I have a shapeoko 3 with the carbide compact router. I have used this with wood no problem but I am needing to cut aluminum it has no coolant or air on it but it dose have a vacuum hooked up to it. I have attempted cutting but resulted in the bit getting clogged up. I am using a 2 flute 1/4 hss endmill on 1/8th thick soft aluminum it would be helpful to get some speeds and feeds.
Try a coated single flute.
See the videos at:
Not all Aluminiums cut the same. I would try aviation aluminium. Chips out nicely, others are gummy and clog the bits.
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I cut quite a bit of thin aluminum sheet and my recipe for success is using single flute endmills and opting for a shallower doc and bumping up the feed rate. I also just use my sweepy and shop vac, just make sure to bring your sweepy down as far as you can for optimal chip removal.
You can use lye to clean the alum off your clogged up bit. @wmoy has a video on youtube about cleaning your bits.
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