Milling Copper

Hi Guys

I want to cut some shapes out of some 0.7mm thick copper sheet with a Kress 1050 FME Router. That spins with no load at 5000 to 25000 rpm

Do you think I want to run the say 1mm cutting tool at high speed or slow.

Milling copper - I'd run away as fast as I can

Seriously, i have no idea, but I have found copper hard to mill as it distorts so easily.

Neil

My wife would like me to do it...........what can I do ??

Chris,

This video on YouTube makes it look easy

But he's using thicker material than yours

... you may need to stick it down to a sacrificial base [but then the sticky could clog the cutter]

MichaelG.

P.S.

This, from another forum, might help.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 03/07/2012 23:04:38

If memory serves, sandwiching the material between two bits of wood/board/mdf etc can help stabilise it for machining

I'm pretty sure theres a thread on this problem somewhere

For doing soft sticky stuff like aluminium I use the backgear on a stiffish lathe to reduce heat buildup issues but you don't have that option

Edited By Ady1 on 03/07/2012 23:19:23

Chris

Here is an opportunity to add to your workshop.

Explain to your good lady that this job needs slow careful cutting to be successful and therefore requires the purchase of a good quality fret saw.

That will do the job fine.

Personally I would be hesitant to use a router but sandwiching between 2 pieces of MFD as suggested I think is essential.

Nigel

Now ... there's a thought ... a CNC Piercing Saw !!!

Maybe one for an "Open Source" Design Project , as proposed in another thread.

Tricky, but by no means impossible.

Most of the youngsters would probably expect to use a Cutting LASER, but there is so much very fine work that can be done with a Piercing Saw.

[Clock Hands being an excellent example.]

Is anyone up for this ?

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 04/07/2012 07:34:37

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 04/07/2012 07:41:27

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 04/07/2012 07:43:26

That is what started this whole thing off, she has one just like your example.

I should have bought shares in the "spare blade factory" when she started.

They are not cheap either !!

Chris,

"They are not cheap either !!"

If you mean the Blades; the best ones [Vallorbe] seem to be about £4 per dozen, and the cheap ones about £4 per gross ... which seems pretty good to me.

MichaelG.

Bergeon (best quality Swiss) blades at £25 - 29 + VAT per gross here:

**LINK**

Slightly cheaper - still Swiss - blades a bit cheaper.

David

With great care - a splinter of copper in your eye and you could end up blind. I have used a jig saw quite successfully with the sheet sitting on top of a sheet of closed cell insulation. Then cut thro the sheet and insulation together. Wear goggles as a minimum.

Hi Chris

Just a suggestion for another approach - photo etching - copper is whats on a printed circuit board after all.

Keith

Well I had a go and the cut was less that satisfactory tbh.

I think the cutters I have are all a bit blunt, they are also the wrong shape for cutting copper.

I guess I will try a straight shank tungsten carbide, any thoughts ?

Godd supplier or Brand welcome

By the way there was almost no heat at all so that bodes well.