So neat to see all these new tools in your shop, Living the dream!

Great video! Some cool learnings, but that's half the fun, right? Thanks for brining us along with you.

That was fun to watch Caleb! Thanks for sharing!

As others have said, sandwich-ing between sheets of other materials is a great solution, and the correct bits are critical. When I worked in the signage and trade show display industry we used Onsrud Cutter tooling. I found their literature very helpful in determining the correct bit for the job. That will help with the material coming up (downcut bit is particularly good) and the Built-Up Edge you are getting on the tools (BUE is the abbreviation often used in machining; may help you if you want to search on the subject). Finally you would do well to use a lubricant on the tool. Kerosene is the traditional lubricant for aluminum (people tend to use WD-40 a lot because they have it on hand, but that's basically 98% or more kerosene, plus a tiny bit of oil), but denatured alcohol is also very effective. And actually many machinists swear by the use of household degreasers like Simple Green for machining aluminum, and that would be far less likely to cause a problem in close proximity to your spindle (no idea if that would be a fire hazard with the flammable options). Think of it like nonstick spray for your bit. Just spray a little on the tool bit and/or cut path ahead of the bit as it runs. Doesn't need much, just enough to keep the bit from getting gummed up. That should greatly improve your tool life and the quality of the cut.

I used to run a CNC router at a sign shop. Even with a vacuum table things wouldn't always stay in place. Sometimes we would use premask tape for vinyl decals on the back of the material to help hold it in place. This would work for dry cutting but not so much if we were cutting aluminum with coolant. Now they have clear plastic premask that would probably work with the coolant. You could always use the high tech method of pushing down on the material with a broom handle when the router drills the holes to keep it in place.

Nice result Caleb! Try using what's known as a downcut bit. It has a left hand helix that pushes the work down on the table.

Great job, I can't wait to see the final project. Workpiece holding clearance is always a concern. What I have done at times is to make a marker holder and run a job marking out the places I should mount my clamps, or in your case screws.

I've used 3" wide double stick carpet tape to hold the middle of projects down. I would also think adding a few tabs would help control the flexing

Very late to the game but look for "spiral flute down cut" endmills. These push the material down against your table so you don't get the curl. It moves the burr, if any, to the back side of the cut. Just make sure you have your bit speed set correctly for your material.

you setting your zero on the worktable or the top of the piece?

There are down cutting endmills suitable for thinner materials.

Nicely done. I am thinking perhaps the gummed up aluminum on your bit is because the end mill is rubbing instead of cutting. You are probably spinning it too fast or moving it across the table too slowly. Good recovery though. Keep it up Caleb.

Hi. Lay a new spoiler board over the cut one, flatten it, use bastante two sided tape and use a cutter made for aluminum.My friend cuts thin to very thin aluminum all the time. He so,etimes makes aircraft parts. You're right, fixturing is everything. For thin stock, always use DOUBLE SIDED TAPE...... Good luck!

Good solution finding the intermediates for screw locs. Looks like your nesting could have been WAY tighter (using a spiral layout). Should be good with 0.040 stock. Set your Z to a fake (+0.5") and just leave the tool in to observe, then reset your Z to real for cutting. This stuff is GREAT!: search eBay: Original-Wow-Tape-4pk-CNC-Router-Hold-Down-Tape (good gription and no residue after remove) . Use movable weighs at each position to hold down sheet. Use a drill for holes and overdrill 2 mm, and use 'tabbed' cutting for sheet parts to avoid curling. I have to pre-peel the plastic protectant. Use a bungee to the ceiling mid hose to keep it off the table.

so what would be properway to get this? with a vacuum holder?

lots of carpet tape is another one, some carpet tape has strings in it to make it stronger, so it can gum up a bit and if you're using coolant it can lift it too so needs enough to hold it down. but regular double sided tape can be expensive. that is what i use.

Is that a new shop for you? Also, you need to get a manual e-stop switch pronto!

Hey Caleb, great video man, just one question, what gauge is that aluminum sheet, 20, 16 or 18?

Also try sandwiching the aluminium between two sheets of other material and cut through all of it.

This is what happens when you comment before the video is over... Wrong endmill! get yourself a Lakeshore Carbide Variable Flute for aluminum.. :-)..

Good idea but they make these things called twist bits AKA drill bits.

Put a spoil board MDF on, then super77 glue the aluminum on it?

Vacuum table?

I would try it with an .093" dia twin fluted end mill using some Cool Mist (MSC) as a lubricant. I doubt your aluminum is hard like a 6061T6, more likely 3003 or softer. That's why your bit is getting gummed up. Check with who sold you the metal. It's good to know.

Did you build this table yourself? If so the cost?

I have seen a few people comment about using Double sided tape and believe it or not this is used in CNC machine shops for the same purpose. It is def a good addition to screws but if you are going to use tape make sure to Screw down where you can as well.

How about vacuum table???

I CUT ALUM EVERYDAY HERES A COUPLE THINGS U NEED WATER DISHSOAP SPAYBOTTLE ...........0FLUE CUTTER ....GOODLUCK!

masking tape and superglue, or double sticvk tape would solve the clamping issue, your screws are too tight and deforming the sheet, also a short peice of tube coming from your dust boot will keep your hose from dragging and getting in the way.

Avid CNC. 5x10??

Next... battlebot?

two sided carpet tape

om you absolutelly need to improve your nesting you wasted SO MUCH material