Cutting Aluminum With A Router

Therefore in this case you need to be particularly precise when calculating the feeds and speeds.

Cutting aluminum with a router.

All bits have a pilot to guide cuts. So you need to know the right way to do it. Now it is also used to cut weak metals like aluminum. When cutting aluminum unlike cutting plastic or wood you would have a much narrower window for your feeds and speeds.

Used a basic 1 4 shaft wood edging router bit to quickly trim the edge of 1 4 thick 6160 aluminum sheet. Pilot location describes the position of the pilot when the bit is used for hand routing. While using the router on aluminum the tool may at times get into some places that are. You should also begin the routing process by first drilling a inch hole near the corner so as to avoid plunging the router bit through the material.

Just make sure you are using the right sized router bit. Cnc router aluminum sheet work is different than cnc routers cutting aluminum plate. Generally a cnc router is a computer controlled machine used for cutting wood and plastic which are comparatively softer than metals. A normal carbide bit would be enough.

Cut layers of material flush to one another or make cuts along a template. Aluminum needs a lot more rigidity that wood or plastic. Bottom pilot bits trim material from an upper layer of the workpiece so that it is flush with the layer below. The thicker the material and the greater the depth of cut the more important it is to follow these tips.

Due to the bit sticky nature of aluminum the cnc router is the best tool for cutting it without making any mess. The cutting parameters and quality of cut will depend a lot on how rigid your machine is. Any normal cnc router like benchtop or table top cnc routers are strong enough to make a hole in aluminium. Cutting aluminum with a cnc router is very easy.

Small hobby routers and the big 100k machines are very different. Your router should be well supported when cutting the aluminum material and ensure it has a level base. If you push it too fast you might actually be able to see your machine flex under the load if not rattle loose. The pilot location is reversed when using the bit with a router table.