Working With Aluminum #10
Generic 1/4" Two Flute Spiral Bit
- Tool: 1/4" two flute up spiral
- Stock: 1/16" thick 6061 Aluminum
- Lubrication: Sta-Lube Soluble Oil
One bit I have seen being used on aluminum is the Whiteside RU2100 spiral router bit.
It is cheaper than many name brand bits and gives excelant results when used on aluminum.
Feeds and Speeds
Here are the settings I used in the video:
DOC: .01"
RPM: 15000
Cut Feed: 50IPM
Finish Feed 40IPM @24000 RPM
DOC: .01"
RPM: 15000
Cut Feed: 65IPM
Finish Feed 40IPM @24000 RPM
DOC: .01"
RPM: 15000
Cut Feed: 100IPM
Finish Feed 40IPM @24000 RPM
DOC: .03"
RPM: 15000
Cut Feed: 50IPM
Finish Feed 40IPM @24000 RPM
Note that if you cant change the speed of your router or spindle, you can set the finish pass to 15000 RPM as well and just change the feed rate to about 25IPM.
The Cuts
I really like this bit and at less than $19 its a diamond in the rough. I don't think I even started to push the aggressiveness that this bit is capable of.
When using this bit I will probably start the feed-rate between 50 and 75 IPM and a DOC of .03".
Working With Aluminum #11
Generic 1/4" Two Flute Spiral Bit
- Tool: 1/4" two flute up spiral
- Stock: 3/8" thick 6061 Aluminum
- Lubrication: Sta-Lube Soluble Oil
Lets take a look at making small holes with the the Whiteside RU2100 spiral router bit.
I needed to make some small holes while doing a particular job. The holes were .26" in diameter. With other 1/4" bits, I have made the same hole. Lets see if this one can do it.
If you look close at the divots I made in the last cut, the centers are raised slightly. This is because the bit does not cut all the way to the center. If my ramp had more room (like 3/8"), it could mill out the hole. So the best I can do is to make shallow .02" deep divots.
Probably the best way to test if a bit can mill small holes like this, is to make a shallow divot and examain the cut. If the divot bottom is flat, then you can mill the hole all the way through.