I need to cut through ~1.5" of cured deep pour epoxy resin with a contour path and I’m not sure if it would be better to use an 1/4" O-flute or 3 or 4-flute uncut mill, or something else.
I’m already planning sanding and cleanup, but I’d rather not melt, crack or discolor it in any way.
Any recommendations?
Thanks!
I would go with the O-Flute. If you’re just trimming an edge use a contour path, but if you’re cutting a slot I would make a 0.300 wide slot & use a pocket program. This will give a little extra space for the chips to clear, and avoid full engagement on the the deeper cuts.
Double check the simulation to make sure it’s actually cutting 2 passes on the same level before stepping down to the next depth of cut. Sometimes it goes “depth first” then you get a fully engaged deep slot.
Ah, great suggestion - thanks! I’ve done that on some cutouts in wood (to ‘add rest machining’ to contour cuts) to accomplish some small detail areas, without running the smaller tool all the way around forever. I’m really glad you suggested that!
Also - thanks for confirming the O-flute!
How do I manage this within the toolpath or tool?
It’s a bug if it cuts more than one level without stepping over first.
I think you need to make the slot wider until it works correctly as a workaround. Or create a separate path for each level. Neither solution is ideal 
I see what you mean now. Yeah, it’s cutting the depth first with 0.30 offset. I’ll mess with it now that I know what to look for.
Thanks again - that could have been tragic.
When I experimented with this anything over 110% of the bit width would not step over properly.
Are you saying that an offset of 110% of the tool width still cut full depth, rather than finishing the complete shape before cutting deeper? If so, that’s the opposite of what I experienced.
For the shapes I’m cutting it wouldn’t switch to finishing the current depth, from cutting full depth, until I increased the offset to 0.51" for the 1/4" tool. The second shape had two narrow width full-depth cuts until I changed the offset to the same degree.
Above 110% it cut full depth before stepping over.
I wasn’t being too scientific about it but I had a larger pocket defined and the bit still cut as a slot until I decreased the size of the pocket.
This topic was automatically closed 30 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.