CNC Tooling

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by roystur44

I uploaded a machining calculator called ME consultant to the CD media section. It's a great simple freeware tool to find out basic speeds and feeds.

OK, so I finally downloaded ME Consultant, and I'm not sure that I'm understanding what I am seeing. The Help file doesn't open for me.

Referring to the image, can someone confirm for me that with the parameters shown (1/4" 4-flute HSS endmill cutting 6061 to a depth of about 1/8"), I should cut at about 72 IPM?

What do "Spindle %" and "Feed %" mean? I don't understand the percentage.

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On the topic of cooling, I went to Harbor Fright and bought an airbrush gun for $10. I ran the brush at about 20 PSI and it sprayed a nice fine mist of water (my test fluid), which I could vary from barely a mist to almost super-soaker level. The air action should blow away the chips from the cut, and the coolant will, um, cool it. I'm going to buy a gallon of Koolmist 77 from McMaster and see what it'll do with a scrap block of aluminum.