We understand the process that goes into selecting CNC routers for your machines. The decision demands a thorough evaluation of applications, production requirements and costs. Without the conscientious approach, you risk choosing the wrong tools, and reducing productivity and quality output.
As leading supplier to the stone cutting and composite industries, Stonegate knows a thing or two about proper tooling selection for CNC machines. Begin with knowing the type of material you need to handle, and consider how tool geometry affects the cutting process and the resulting work.
Materials and Geometry
Tool materials come in high-speed steel, carbide tipped and diamond. Among this lot, diamond delivers long tool life in abrasive materials. It costs more initially, but if your business handles hard materials, the diamond router bit is a good option.
Routers also come in different flute patterns: upcut, downcut, straight, and compression. The geometry of your router bit will influence the cutting process and the finished product. An upcut provides good chip extraction while a downcut is suitable for holding parts down and leaves a cleaner top. Compression bit combines an upcut and a downcut.
Tool Selection
Your material’s thickness and configuration are also essential to CNC tooling. The thickness of the material determines the tool diameter and cutting edge length. The material’s size and detail help you choose tools that speed up production.
Your CNC’s colleting system also figures significantly into your tool selection. Collets for simple air routers and complex CNCs come in half grip or full grip. You need to choose a tool that fits securely into the colleting system.
The appropriate tool for your CNC machine secures business objectives on production and costs. Weigh your options carefully. Look through our wide range of products and call us today for more guidance.
This shocking discovery is made worse by the fact this could have been preventable with better control of the dust through using the correct PPE and switching to wet cutting.
This discovery has prompted the WHSQ (Workplace Health and Safety Queensland) to audit all stone processors in Queensland, working towards creating the necessary regulations to completely prohibit the dry cutting of stone.
In the UK, the current HSE regulations require fabricators to take steps to control the risks from stone dust exposure under the control of substances hazardous to health regulations 1999 (COSHH), with fines in place for those failing to protect their workers from overexposure.
Wet cutting, drilling, grinding and polishing will significantly reduce the amount of stone dust in the air, as it instead forms a slurry, however it is still advised to wear PPE to reduce this risk further and better protect stoneworkers.