CNC Milling a Multi-Sided Aluminum Part using Soft Jaws

[@matthewvanlew5891]

Indicate off the part now a fixed point on the jaw. When milling soft jaws even preloaded when you put a part it in your center will be off a bit. Usually in the y direction

[@subuktageenfarooqi5712]

very underrated you are.

[@MoralRichMedia]

Awesome video with good insights. I don't have a CNC so I'd have to use a combination of my bench lathe and rotary table on the mill. I would have had to use the two screw holes for indexing and holding the workpiece. If I had to make a part like this, I would have to make a tooling plate with drilled and tapped holes in order to orientate the part on the rotary table to mill out all the radii. Good stuff.

[@connorbabcock8197]

Do you have any issues with chip evacuation or welding using 3 flutes on these? I know the standard shapeoko and my Taig cnc both have an issue with multi flute endmills.

[@jbrownson]

Cool, thanks

[@em-tek]

I always use "BORE" operation with RAMP instead of "CONTOUR: for holes on my FANUC machining center. This way I get perfect finish and accurate dimensions every time.

[@DIYEngineering]

agree, I think that may be due to the tolerance defaults differ between the two operations.

[@martin2250]

Cool project. Just a bit of feedback on the video though: Your voice is way to quiet compared to the intro music and especially the milling machine at 7:35

[@DIYEngineering]

Sorry about that, I’ll work on that post process script to prevent it in the future.

[@ipadize]

are those Softjaws models from NYC CNC? (they have a SMW engraving on it)

[@danielsmullen3223]

The surface finish on your parts looks very shiny and smooth, but I was wondering how you might go about further surface finishing to get a cosmetically "perfect" finish with no toolmarks. Is that practical with parts like this, and if so, what techniques do you think would you use to get there? Wet sanding? Buffing and polishing with a flapwheel? Are there better ways, tradeoffs, time considerations? A tutorial on this kind of thing would be awesome because I've always wondered how to get "perfect looking" parts that maintain their dimensional accuracy. It seems to me that professional-grade finishing techniques are one way that makers can really take their projects to the next level, like you did with the RKDR.

[@DIYEngineering]

I agree, in this case, finishing the parts as-is with powder coating looked flawless, other than some faraday effect around the nose (that will be concealed when installed) my take is that all projects have different requirements, all of which your techniques absolutely have a place. largely subjective to the material. I'll see if there is anything I could share that may be useful. Thanks for the feedback

[@TheHelicapt]

Can you share how you mod'd the HDM to cut metal and enclose it etc .. ?

[@DIYEngineering]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHzMdJ6qgNJ5qMk

[@tonyb9785]

Out of curiosity, will you eventually add an automated tool changer?

[@DIYEngineering]

Yes, upgrading the entire hdm control system in a couple weeks, stay tuned…

[@tonyb9785]

That's awesome, I look forward to it. Also slightly off topic, I replied back to your email a few weeks ago, it got caught in my spam folder; feel free to reach out if you have time.

[@yepp_rowing]

Hi, is there a reason you wouldn't use your Evo One Pro for this job? I imagine you'd end up with better surface finishes with the Evo. Thanks for the video - enjoyed it heaps!

[@DIYEngineering]

3x spindle power on the hdm, andi don’t have Saunders fixture plates on the evo. I’m not sure if the video conveyed but the parts were silky smooth, but there were tooling marks that can be misleading visually.

[@TomasSab3D]

Number of cutting tools a bit overkill? Given it takes time to change them... less is better? Amazing video, though. Educational.

[@DIYEngineering]

Maybe, but using the right tool for the job does give better results and even more tool life… that’s coming from someone who used to use a few tiles as possible. :)

[@LoneWolfPrecisionLLC]

Question is this or the new 5 pro

[@DIYEngineering]

Hdm

[@CryoftheProphet]

Man the surface finish on the hdm kinda sucks fresh of the mill, you would probably love having a proper vertical mill or something with more rigidity I think

[@DIYEngineering]

Don’t mistake tool marks for surface quality. These parts are smooth as silk.