Anyone cut Hickory on their CNC?

Michael Kowalczyk · Post by **Michael Kowalczyk** » Thu, Mar 22 2007, 2:53PM

Hey everyone,
I was just checking to see if anyone has cut parts out of 1\" hickory. I have to cut a few gun stocks and heard it is really \"hard\"wood!! Feed and RPM, Tooling, climb or slow conventional. I want to have a smooth finish but keep it quick. I only have a couple of boards to test so i want to get it as close as I can from the start.
Thanks for your input,

Todd Miller · Post by **Todd Miller** » Fri, Mar 23 2007, 10:18AM

http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/W ... ckory.html

Check out this link from the woodweb forum. The best thing to do would be to do some test cuts. I would keep the spindle @ 18000, and program the feedspeed to 1000 IPM. But keep your hand on the FRO knob. 10% = 100IPM, 50% = 500IPM, ect. I would go any higher than 300 IPM. But this would greatly depend on the tool you are using. There are also a few other links on this site, but nothing that states exactly what to do. You could also check with your tooling source for more information.

Michael S Murray · Post by **Michael S Murray** » Fri, Mar 23 2007, 3:29PM

Hey Mike, I do a lot of Hickory kitchens and cut my valances and shaped solid wood parts, I use a 3/8 compression at 18,000rpm and about 250 to 300 ftpm,conventional cut. If you are talking about carving stocks, that I cannot help with..

Michael Kowalczyk · Post by **Michael Kowalczyk** » Fri, Mar 23 2007, 5:11PM

Thanks guys for the input. (53)

Todd- I printed that post and it had some good info in it

Michael-Do you use a 2 flute or 3 flute bit? Wow you are using a conventional cut??? I may try that also but everywhere I have looked so far says \"climb\" 300IPM seems about the standard. I may try a 3 flute 3/8\" or 1\"2\" bit at a calculated chip load and use the feed over ride to see what the results are but i do not wan to break any bits or throw any parts on this job ( or any).

Thanks for the input and if anybody else has experience with Hickory, please do Chime in,

Michael S Murray · Post by **Michael S Murray** » Fri, Mar 23 2007, 5:49PM

Hey Mike,
Two flute, I have tried climb and conv. I seem to get a little tear out at sharp corners either way, maybe a little less with conv.It works well enough for me that I have not had to experiment much, so I just stay the course..And Ya, dont get stingy with the double sided tape! I once had a semi throw a rock past my head as I was going down the highway on my Harley, sounded like a 300 win. mag just missed me, dont want that similar experience at the router!
good Luck

Michael S Murray · Post by **Michael S Murray** » Fri, Mar 23 2007, 5:50PM

Hey Mike,
Two flute, I have tried climb and conv. I seem to get a little tear out at sharp corners either way, maybe a little less with conv.It works well enough for me that I have not had to experiment much, so I just stay the course..And Ya, dont get stingy with the double sided tape! I once had a semi throw a rock past my head as I was going down the highway on my Harley, sounded like a 300 win. mag just missed me, dont want that similar experience at the router!
good Luck

Mark Taylor · Post by **Mark Taylor** » Sun, Mar 25 2007, 12:31PM

Mike...

I've found with a \"compression\" bit over all you will be happier with conventional cut. If you use a down spiral or an up spiral it depends on the grain of the wood, but usually you will get a better cut with climb cut.

Mark

Michael Kowalczyk · Post by **Michael Kowalczyk** » Tue, Mar 27 2007, 5:58PM

Thanks for the posts and don't be shy, keep them coming

Mark, How thick have you cut and what RPM and IPM have you used with the comp bit (what radius) using conventional? I will be doing 1\" thick and will do a test in the next few days.

Michael Murray- Yes I know the feeling. I had a june bug hit me in the forehead doing about 60MPH on my 650 special I had about 27 years ago. Sure glad I had my helmet on cause it sure sounded like it would of hurt.

Happy trails and safe riding,

Michael S Murray · Post by **Michael S Murray** » Tue, Mar 27 2007, 7:56PM

I hate the guy who always has to get the (one up in), but I gotta tell you, I hit a deer at 70 mph on my Harley and walked away from it,well after I skid 250ft on my chaps and jacket!!!Dead Deer and 11k damage to my bike,didnt even go to the emergency room! I guess there must be things left for me to do on this earth!
Have a good evening, I am going home..

Mark Taylor · Post by **Mark Taylor** » Tue, Mar 27 2007, 9:44PM

Michael...

I'm certainly more comfortable with the 1/2\" compression bit if I can run it depending on the part and cut...both the 1/2\" & 3/8\" runs @ 18,000 RPM and I would guess about 250 to 450 IPM's depending on which bit and the part to be cut...We have our 1/2\" compression set for 800 IMP's and the 3/8\" compression set for 650 IMP's. For Hickory I'll rein it in to 20 to 30% when it first starts cutting and dial it up until I'm comfortable.

Mark

...man, I'm glad I don't ride a bike! But I do love my kid's jet ski's....fortuantely I've never had a 400 lb bass jump up in my way! All kidding aside...Mike you're one \"blessed\" man!

Michael Kowalczyk · Post by **Michael Kowalczyk** » Wed, Mar 28 2007, 9:49PM

Well Michael Murray,
You got me there well at least the part about walking away. About 26 years ago coming back from what was touted as Woodstock II at Hammonasset (http://www.friendsofhammonasset.org) Beach State Park, in Connecticut. My head met a guard rail and my body left about 60-70% of my skin on the asphalt. The ONE time I did not have my helmet on, because I was going to put it on in a 1/2\" a mile, before I entered the freeway, cause my hair was still wet from swimming, BAM. They say I was hit from the side but I was told that all the witness were drinking and underage so no one's story matched. Anyway My mother did not recognize me when she came to the hospital and my prognosis was not good but a few days later My Grandmother, Mother and Sister came down and prayed over me and a miraculous recover had started. I went from not knowing if I was going to make it, to be discharged 7 days after I was admitted.
Yes I had a temporary souvenir of metal. No not a pin but a bunch of wires to keep my broken jaw (in 3 places) shut for 6 weeks. Everything had to go through a straw. I still ate just about anything as long as it went in to the blender. The only thing I would suggest to anybody that, God forbid, has to go through being wired is do not put steak in a blender. Too much stringy fibers and they clog up the little air paths you have. Other wise pizza, pasta, hamburgers and many others go great with V8 juice.

Kinda wish I had walked away unscaved also but it did give me time to think and I know God had more for me to do and I enjoy being at His service. It was and continues to be a Blessing. Glad you made it through with no Eroom.

Mark,
Thanks for the info I will set the IPM higher and use the dial when I test to see where the chip load and edge finish work the best.

This thread may take on a new life of \" I survived ... and was ...\"

Thanks guys,

Michael S Murray · Post by **Michael S Murray** » Wed, Mar 28 2007, 10:07PM

Well, You got me on that one Buddy!
My Blessing with my ordeal was that I had just dropped off my girlfriend 5 minutes before and was heading home(about an hour) The Ironic thing was that if I would have been killed or seriously injured, she was the charge nurse of the emergency room they would have been hauling me to! Imagine Her getting called in or showing up the next morning to find me in the morgue! I thank God that he let me get her off the bike before the deer, she has a little girl and I would have just been ruined if she would have been seriously hurt or worse. I still ride, but not to late or not as fast...
Just finished a awsome Art-cam project of the city seal on the router and I am going home, the buger took 3hrs 40 min to cut!!

Mark Hesketh · Post by **Mark Hesketh** » Thu, Mar 29 2007, 6:47AM

well, not to jump subjects or anything, but i just have no way of compeeting with you guys.

bee looking at art-cam as a possible route for starting up some carvings and special doors and stuff. just wanted to know what your thoughts on the software are. sooner or later i'll find time to play with it a bit myself... hopefully...

Michael Kowalczyk · Post by **Michael Kowalczyk** » Thu, Mar 29 2007, 12:49PM

Michael, I have nothing over you but we do have the same One watching over us. Over 3 hours must be fine detail with small step over or covers your whole table. Let's see some pictures.

Mark,
I have been using Artcam Pro 8 and now 9 plus I also use Artcam Insignia 3.6 and they just released v4. Insignia I use almost daily for my 2D work and Pro for my 3D and 4D. Still use BobCad 21 for drawing because that is what I learned on back when it was still DOS based Version 16 I think. You can still draw in both Insignia and Pro and you can buy Pro and request insignia for free or buy insignia and then upgrade to pro. I had to customize my posts for different machines with different functions so I have about 10 different posts between my C40 and twin table twin head C42. Once you learn the process and know what you need, booth Thermwood and Artcam were very helpful in tweaking the posts. Also my dealer, Josh, helped alot.

Version 10 should/might be out this summer, So I heard, at the Las Vegas IWF. It will allow us to do many new things that are currently unavailable at this price level. I will probably go to the Artcam users group meeting in Chicago this August or September where they will show and teach us the new functions.

Take a look at their forum.

Thanks,

Michael S Murray · Post by **Michael S Murray** » Thu, Mar 29 2007, 1:35PM

Hey Mike, How about a short clip, I am sure your used to seeing this but it might amaze soem of our e-cab buds..