Without a finishing pass things might be off by 0.3mm or so, depending on your build, speeds etc. Should not be a problem with those conservative DOC settings, but you never know.
Downcut will be your downfall, if you allow the wordplay. It compacts the chips in the slot, leading to recutting, hot endmill, failing endmill, especially with those 18mm deep cuts. The MDF for the struts should be okay though. Downcut endmills are hard to use.
And that’s why you might need a finishing pass, if there is play…
Tonight’s results::
Found a nut missing on the back of the tool mount, fixed spindle all nice and tight now.
Actually made my first cuts had a few set backs but got one strut cut on the third try. First problem was the surge protector I am using was not strong enough and tripped halfway through the first cut. The second attempt I did not start far enough away from the failed cut so had to stop it and start over.
Things I found that need fixed:
The core has give in the bottom when it tries to plunge the tool and the roller bearings on the core are free spinning showing it to be loose. Got to go back through the assembly instructions to find which bolt to tighten to correct that.
Need to add some height to the travel height, it hit the workpiece towards the back of the table. Could be the table itself or not having a full sheet of plywood not fastened in the middle to hold it to the spoil board tight.
Really really need dust collection working.
Overall it worked and cut!!!
I just noticed a plug in one of the photos does anyone know what this is and where to get it? I have been trying to figure out how to get power to the machine for it and the router, this is the answer I just never noticed it.
I run an extension cord up, then plug in my router and board power supply. Slightly cleaner, and I tend to do a lot of random testing…lasers, LEDs, that sort of thing
I get that but I was actually curious where you found that, I can only find extension cords designed like that with two prong plug ins not the grounded three prong one. Also do you have any problems with overload? Reason for that question is when I was cutting my struts I tripped the overload on a outlet strip twice. After that I went to a much bigger outlet strip and have not had a problem. Three prong multi plug with a flat cord priceless!!
Well forward progress made this weekend. Struts cut post process finishing and fitment done, painted, and installed. The top and bottom slots would not fit, the screws and the keyhole slots would not go over the screw heads. I am chalking that up to being new to this whole thing, and that the machine is probably not dialed in and adjusted yet. The machine is back together!! During the process of putting it back together I found the core bottom bearings pretty loose I could move the sides up and down a little, tightened the bottom bearing nuts and took care of that. I hope that is what was affecting my slight movement/flexing of the bit when cutting I mentioned before. I need to finalize my wiring and get some dust collection going and then it is off to the races!!
No overload issues I have a short cord with the thicker wires. All the hardware stores around here seem to have them.
That is pretty ideal. Put it together with the lightest of touches, run it a bit and let things settle and slowly slowly add tension, run it a few times and check again. Ideal tension is far better than too tight. Always best to sneak up on it for Core tension.
