Tools for CNC Woodworking
The precision machining of wood, while fairly straightforward and well understood, presents a number of challenges to CNC operators that are not encountered when doing everything by hand. The first, and foremost, is the wide variability of cutting properties that can be encountered along a single piece of lumber. This has been largely accounted for through advancements in tool design, improvements in tool steels / carbides, and adaptive software that can maintain cutting properties through a wide range of wood densities. The second challenge, is the loss of tactile and auditory feedback. For years, experienced woodworkers have relied on the feel of vibrations in the timber and the sound of the teeth eating through the wood to tell them when the sharpness of the tool, the RPM and the feed rate were working together to produce the perfect cut. However, what automated systems offer to both amateur and professional woodworkers in terms of virtually total control of the machining process, more than makes up for this loss (in my opinion). With precision control of all aspects of the speed (RPM), feedrate and tool engagement empirical techniques can be used to develop cutting protocols that are both reliable and consistent across a wide range of material.
Deep cutting, 1/2 inch shank upcut end-mills optimized for shaping the sheet goods commonly used in the manufacture of dimensional signage, furniture and cabinetry. The flute geometry has been tuned to insure smooth cutting and low deflection under high chip loads.
Designed to work together, the fish tail bit is a high-performance roughing tool while the bull-nose and ball cutters are intended for clean-up and fine surface finishing. All of the bits can be used as stand-alone cutters for single pass, high-speed cutting and shaping .
Deep cutting, upcut and downcut 1/4 inch shank end-mills optimized for shaping the sheet goods commonly used in the manufacture of dimensional signage, furniture and cabinetry. The flute geometry has been tuned to insure smooth cutting and low deflection under high chip loads.
Designed to work together, the fish tail bit is a high-performance roughing tool while the bull-nose and ball cutters are intended for clean-up and fine surface finishing. All of the bits can be used as stand-alone cutters for single pass, high-speed cutting and shaping .
Designed specifically for the dimensional signage and engraving markets, 2-flute solid-carbide "V" cutters feature polished, high-rake cutting edges capable of producing a surface finish suitable for edge-lit transparent signs and plaques. Edge finishes in hardwood (maple, walnut, mahogany, cherry...) and softwoods are typically smooth and free of chatter.
High flute volume and precisely shaped ejection paths support high chiploads in a wide variety of sign making substrates. Precise "V" angle formation (±0.5°) permits either single-pass or multi-pass cutting without fear of steps or streaks
The 1/4 in. shank and 1.00 in. depth of cut (DOC) in in the CM304 and CM404 families are designed for deep machining in large format dimensional signage as well as very detailed carving of architectural components, back-lit lithophanes and other decorative items. The CM204 family features a 1.50 in. DOC for deeper cutting in HDU, WRC and other polular signage materials.
Although the geometry of these tools was optimized for cutting and shaping hardwoods, they are equally at home machining plastics, phenolic composites, unfired ceramics and aluminum.
Tool Family: MP104
The "O" flute geometry introduced more than a decade ago is one of the most efficient flute designs for cutting thermoplastics that has yet been invented. With a high rake angle and relatively low helix, O-flute cutters manage to cut acrylic, polycarbonate, ABS, PVC and a host of other sheet polymers at very high chiploads without raising a burr or fracturing the edges of the kerf. All of this while leaving a remarkably clean surface finish. The real surprise is that this revolutionary geometry also works incredibly well in wood and aluminum.
3-flute deep cutting end-mills designed for cutting hardwoods routinely used in musical instrument making and furniture fabrication. The flute geometry has been tuned to insure smooth cutting and low deflection under high chip loads.
1/8 in. shank, 1/4 in. head
Tool family: EM4E8
4-flute tools designed to produce chatter-free counter sunk holes with no edge fraying in most softwoods and hardwoods. The cutting edge geometry generates virtually zero lifting forces making the tools compatible with thin sheet goods.
Standard Length
This tool family combines large flute volumes and high-shear flute geometries to produce clean, chatter-free cuts in all woods and wood products. High feed-rates at moderate RPM (12K - 40K) offer significant productivity gains over conventional tooling.
Tool Families: MP103 & MP108
Optimized for high-speed cutting of soft words and low density wood composites. Originally designed for cutting thermoplastics, MicrO-flute bits excel at shaping balsa, spruce, and cedar, or any material that tends to fray or chip during machining.
High-rake 2-flute cutters optimized for cutting and shaping many softwoods and moderate hardness hardwoods. The flute geometry supports relatively high chip-loads and efficient swarf extraction.
High-rake 3-flute cutters originally designed for cutting fret slots and inlay pockets in musical instruments. Deflection tolerant design supports high chip-loads and deeper cutting than 2-flute designs.
The 1/8 in. dia. shank tools in this series have been optimized for single-pass and cleanup cutting in high resolution 3D carving applications where straight side walls are required.
Originally designed to meet the demands of cutting natural shell products like mother of pearl (MOP), conch and abalone, these tools have found widespread use in all aspects of precision inlay on musical instruments, custom pool cues, high-end cabinetry and custom furniture.
Extended Length
Utilizing the proven flute geometries, this family of tools feature aspect ratios (cutting length : cutting diameter) greater than 6 : 1. Large flute volumes and high-shear flute geometries produce clean, chatter-free cuts in all woods and wood products. They are specifically designed for applications that require deeper cutting than is possible with standard length tools.
High-rake 2-flute cutters optimized for cutting and shaping many softwoods and moderate hardness hardwoods. The flute geometry supports relatively high chip-loads and efficient swarf extraction.
High-rake 3-flute cutters designed for deep pocketing and cutting fret slots in radiused finger boards. Core design supports relatively high chip-loads with reduced deflection.
The tools in this series have been optimized for high resolution deep-relief 3D carving where straight side walls are required.
The 1/8 in. dia. shank tools in this series have been optimized for single-pass cleanup cutting in very deep relief high resolution 3D carving applications where straight side walls are required.
Designed by a corrosion chemist to:
· dissolve varnish and gummy deposits in the spindle bore
· loosen rust
· inhibit corrosion
in spindle bores and on collets and toolholders.
An effective solution for removing fuzz, fray, hair and splinters from 3D carvings and engravings in wood, composites and plastics. FuzzBrush is lightweight and comfortable to use.