Step 3 - Milling the piece

Step 3: Step 3 - Milling the piece

Upload the stl file i included into the CAM program (I used Cut 3D)

The settings I used in Cut 3D were:

.5in End Mill
Speed 5000 rpm
Feed 7 inches/min
Stepover: .2in
Plunge depth .1in (to ensure three passes)
Plunge rate 2 in/min
Origin to xyz at top left corner

I only used a roughing pass and set the machining tolerance to .0001 The fine tool-pathing is unsuitable for this project.

Start off slow, find your z0 using the paper method and begin with an airpass. Go to z+4.0 (Gcode is g0z4) and set z to zero. Then run your program once all the way through to be sure you have everything correct. This will run your program 4 inches above your piece.

Bring it back to z0 and set it to the proper z value as z4 again.

You are ready to run your first toolpath. Start it off slow at 50% override and as things look good you can slowly raise it back up to 100%.

If you have managed to make it through all 6 faces and did not mess up congrats! You have achieved the basic machining skills to be very successful in future projects!