last straw for me

[Pratyeka]

Well I should have known better than to try carving a 17hrs project into .75" red oak on ultimate setting. The project was to be a pharao's head in three slices .74" deep carve in a 36" by 14.5" red oak board. Brand new 1/16" carving bit with TiN coating. 1/3 into the carving, I heard the machine stop. One look and I see the carving bit has turned black, the smell of slightly burnt wood, and the Y axis stall message...

Am I asking too much from this machine? Is pine and cedar the hardest this machine can reliably carve for long projects? 5 hrs and a brand new TiN plated carving bit is burned???

[dbfletcher]

Pratyeka,

Not to change the subject.. but aren't you the one who is building their own 3 axis carver based on plans from the internet?

If so, is there a website you are using to document your progress? I would love to follow that project and someday down the road I plan on attempting it myself.

Also, I think it was on Jeff Birts website then the TN coating does extend the life... but it also slighly dulls the bit from the get go too... so you end up with a longest lasting slightly dull bit that a brand new super sharp uncoated bit. If you want to see the link, I'll dig it up again.

Thanks,

Doug Fletcher

Edit: My bad. Jeff talks about ZrN - Zirconium nitride coating on his website. Here is that link: http://soigeneris.com/glossary.aspx

[eromran]

Pratyeka,

Not to change the subject.. but aren't you the one who is building their own 3 axis carver based on plans from the internet?

If so, is there a website you are using to document your progress? I would love to follow that project and someday down the road I plan on attempting it myself.

Also, I think it was on Jeff Birts website then the TN coating does extend the life... but it also slighly dulls the bit from the get go too... so you end up with a longest lasting slightly dull bit that a brand new super sharp uncoated bit. If you want to see the link, I'll dig it up again.

Thanks,

Doug Fletcher

Edit: My bad. Jeff talks about ZrN - Zirconium nitride coating on his website. Here is that link: http://soigeneris.com/glossary.aspx

If you are wanting to build your own GOOGLE "joe's 4x4 hybrid" you will be amazed what you can build for 2000 lots of info simalar to shopbot but you build it your self then it buildes the next one !!!

[dbfletcher]

I'll will look that up.. but i could have sworn I've seen posts for buidling a fully functional 24x48 3 axis machine in the range of $700-$1000.

Doug Fletcher

[eromran]

I'll will look that up.. but i could have sworn I've seen posts for buidling a fully functional 24x48 3 axis machine in the range of $700-$1000.

Doug Fletcher

I wasn't saying you could not build one cheaper but look what 2 gets you. No kind of machining or welding ether

[unitedcases]

I remember one time when I started getting that smell as well. The RPM sensor was acting up and I probably had a dull bit. Rons bits are 4 fluted but if you do the easy off oven trick then usually there isnt any built up pitch. I only respond because the only projects that I do are 4 and 5 hours long and I only carve in red oak. I do stop every hour to vacuum just because I am not as advanced as everyone else.

[liquidguitars]

I noticed some burning 2, version 1.153, could be the raster bit is coming in a little hot and moving y a millisecond to soon after the plunge. However i not a big fan of the aftermarket bits and at this point i like the stock 1/16 LHR bit better more carbide to chuck with cut less burning.

TiN coating

He is going to run in the same issues with a home built that is if he can get his raster algorithm to copy the carvewright system. Not sure if the TiN coating has any negative impact as far as wood go. Jeff B could have some idea why one would choose plasma coating " better for plastic?" as he offers this option on his store.

Also something to think about is if your bit is a 4 flute of 3 flute and the length of the cutter and it's taper..

LG

[Rick P]

Pratyeka,
...back to your original post ... I would guess the coating was the culprit in your project. I have carved in red oak for over 6 hours with the original CW bit with no problems. I like the carving bit from Ron Justice even better.

When I worked at 3M we were always looking for "coatings" to extend life of injection molding machine parts. We never found any that would last long enough to be worth the added cost. Selecting the type of base metal and part design were the best ways to extend life. We were running abrasive materials through the molding machines...wood acts like an abrasive on the bits.

[Pratyeka]

The last 2 bits that burned were bought from Jeff. I mentioned TiN because that's what I remember, but not sure. They have that gold look. At $40 each, I would expect them to last at least 100 hours, in any wood. As such, they are not worth the price. I test the sharpness of each bit as I receive them, fingernail test. Now they wont even bite into the fingernail, dull as a butterknife.

Building my own CNC, yes, check my blog, link in my signature.

[SteveEJ]

Pratyeka,

You need to fix your blog link.. Add a '.ca' before '/blog' and it works..

BTW.. The CNC is looking real good!