Fingerboard

[Loudspeakerboy]

Here is a fingerboard I ran yesterday. I used the .023 fret slot cutting bit from precisebits.com for the fret slots and inlay channel. I used a 1/4 down cut for the profile.

[Eagle55]

Nice work and good example of precision. Believe it or not, I just sit down to post a question regarding experience with small end mills. I accidentally ordered some 1/16" endmills with 1/8" shank and about 1/4" depth of cut. Was wondering about guidelines on using them to cut wood or corian... what kind of feed rates and passes. I'm thinking 1/2 to 1 diameter pass depths and maybe 5-10 ipm feed rates??? Not sure how far off that might be. What did you used for your fingerboard? I got these cheap so if I broke one or two I wouldn't be all torn up, but always like to get it right the first time when possible.

Roger

[Loudspeakerboy]

Roger,

The Precise Bits website has all of the rate parameters for each bit they sell. As you can see from the picture, the fingerboard is radiused. I set my Z0 to the top of the crown plus .004 (thickness of a piece of paper) and set my final depth to .085". The Max DOC for the fret cutter is .09". I set the Bosch to full chat, DPP of .012", FR of 14 IPM, PR of 7 IPM.

The fingerboard is Ebony.

PS I think the touch plate is a joke. When I set my home position, I set my X an Y with the jog control on the computer. I then get my Z to within an 1/16 or so of the surface. I turn off power to the controller, grab a piece of paper and do a "go", "no go" sliding the paper back and forth between the stock and the bit while turning the Z screw. I turn the controller power back on and zero out Z0 again.. Simple..

[Eagle55]

Thanks. I originally chalked it off to a bad mistake that I even wound up with the small bits, (they were 1/16" and I thought I was buying 1/8") but had some ideas that they might be good for and seeing your work makes it look possible, so may try it for some small work. Of course I gotta try it on Corian too. I'm a regular Corian cowboy LOL

Roger

Yeah, I too have not seen anything that makes me lean towards buying the touch plate. I thought it was a good sounding idea at first but not so sure now.

[BillK]

I regularly use a .050" dia. bit from Precisebits keeping the depth of cut (pass depth) at .025 and the stepover at .020 and regularly run it at Bosch colt speed 5 or 6 and at 60-70 imp in red oak. I think keeping the pass depth shallow helps keep the feed rate up. No breaks, still cuts great despite it's high "mileage".

See this post for an example. The detail cut around the buildings as well the two arcs cut around the outside we're done with this bit.
http://www.cncsharktalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1351