Bit for Aluminum

[SE SignSupply]

Anyone have a recommendation for a bit that will cut .040/.063/.080 aluminum with a baked on enamel, cleanly, for more than a few feet?

We are currently using a Colex HF router and their 532 bit. Our cuts start out looking great, but after a few feet of cutting the baked enamel starts to pull up from the edges rather than cutting cleanly. Anyone have a bit that works well on white/white aluminum sheets? We get great edges on ACM but struggle with solid aluminum sheets.

Thanks!

 

[JBurton]

You need coolant/lubricant if you want to cut any appreciable amount of aluminum. In a pinch, you could stand there with a bottle of alcohol and spray a stream on the bit and it'll do fine. This company makes add on misters that work fine, plane and simple setup, or you could tie it to the cnc for automated on/off, but that's a great deal of extra work.

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[Print1]

Anyone have a recommendation for a bit that will cut .040/.063/.080 aluminum with a baked on enamel, cleanly, for more than a few feet?

We are currently using a Colex HF router and their 532 bit. Our cuts start out looking great, but after a few feet of cutting the baked enamel starts to pull up from the edges rather than cutting cleanly. Anyone have a bit that works well on white/white aluminum sheets? We get great edges on ACM but struggle with solid aluminum sheets.

Thanks!

532 is not the proper bjt for this application on the colex. You’ll want to use the 4mm 530. The other option is to use a downcut bit to force the enamel down vs pulling it up with a standard up it.
We train, service and support colex cutters should you need any information regarding your machine we can help

 

[MikePro]

your upcut bit for aluminum may still work, if you can just simply route with enamel side face-down. you can always protect the face with some transfer mask if sliding-around your finished surface on a router table feels sketchy.

 

[SE SignSupply]

532 is not the proper bjt for this application on the colex. You’ll want to use the 4mm 530. The other option is to use a downcut bit to force the enamel down vs pulling it up with a standard up it.
We train, service and support colex cutters should you need any information regarding your machine we can help

Jim,

Thanks for the advise! Looks like the same bit, just 4mm vs 6mm cutting?

I think you actually did our Colex training when we got the table? Glad to see you are doing well!

 

[SE SignSupply]

your upcut bit for aluminum may still work, if you can just simply route with enamel side face-down. you can always protect the face with some transfer mask if sliding-around your finished surface on a router table feels sketchy.

We normally have prints on the aluminum, so normally routing face side up. But that's great advise for non-printed sheets.

 

[SE SignSupply]

You need coolant/lubricant if you want to cut any appreciable amount of aluminum. In a pinch, you could stand there with a bottle of alcohol and spray a stream on the bit and it'll do fine. This company makes add on misters that work fine, plane and simple setup, or you could tie it to the cnc for automated on/off, but that's a great deal of extra work.

Kool Mist - Spray Mist Coolant Systems, metal cooling system, Mill Coolant, Tool Coolant, Lathe Coolant, Machining Coolant, Flood Cooling

Call 562 246 0949 - Kool Mist manufactures portable spray mist cooling systems ideal for Mill Coolant, Flood Cooling tool Coolant, Lathe Coolant, Machining Coolant, and mill coolant for parts made from metal, wood, plastic and fiberglass. The Kool Mist system removes heat, allows improved...

koolmist.com

We have a belt fed machine so I was trying to avoid wet cutting.

 

[JBurton]

In my humble opinion, don't cut aluminum on a belt fed machine. No sense in mucking up a high precision machine with chips. Pick up a cheap router and use it for that purpose, keep your finishing equipment primed and ready for finishing.

 

[John Miller]

Check out Tools today. Single flute spectra bits. No liquid lube. 18000rpm 72-100 ipm We cut up to 3/4, just do it in multiple passes. Remember, never make a cut equal or larger than the diameter of the bit.

 

[JBurton]

Check out Tools today. Single flute spectra bits. No liquid lube. 18000rpm 72-100 ipm We cut up to 3/4, just do it in multiple passes. Remember, never make a cut equal or larger than the diameter of the bit.

Got a part number for a recommended .125" or .25" bit for aluminum. I'd love to blow through .125" aluminum at 72" single pass.