Thank you WM! This video is gold, I just started cutting Alu with a SO3 XXL and F360 and using the S&Fs shown here I got great results right away!

I was talking with Vince Fab about getting started with my 3/16" ZrN endmill and I found I can run adaptive cutting at 20,000RPM, CPT=0.0015, 0.1" DOC, and 40% optimal load. It cuts beautifully and I don't have any issues with chatter. Cutting aluminum is super fun and the Shapeoko is a great tool and I love it thus far!

May I suggest instead of using a cutting fluid in aerospace experimental machine shop we used coconut oil or griddle fry which was made from coconut oil. Non-toxic safe to breathe. The reason was it would not soak into the grain of the metal and come out in zero gravity like cutting fluids like Tapping fluid.

Just got done milling brass. Was pretty amazed with the results

I see the S3 cutting like a boss and then remember back at the puny little X-carve barely making it through a license plate a few years ago in one of Bob Claggett's videos. Such a difference.

Niceeeeeeeeeeee! BTW LOVE LOVE LOVE that ZrN Coated 1/4" end mill. It's where I tell everyone to start with because I don't think you can break it.....(and I've tried). So it's a good tool to learn with. Waiting for you to talk about that stop ring.....

Thanks, Winston! Very well put together video.

Love it !!!

I've run the DOC much deeper with the 1/4" using Trochoidal Milling. Usually the full length of the material 1/4" or 5/16" plate. It generates much less heat and I don't really need to worry about lubrication or clearing with air. I had so many problems using shallow fast approaches, I'd love it if you could give a video exclusively about this technique using full DOC.

This is a fantastic video. I'm thinking about making my own small CNC mill. The issues that gives me pause is that I don't know how strong/stiff the frame needs to be for light cutting such as this. I've always assumed that small, light duty mills like this simply don't have the rigidity to cut cleanly without chatter and resonance. Seeing this video gives me the confidance to move forward. It's actually quite amazing to me that you can climb mill at such high speeds with such a small and flexible mill. Most videos on youtube of people trying this end in massive chatter followed by the aluminum welding to the tool.

To get the collet tighter move the bottom wrench to left of the top wrench so that you can squeeze the wrenches together. To release the collet reverse the process.

Thanks so much for this video! Very helpful!! Although My first attempt at cutting a contour with the 201-Z I only had success at 30IPM(762mm/min) with a 0.38mm depth of cut. I wasn't able to go at 48IPM.. I guess I can try speeding up from there... What did help is using Fusion360's to create a roughing pass, especially when cutting an outline.I remember seeing a video about that which I think you made, but I can't find it now...

i have a hard time chamfering aluminum would love to see a video on that

Hi I am really greatfull for your videos, they really help me get that initial feeds and speeds. How about finishing passes on aluminum? Same settings but leave say 0.1mm stock for the finish pass or is a smaller/larger chip load recomended? Thank you very much guys

Great

Your 201-Z recipe is pushing 1050 SFM. That is pretty high, especially wihout coolant! Surprised that works and doesn't start welding!

I want to test out some cuts on aluminum this weekend. I have a Freud 75-025 and their specs for this cutter for aluminum is as follows. 0.250" diameter upcut spiral single flute. 18,000 rpm, .250 doc, Aluminum 90-126 ipm Is this too much for the Shapeoko XL to handle with a Makita? Where would be a good starting point for speeds and feeds with this cutter?

NYC CNC was able to push this machine to cut at 75 in/min with almost a 100% step over.....

Hello, Thank you for the video. I am interested in buying a shapeoko xxl. I am planning to make a small dolly for myself. Just like Dana Dolly if you have any idea about what it is. It is a 6061 aliminum square plate about 12 inches by 12 inches. It has a mitchell mount in the middle and it also has aliminum 75 mm, 100mm, bowl adapters. I was wondering how can I find out the measurements of those mounts and adapters and put it on the program.

Winston could you put together some feeds and speed rates for the dewalt doing the same cut you described in this video ,but for hard maple. And can the coated end mills use be also go for wood.

What about the single flute 278 and 282? Do I just divide S&F down based on 1/2 or 1/3 fewer flutes?

Do you have some suggestions with the 1/4" collet for the nomad. At 10k RPM, do I keep the speed down at 20 or bump it up?

Winston: A) You are such a great resource! Carbide was right to snatch you up. B) Just ordered my XXL and it's now shipping with a "Carbide Compact Router" -- can you give us your impressions and any caveats versus using the Dewalt/Makita? Thanks!

What do you think the tolerance is with aluminum on the 3?

I use the 30K rpm die grinder as shapeoko spindle and that dont have speed control . so can i use feedrate and speed for 16k rpm on my shapeoko whitout problem ? I guess aluminum get stack on endmill bit

Are you using the standard Z or HDZ/ Zplus?

Thanks for making this video. Do you know which aluminum alloy you were machining here? Keep up the good work!

No mention of Plunge Rates, I find I have to plunge really slowly (5 IPM) or I get nasty bogging noises. what plunge rate are you using for pocketing with .25 and .125 bits? Especially if not using ramping or spiral plunging ( ie Carbide Create toolpaths)

nice video, do you know which alloy of aluminium is it?

I just did 11mm DOC on my chinese 6040 machine 🤷🏻‍♂️😄 at 14k rpm and 270mm/m feed. And load was 0.1. Machined fine. Was a bit too noisy tho.

Hey Winston for 1/4 inch end mill on adaptive clearing, I just made a video with my Shapeoko 3 milling a 1 inch thick piece of aluminum into a putter head and used .1 optimal load with a high speed steel end mill, .04 depth of cut, and 75 in/minute with the Makita router on level 5 and it seemed to work well. You can check out the video to see how the setting performed if you get a chance.

Your finishing pass should be done in one single depth pass, not in a multiple like you did. That is if you really want a nice surface finish of course :)

On a 6mm single flute bit i get 3000mm/min 4.5mm(aluminum) 24000Rpm and 3mm single flute bit i get 1mm aluminum 2000mm 18000Rpm

What is the formula how you calculate ?

Don't you have to put a protective finish on aluminum or it turns black from oxidation? I never hear anyone mention that.

Do you use the same cutting parameters for brass?

Which spindle & inverter are used in that video?

aluminium feed and seed

I just looked up the 201Z on the carbide3d site and it says the bit is two flute, but the video says 3 Flute.... which is it?

Can it handle 7075 t6 aluminum?

which is better Shapoko or nomad?????????

What spindle is that in the video?

By the rough top edge of your cut you can tell you are actually going to slow in this. Close though