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Which router bit can i use to cut aluminium?
Hi,
I have a small Pacer CNC router that I’ve only ever used for cutting plastic or wood.
now i’d like to cut out some lettering out of 3mm aluminium. Could somebody recomend a router bit for this purpose and would I need to keep the cutter cool?
Many thanks,
Simon
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8 Replies
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From memory, we just used trend cutters, they have them for aluminum look on there web site, and used to cut in two or three passes, they kept it cool by blowing the cutter with compressed air, I know they now do mist cooling systems, but that was not an option at the time.. We were doing all the KIA car showrooms, but that died a death lol
Simon
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3mm slot drill will do for this in general. Use a High speed steel 2 flute if possible. Aluminium is generally soft and clogs the cutters , so a water soluble cutting fluid like Shell Dromus or BP diatsol (maybe the other way round re mnfgrs) will do well to clear the flutes. We use our ears to set speeds and feeds , IE if it sounds right when cutting , it is.
You can generally take a cut that is 1/2 the cutter diameter – IE a 3mm will easily do a 1.5mm cut.
The BEST stuff to use for aluminium is meths – but it’s toxic and its flamable – but if you use this when cutting you get a very fast cut and a very good edge.
The better aluminiums for cutting arent the the soft ones but rather the 5xxx/6xxx/7xxx harder range of alloys , tho some dont anodise well.
A titanium coated cutter is also an option , albeit its expensive. The biggest thing with any aluminium cutter is the back clearance , IE the clearance at the back of the cutting edge that ejects the shavings or swarf. More here is better. -
Thank you very much guys. :thumbup2:
Simon
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to be honest, i have never had much time to shop around for cutters.
we bought an AXYZ router years ago.. when i need engraving bits i call and they send me a “set” of 6, various sizes etc..
plastic and aluminum cutters i use 3mm, 4mm but mostly 6mm single flute cutters. I’m going to hold my hands up here, but… when cutting aluminum, rynabond etc i don’t lubricate the bit. i used too, but we started a guy and i never realized for 6 months he never lubricated the bit when cutting these materials… never did he break a bit nor burn them out very often… so i just went with it, as i hated the mess we got and cleaning was a bit annoying. we would lubricate engraving with white spirit though.
we really only use 2mm aluminum and do it in two passes at 1000 travel speed 550-600 plunge speed. if using 3mm diameter cutter then maybe 3 passes.I’m not sure the manufacturer of AXYZ cutters but i have never had any probs with theirs.
on another note, you can buy pre-painted aluminum sheets in various colours from amari plastics, think its called “signicolour” we buy in various colours and just cut letters from it and locate up.
another alternative we now use is dibond, alucolour, rynabond. 3mm and comes in various colours. saves lots of probs colouring and weighs a fraction of solid aluminum sheet. -
Cheers Robert,
the customer asked for chrome letters, I know how much of a pain steel is to cut so I suggested aluminium. I suppose I can get some sort of brushed aluminum sheet?
By the way this is for internal use and it will be standing of the wall using acrylic locators so I’ll need to find a decent adhesive to stick the two together.
Simon
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hi simon,
check this link to demo section, this is what i use to stick locators to alluminium letters and the like.https://www.uksignboards.com/viewtopic.php?t=1855
can i suggest you call europoint display and ask for samples of Leboard?
think it comes in 2&3mm it comes in a brushed alluminium finish with a sorta gloos film on it. real nice finish and only costs about £40 for an 8×4 foot sheet. very light too!heres a job i did with it a while back… though the picture isnt the best to show finish…
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Excellent stuff, just what I’m after!
I’ll give Europoint a call first thing in the morning.
Cheers for all your help!
Simon
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Rob , with a single flute 6mm cutter you can go crazy re the cut , if you have a cutter grinder just take a lot of the back away. you can EASILY go thru 5mm in a single pass (assuming you have a decent spindle like a 3hp perske or the like?)
I would have suggested single flute cutters , even 1/4 ground single flutes (that where the cutter isnt 1/2ed , its 1/4 ed) but you need a cutter grinder to make em.There is a VERY nice and elegant solution for chromed/mirror gold or silver letters (and for brush/stainless finishes too)
You get a material called anacoil used in the trophy industry for engraving plates , it comes in gold and silver and is 0.7mm mirror finished anodised aluminium , IE its like a mirror
Considering it IS alumninium , it has the same properties re weathering etc. you can get this stuff in big sheets dirt cheap.
Cut the letters in this with any 1/2 decent bit and use ANYTHING as a backing (we often use Perspex) and stick em on , the finish is superb and its very easy to stud or put locators on the back. (the material comes with a plastic sheet covering , cut thru this and only remove at the last)
For brush finish or Stainless , you get a similar material from wilsonart or one of the other formica suppliers – same thing as the anacoil but with other finishes – ideal for outside etc.
This way one can give the customer what they want in “metals” with the outdoor durability and not have to worry about cutting thru thick stuff.
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