8 or so IPM, and a plunge rate of 5. The spindle rpm will be maxed at 5300 rpm, which I may decrease because I'm worried some aluminum will melt.

We're also curious as to how people make their toolpaths. We have MasterCAM, and a free solidworks plugin, and this is the first year we've used MasterCAM (we have just upgraded from x2 to X4). MasterCAM has many more features, but takes a little bit of getting used to. The software feels like with was written in the early 90's. The "undo" feature only works on certain things. You can't undo a change to a toolpath.

We plan on using climb milling, where outside cuts are clockwise, and inside cuts are counter clockwise (I think), but we'd like some input from other teams as to what works best.