geekhack Projects > Making Stuff Together!

My new tool

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TomahawkLabs:

--- Quote from: kurplop on Fri, 31 January 2025, 21:08:42 ---I’m excited for you. It looks like a nice mill. Are you planning on using aluminum for the keyboards?

--- End quote ---

While it can do aluminum, I am a more interested in wood cases. I do plan to experiment with aluminum, brass, other unique plate materials. I am not 100% sure that the surface finish would be up to snuff with the tool I have, but would be fun to test!

kurplop:

--- Quote from: TomahawkLabs on Sat, 01 February 2025, 07:43:22 ---
--- Quote from: kurplop on Fri, 31 January 2025, 21:08:42 ---I’m excited for you. It looks like a nice mill. Are you planning on using aluminum for the keyboards?

--- End quote ---

While it can do aluminum, I am a more interested in wood cases. I do plan to experiment with aluminum, brass, other unique plate materials. I am not 100% sure that the surface finish would be up to snuff with the tool I have, but would be fun to test!

--- End quote ---

Power isn’t the issue. Rigidity of the frame is. Slow shallow cuts become necessary but the finished product should turn out fine. Whenever I mill aluminum, I usually sand out the milling marks then sandblast to get a uniform matte finish.

TomahawkLabs:
Do you do any sort of active cooling for the aluminum to avoid it getting "gummy", or does the shallow cuts relieve the need for active cooling? I've really only experimented with the scrap plywood.

I specifically chose the Shapeoko 5 Pro because it had both linear rails and ball screws. I am hoping those upgrades will make cutting metal that much quicker. Additionally, I am not a full time shop where time=money. I just like seeing scraps fly. I have looked at the Harbor Freight sand blasting enclosure in the past, maybe it does have a place in my garage.

Where do you find metal stock. I can't seem to find online sellers that aren't industrial. I was specifically looking for 1.2mm plate and interested in where to find thicker/wider brass stock for weights.

kurplop:
I run compressed air directed at the cut which has a cooling effect, especially if their air has water in it (not added but from ambient air condensing in the tank). Shallow, fast feed keeps the metal from building up excessive heat.
I have a local metal supplier that sells cutoffs for a discounted price. They usually have 6061 in sizes I can work with. I bought brass rod online one time as well as some plastics but I don’t remember the company name.

TomahawkLabs:
Ok, when I built the enclosure I did run some air lines for that exact reason. Just need the regulator, etc. I’ll check locally for stock.

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