Tormach PCNC: Max Cut! Pushing it to the limit.

[@earendall]

I'm sold on the Tormach. I'm also glad to hear they are holding up to that kind of use. I've seen all your videos and John's videos on knifemaking. Its also attractive that for $19k its a turnkey solution. I cant wait to see their lathe options. Im saving up my lunch money.

[@Kicker700]

Cutting like a boss. This was a great vid showing the cutter and what machine can really do!

[@mc2racing7emh]

Thanks for sharing this video! It's a great experiment for me to watch, especially since I own the same end mill. In the video you briefly discussed exactly what I found surprising; that the spindle was bogging down under the cut that G Wizard indicated was a lower horsepower cut, even though the MRR was lower. Apparently engage more cutting surface in a slower cut (more, thinner chips) is more difficult than less cutting surface with a faster feed (fewer, thicker chips).

[@gbowne1]

Yeah, I have tried a lot of different end mills. Glad to hear that they work.

[@drozdmax007]

Sweet video, as with most of your videos. I just put out the money today for my own PCNC 1100 with all the goodies. Can't wait to start using it. Your videos definitely helped push me towards making the decision. Keep up the good videos!

[@mc2racing7emh]

Thanks for the input. BTW, it hit me today when I was thinking about why the spindle bogged during the last cut that running at a larger DOC (.500 vs .300) is engaging more cutting teeth simultaneously (obviously), which is exactly why the Superfly fly cutter is superior to the four flute facemill (from a horsepower and MRR standpoint); less cutting edges engaged.

[@Warmachinellc15]

Hey John, I've been using mostly Maritool endmills but I am exploring lakeshorecarbide after speaking with the owner Carl. He is such a great guy and dedicated to what he does you should definitely check them out too. After being blown away by Carl's customer support I am bumping them to the top of my list for tool suppliers. Their prices are also a little cheaper than Maritool it seems.

[@Warmachinellc15]

Agreed Maritool has been excellent to me too, they still have plenty of other things for me that I can't get from Lakeshore Carbide, like indexable tooling and reamers. I'm going to give Lakeshore Carbide a whirl for the foreseeable future with endmills and see how it turns out. I'm sure I'll do some reviews of their tools in some of my upcoming episodes. Carl is basically going to watch my machining videos, come up with tool recommendations, cutting strategies, and cut parameters for the most efficient machining process for what I'm making. I mean how cool is that!

[@Hogtopia]

Thanks John, I always have wondered how far you could push the 1100. Now I know. Gwizard is awesome btw.

[@earendall]

Good point,steppers vs servos is a lot of difference. I have been curious as to how viable the tormach is in production. I know its a great machine for prototyping.

[@kingjamez80]

Great video! I've always wanted to see this done on a Tormach.

[@kingjamez80]

I thought it did very well, those are some pretty high MRR's. It beats the pants off my X3. The only thing I'd like to have verified was that the steppers weren't missing steps during that last heavy cut.

[@jonh5030]

Have you tried chip thinning cuts? .5 in carbide endmill 1. Depth with .1R cut. My math from 3k rpm to 5k rpm gives me a 40ipm feed. I plan on doing this cut in a few days but if you have tried thinning feeds and speeds I'd love to know what you got

[@earendall]

It handled rather well. Even in large cnc mills you have to find the sweet spot. Id also like to see the tormach in a HSM test.

[@mc2racing7emh]

No, actually. Prior to owning this, I had only done smaller parts; a .375 2F endmill was adequate for roughing/finishing. I chose this one based on your video "Hoggin' Aluminum..." When I had a job that needed 2/3rds of the stock removed, I turned to a rougher then. It's fantastic (and will likely further impress me now that I've seen the limits of it in this video). I haven't yet run it heavier that 75% WOC, .296 DOC, 25 IPM, 2800 RPM. I've got a larger stick out for 1.25" deep pockets.

[@JohnGrimsmo]

Excellent video buddy, Bob's going to love that. I was also using a rougher the other week, 1/4" in blade stainless, ended up bogging it at just over 1hp but the rpm was higher than the peak torque range, I can't remember but might have been 5100. I assume you don't have a load meter yet? I just got mine last week and Erik installed it, haven't cut with it yet but I can't wait to push it. Although knowing the Gwiz HP numbers will help us guesstimate the limits for every cut.

[@russtuff]

Nothing close to yours, but I am also limited to 2kRPM and much less power. I'm going to push mine a bit and see how close to your numbers I can get (I'm also using the Gwizard). I have a motor upgrade on the way (3.8HP) and hope to get some pretty decent RPM out of it.

[@earendall]

I have a suggestion for a video on pushing the Tormach. Do a few toolpaths from the HSM side of the fence. I'd like to see trochoidal milling.

[@russtuff]

This sets a nice benchmark, thanks for posting! Now I don't feel bad about my little G0704 :)

[@Trajiq187]

Hi john, is it possible to increase the fast feed somehow?? Im looking at the tormach but the 90ipm max feed is very counter productive, especialy on a set with a lot of tool change.

[@cncshopmill]

Yhaaaaa Finally a video on the 1100 mill haha nice man!

[@w8km]

Does the 0.3"/47IPM/1.2hp cut work better than the 1.13hp cut due to increased heat from the ability to maintain RPM?

[@gbowne1]

thats great! I may try them. I have tried lakeshore too, and Kodiak are good too.

[@jryer1]

John any future plans on getting the ATC for your 1100?

[@dyeguardian]

You could hear the spindle bogging down, did the spindle rpm drop on Mach3 (did it tell you the actual rpm during the cut)?

[@gbowne1]

How do you like the Maritool endmills?

[@SeaCWest]

One difference is the 770 can run on 110v (your house) voltage. The 1100 requires 220v and secondary 110v. But the good news is that the 220v is single phase and thus can still feasibly be used at home shops. You just need to run a 20A circuit to the machine to be safe.

[@MrKurdishFreak]

in europe every socket is 230V and the more specialized ones are even 380V

[@Trajiq187]

Why should i read it? I want to know if its possible to increase the speed somehow. I really like the tormach despite the limited speed.

[@earendall]

I should have clarified 'production'. I have no doubt that the tormach can handle short production runs. When I think production machines, I think of the 24/7 kind like Haas, DMG, Mori Seki, makino and others. Forgive me I have spent a career around manufacturing. I hope one day to own a Tormach. They are awesome machines from what o have seen.

[@Shebabb]

Heard about climb and conventional milling? For testing a tools maximum, i would go with climb.

[@jonh5030]

31 years as a prototype and heavy hard metal machinist. Climb that shit.

[@162010ash]

is there a reason that you are not climb cutting??

[@drozdmax007]

Machine and stand should be in this week. ATC and other accessories should be in next week. Now to schedule the electrician...

[@02cahillt]

Personally, I dont rate G Wizard. Whenever I've used it before the numbers it spits out are far from what the tooling supplier suggest. Experience tells me that the numbers they give are pretty optimistic to say the least as well. Cant beat a good ear IMO to tell when its right.

[@jessefoulk]

One word....WOW

[@rlockwood2]

Curious.. if you're trying to push it to its limits, why conventional cutting? I'd bargain that something else in your spindle train would break before that tool does. The spindle was audibly slowing down, need more horsepower.

[@dyeguardian]

Ok thanks, good to know.

[@JohnGrimsmo]

Nope and nope, have fun there!

[@Jeralddoerr]

Why don't you try clime cutting?

[@quadcatfly]

look at novakon torus pro with servos.