I’m cutting the following pocket in maple and each time the machine made it’s step over and engaged more material it would shudder (this was felt by placing my hand on the y-axis gantry as well heard audibly).
I’m using a Amana Tool 46202-K 0.25" downcut end mill. My I’m using 3D Adaptive Clearing tool path with feeds and speeds are set as follows:
RPM: 18,000 (Setting 2 on my DeWalt)
Feed rate: 32 ipm
Chipload: 0.001"
I’m thinking I may have set the Optimal Load and Maximum Roughing Stepdown too large but I’m not sure which one I should reduce. My first instinct is to reduce the Maximum Roughing Stepdown.
Your first instinct sounds right to me. I would also make a couple other changes. I would reduce your stepdown (maybe 50%-80% of what it is currently) and increase your optimal load and chipload. I would shoot for at least a 0.002" chipload. I would do a stepover of 75%. Our desktop class machines work best with low stepdown and high radial load.
@nwallace I reduced the step-down by 50% as you suggested, didn’t increase the chipload as I wanted to see how much of a difference this made. The shudder was reduced but didn’t go away completely.
Last evening I switched from climb milling to conventional and the shudder went away completely, so I’m going to stick with that I think.
