PCD vs Solid Carbide, Router Bits, and Flute Designs: ‘A Guide to CNC Tooling’ | #MillingMonday

AXYZ have another fantastic blog post about “the world of CNC” as it relates to one of the features of CNC a lot of us spend a lot of time obsessing about: router bits!

In the world of CNC there are so many options to choose and when it comes to tool selection it is no different. Tool selection is critical when it comes to achieving a desired surface finish, tool life, or cut speed of a specific material. Tooling manufacturers go to great lengths to engineer tools to deal with specific aspects and properties of certain materials. Selecting the right tool for the job could determine whether a job fails or succeeds.

This blog discusses all aspects of CNC Tooling, helping you to become a tooling expert in no time.

Read more here.

General Tooling Recommendations

Finally, here are some general tooling recommendations that will provide a good starting point for cutter selection:

• Single Edge Router Bits: Use when speed is the primary consideration and edge quality is less important.
• Double Edge Router Bits: Use when edge quality is the primary consideration.
• Upcut Spiral Router Bits: Use for grooving, slotting or when fast chip removal is required.
• Spiral, Straight or Shear Router Bits: Use for natural woods, composites, particleboard, plywood or MDF.
• Spiral Router Bits: When finish and/or available horsepower are problems.
• Cutting Length: This is very important when demanding high edge quality. Use the shortest cutting length allowable, based on the material thickness. Using a tool with a cutting length that is longer than required can cause vibration, deflection and an inferior finish.
• Cut Length and Cut Diameter: In general, the cutting length should not be more than four times the cutting diameter.  Bits with a cutting length over four times their diameter will be subject to increased breakage.
• Cut Diameter: Use the largest tool diameter possible for the design to be cut for increased rigidity, quality finish and long tool life

Read more here.