You're right, Greg. After 50+ years of woodworking, I know how to listen to the machines. Metal is an entirely different kettle of fish.
So, first, I get the spindle speed correct. If I move at a moderate pace, and the chips are blue. Do I go slower, or faster? In my mind, if I go slower, the cutter spends more time in a smaller area, and heats things up. But if I go faster, I'm risking chatter and a poor finish.
As a woodworking analogy, if I'm routing the edge on a piece of maple, if I go too slowly, it will burn. So, I move the router faster. If I go too fast, I'm straining the router motor. So then, I look for the sweet spot: move as quickly as I can control, without slowing down the router.
Is that what I'm looking for, here? That "sweet spot"?
So, first, I get the spindle speed correct. If I move at a moderate pace, and the chips are blue. Do I go slower, or faster? In my mind, if I go slower, the cutter spends more time in a smaller area, and heats things up. But if I go faster, I'm risking chatter and a poor finish.
As a woodworking analogy, if I'm routing the edge on a piece of maple, if I go too slowly, it will burn. So, I move the router faster. If I go too fast, I'm straining the router motor. So then, I look for the sweet spot: move as quickly as I can control, without slowing down the router.
Is that what I'm looking for, here? That "sweet spot"?
Mike
SB 10K (1976) Rockwell vertical mill (1967) Rockwell 17" drill press (1946) Me (1949)
SB 10K (1976) Rockwell vertical mill (1967) Rockwell 17" drill press (1946) Me (1949)