Feeds and speed button

[Will Williamson]

Has anyone, suggested, adding a chip load calculator to the software?
If not, I will now. We need a chip load button.

[Will Williamson]

As part of the tool data base , I suppose.

[Adrian]

I have the shopbot one on my gadget menu. It's a simple thing to add any of the downloadable chipload programs to the gadgets menu and if anyone felt so inclined they could write a native gadget.

[Leo]

I am not that kind of a programmer, but is "seems" like a pretty easy add in.

Most of the information is already in the tool database.

May need to add in -- number of flutes field ---- chipload field --- SFM field.

Feed and RPM would be calculated. Plunge would be 50% of feed.

I think it would be a nice to have item, and be dependent on the priorities at Vectric.

[Will Williamson]

Yes Leo, that is what I was thinking.
Obviously, there is a need, in light of the ridiculous, feeds and speeds, I see suggested on here. Mostly way too slow.
Proper feeds and speeds are critical to the operation of the machine.
When the tool starts heating up , the heat travels up the spindle.
and pretty soon the spindle is so hot you can't touch it.
Some how, speed and feed suggestions. are perceived as being in a hurry.
Most small machine, with limited feed rates, could benefit from single edge tooling.

[Adrian]

Don't forget that a lot of people who post here have small, hobby type machines and there is no way they can use the rates I do on my Shopbot Alpha let alone the ones you would use on your Thermwood machine.

My first machine was a small, home made hobby one and cutting any deeper than an 1/8" of an inch or feeding faster than 2ipm in anything other than foam would have it bogging down and losing steps. The issues most people have with these types of machine is not being able to adjust the RPM so they can never really get close to the suggested chip loads anyway.

[ger21]

Also keep in mind that the best chip load for optimal tool life can be vastly different from the chip load that gives the best quality finish.

When I'm cutting cabinet parts, I cut as fast as the tool will allow.
When I'm cutting mouldings, I cut as fast as I can while still maintaining a high quality finish.

[Will Williamson]

I run tooling from 1/64" to 3" I do not see a chart any where.
That will cover all the styles of cutters and different diameters.
Where as Vectric's tool data base already has the tool descriptions, all we need is a feed and speed button
I do work, of the highest level of quality and fastest speed of production.
I need this software, to support me, at that level.

[Leo]

When the tool starts heating up , the heat travels up the spindle.
and pretty soon the spindle is so hot you can't touch it.

That puts up RED FLAG in my mind.

If you are generating so much heat that the heat is going up into the spindle and you cannot touch the spindle due to heat - you have some other problem and there is a risk of fire on the wood you are cutting. You cutter must be glowing - or you are exaggerating.

Getting a chipload calculator into the tool data base is not going to help THAT issue.
Like I said - it is a nice to have - meaning - it is a low level want.

More than all of these things

You must learn about

1) understanding cutting condition,
feeds and speeds
chipload
cutter geometry
material being cut
Depth of Cut
Stepover
2) how and why heat is building up in the spindle
3) spindle cooling

Now I need to ask a few questions

1) What is your spindle RPM
2) What sort of cooling does your spindle use
3) What cutters are you using
4) what is your spindle
6) What material are you cutting

Lets start there and try to help you through this.

Finding the correct RPM and Feedrate for optimal cutting is not so difficult, but there is a little technical information needed.
We can help you through this.

BUT - if your spindle is getting that hot - there is a BIG problem somewhere.
I don't see that as a cutting conditions issue.

Every machine is different and every process operation is different
Cutting conditions need to be tailored to the individual application
This is one reason why trying to get this information onto the tool database is not really a solution to a problem.

[Leo]

I run tooling from 1/64" to 3" I do not see a chart any where.
That will cover all the styles of cutters and different diameters.
Where as Vectric's tool data base already has the tool descriptions, all we need is a feed and speed button
I do work, of the highest level of quality and fastest speed of production.
I need this software, to support me, at that level.

All of this can be achieved. The chart, the cutter styles, different diameters.
You CAN have your cake and EAT it too.

You can list your cutters on a spreadsheet and do a little research with cutter manufacturers for chipload and feed.
They will give you a range of Chiploads and SFM's for the individual materials you want to cut.
Then with the information provided you can set up a spreadsheet to calculate the RPM and feedrate for each cutter in your list.
Take that information and set up your tool database, based on your spreadsheet calculations.

Online searches to do RPM calculations or Chipload calculations will provide all the math you need -- OR -- someone here can help you with that.

Additionally, the work you do will help to decide the speed you need to run.

Personally, I do NOT go as fast as I can go. My machine is capably of 25,000 RPM and 500-600 IPM, but I like 12,000 - 15,000 RPM and 100-250 IPM. I do not need to push my machine really fast, not even on a job where I am getting paid.

However, if I was in an environment whereas I needed to be in a high production mode, then speed is an issue.

These are things to consider when calculating cutting conditions.

Lets get a little more specific about what you need and we can help you through this.

What is your material being cut - please don't just say wood - what kind of wood - perhaps Aluminum, brass, hard plastic, soft plastic, etc.

What cutters do you need help with?

Include the number of flutes.

What spindle do you have?

What is your machine - axis drive motors, etc

What do you have for work holding, clamps, vacuum table, etc.

I have some information to help with the cutting parameters and chiploads from several tool manufacturers.

We cannot solve anything with generalities, you use cutters 1/64 to 3". That's good, but not enough to work with.

I can pretty much guarantee that you will not get a button in the tool database within the next 3-4 years if at all.
BUT, that is really NOT a problem.

[ger21]

When the tool starts heating up , the heat travels up the spindle.
and pretty soon the spindle is so hot you can't touch it.

If this is on a Thermwood, you have bigger problems than speeds and feeds. The tool should never be able to heat the spindlle that hot.

I can run our Morbidelli all day long, and the tool ( and spindle) will be barely warm.

Most major tool manufacturers provide chip load charts and formulas to calculate feeds and speeds.

[Will Williamson]

I think you all misunderstood, I don't have any issues with my Thermwood, We have been together for 10 years.
It run like a dream. Truly, is a high performance cutting machine.
I do the math, for feed rates, on my unusual cutting situations. For everything else, I have a feed rate over ride on front panel.
So as you know, where I am at. I have 45 years in the trade. 25 designing ornamental wood work and running CNC.
The post was to make a suggestion, for software improvement.
Are there other ways, to make suggestions for software improvements?

[Will Williamson]

Ger 21 I see you are not far from me. I would like to meet you sometime. Did I meet you and your wife in Millington at a Vectric get together, a few years ago ?

[ger21]

Did I meet you and your wife in Millington at a Vectric get together, a few years ago ?

Nope, wasn't me.
Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of free time these days... But if I plan on being up your way, and have some time, I'll let you know.