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CNC cutting Aluminum panel Materials.

2/25/23       
Akram Member

Website: http://www.americanvisioncabinets.com

Hi,
We are planning to cut some panels with double sided 6252 Wilsonart Matt natural aluminum,
It is 3/4 plywood core double sided material, any helpful ideas as what techniques and router bits we should be using?
I am thinking using compression bits will cause damage at ramp down.
Any help would be appreciated thank you in advance.

2/25/23       #2: CNC cutting Aluminum panel Material ...
RichC

Have you worked panels like that before? If you hadn't bid already, I would tell you to double your normal time schedule of working those sheet goods. In my opinion you are entering a world of hell. You'll have to keep the CNC bed impeccably clean. Any aluminum chips will cut through the protective sheet and scratch the aluminum. Absolutely no sliding of the sheet goods as the aluminum scratches so easily. I would suggest not ramp down on the line, but rather ramp down away from the finished line and cut up to it. It would be worth getting recommendations from the bit manufacturer. It's so easy to raise a burr on the aluminum sheet and then hand filing becomes a nightmare. Buy twice the number of bits you usually do. They too must be impeccably sharp.

2/26/23       #3: CNC cutting Aluminum panel Material ...
Akram Member

Website: http://www.americanvisioncabinets.com

Yes, I did consulted with my Leuco supplier but he was not helpful, and did not get back to us with any information as which bit and techniques we should use.
Called Leitz and left tow messages and still waiting.
I guess big names sloppiness is the new normal this days☹
I am also getting new set of diamond cutter for our Holzher because some of the panels needs edge banding. Price tag is $1200 for the two cutters not to mention the front and back blades.
Again, thank you very much for your help and your reply.

2/26/23       #4: CNC cutting Aluminum panel Material ...
Thomas Gardiner

I cut a small number of Russian birch 18mm with Formica 1mm aluminum faces. I used a 3/8" diameter uncoated compression bit. Can't remember what the cut parameters were but I had no issues. My preferred method of is to leave .05" depth on first pass with a .03" allowance and do a full depth cut final pass. This helps hold onto smaller parts and gives a good edge finish.

2/27/23       #6: CNC cutting Aluminum panel Material ...
Matt Calnen

Any chance you can just cut them on a slider with a scoring blade, or no scoring blade and a sacrificial piece underneath? How many panels are you talking?

2/27/23       #7: CNC cutting Aluminum panel Material ...
Daniel

I was under the impression it’s pretty simple to cut aluminum. I’m getting set up to try it right now but I havnt yet. Call vortex tooling and talk to Jeff. He can help you will any questions. And they have bits especially designed for cutting aluminum.

2/27/23       #8: CNC cutting Aluminum panel Material ...
RichC

Nothing simple about cutting aluminum in my book. Lots of different alloys and some are so soft it's incredibly easy to leave a huge burr if speeds and feeds are off. It's not even easy to corral the chips. They come flying off and are incredibly hot. You'll find that out if a couple land on your arm. Heat can even be an issue with the bit when bits of aluminum stick to the bit. They almost weld themselves to the bit and have to be physically popped off. You'll find out as you make your first cuts.

2/27/23       #9: CNC cutting Aluminum panel Material ...
Daniel

Well then I might have run ahead of myself when I bought two bits for cutting aluminum. Might try it and and hopefully I can return if it doesn’t work

2/27/23       #10: CNC cutting Aluminum panel Material ...
Thomas Gardiner

I may be wrong but the Wilsonart product is probably an aluminum foil bonded to a HPL substrate. Burrs and scratches are a concern but the thin foil of aluminum is no different than cutting HPL. Compression bits, lead-in and out of the cuts, choose bits to handle the abrasive nature of the HPL. Beware of filing the edges to soften them. You can pull off a sliver of foil with the file if you drag it on the back stroke.
I didn't have much in the way of burrs as far as I recall.


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