Upgraded WorkBee machining mild steel at 1800 mm/min

Second attempt at milling some DIN 1025-3 mild steel. First one was OK, this one is better, and faster. Total cycle time is 20min and 35 seconds, for reference the inside diameter is 48mm and outside is 52mm, the steel beam is not very precise but thickness is about 6 - 6.1 mm in the places where the milling was done.
2 flute, 6 mm tool, about 18000 rpm.
2D adaptive at 1800mm/min, DOC at 3mm, WOC 0.6mm. Ramp angle 0.8°.
Contour cutout at 0.3mm DOC,1600mm/min. In the video it's followed by a cleanup pass at 2000mm/min.

[@44mod]

You are doing a great job on this CNC build. I do not know why you are not getting more views. I would like to see a little in-depth the costs and how the project was made. I can see you have put a lot off time and effort in the building of your CNC. Thanks for your time.

[@crabsshed]

Hi, thank you for the inspiring comment ;). I am not trying to be a professional youtuber or something like that, just make a video occasionally when I have some time and feel it's worth it. The cost was maybe around 2000-2500 EUR in total so far. Base model of Workbee, electronics and spindle were I think about 1500 EUR. The rest is for the upgrades. Everything was designed in Fusion360 based on my and other peoples builds and experiences. Sorry I have no exact manual how it was done as I usually have little time to play with it so if I was to take notes and photos of everything I'd probably never finish it :). But I am really glad that you like it. If you feel like getting into CNC and the Workbee model is of interest to you then you can join the Facebook group facebook.com/groups/workbeecncusersgroup where many experienced users, including me, are active.

[@44mod]

@@crabsshed Thanks for your reply. I just sent Facebook link to my phone. Keep up the great work. You have a gift of this type of work and are great at it!! I have noticed that some the people dong video's on projects like this have a Patronage account for people to contribute to. That may help with some of the cost of your build.

[@ameliabuns4058]

w-what upgrades did you do, how much is the total cost? this seems fast af! this is steel! most i've seen don't do this to aluminium

[@denishent8744]

Thats the way! Didnt look for it when opening youtube, but saw the thumbnail and had to check it, because i did also very sucefully work in steel on my CNC Router. Your machine is not that stiff as my for sure, but that does show even better that with the right settings its possible to mill in steel, even with such a "light-build" Router-Spindle. Good job ! I am not youtuber and dont care for clicks, but i have also couple short videos when i was milling steel. Have a nice Christmas!

[@crabsshed]

Thanks Denis, mild steel is somewhat doable, stainless is more problematic but also doable (slowly). Adaptive toolpaths are a lifesaver for light machines. Not much time to make videos so I just upload something occasionally, I'll check your channel for sure 😉. Happy holidays to you as well 🎄🎁

[@denishent8744]

@@crabsshed sorry i saw your comment but i forgot to comment when i was on holiday. Yes you are right. I havent tried stainless but i can imagine that its more difficult than mild steel. Yeah i also have no time to make videos, but its good that you uploaded something, because beginner like to ask in forums if a "light" machine is able to mill steel and mostly you hear "NO", but we are proving them that its possible with the right settings. I got also this answers 5 years ago, but i tried it and had success. I think those people who say no have never worked on a cnc machine or are working on high end machines and just have no plan about hobby machines.. Thanks mate, all the best to you!

[@1050cnc]

Any info on speeds and feeds? What DOC and optimal load? The cut looks impressive. Remember seeing your posts on FB.

[@crabsshed]

It is in the video description. 2D adaptive 1800mm/min, DOC 3mm, WOC (width of cut or optimal load) 0.6mm. Contour cutout 0.3mm DOC, 1600mm/min.

[@Meobeo88]

Impressive. What kind of spindle did you use? How many power of it?

[@crabsshed]

Kress fme-p 1050W, it's a brushed motor with about 600W of cutting power. So nothing powerful. Need to change to a 2.2 kW spindle as this one is ok for light cuts but it struggles with heavier ones.

[@Meobeo88]

@@crabsshed Many thank. I want to change from 500w to another one for milling steel, thank for your information.

[@crabsshed]

@@Meobeo88 you're welcome. As far as I know none of the cheap Chinese spindles are made to machine steel due to type and arrangement of the bearings. But using adaptive toolpaths in fusion360 the load on the spindle is not that big so I guess it should be fine for occasional steel machining. Got a 2.2 kW HQD spindle in the box, just need to find time to install it.

[@AnasSuhaimi]

Seriously? Really? What's your machine size?

[@crabsshed]

Machine size is 1000x1000mm. Working area about 750x750 mm.

[@AnasSuhaimi]

@@crabsshed thanks, impressive.

[@АлексейК-ц1у7д]

каретки hiwin нельзя устанавливать на отрыв

[@crabsshed]

Извините, но что вы хотите этим сказать?

[@cncVektrik]

@@crabsshed на вашем станке координата X собрана каретка HIWIN на отрыв. Это плохо.

[@crabsshed]

@@cncVektrik Все еще не совсем понимаю, о чем вы говорите, но дизайн работает отлично. Я не единственный, кто его использует. Конечно, есть лучшие способы, и я работаю над полным редизайном. Но он в порядке уже более двух лет.