Fine Detail

[dickdelmi]

Here are two shots of my latest project hacked from Vectrics wildlife series (over six hours of machine time).  The final cuts were made with a 1/8 ball point at 40 ipm and 33% stepover.  The final detail was not as good as I had hoped.  How could it be improved?  Perhaps a 1/16 ball point at 
25% stepover?  The material is clear cedar.  All suggestions are welcome.

[BigMoose]

I would start with a smaller cutter. I personally use a 1/16" tapered ball nose end mill.

[chuck26287]

If I'm doing lithophanes in white acrylic, I use a 1/32" balnose bit with 8% stepover for the finish pass. Results are almost photographic. If carving wood, I typically use a 1/16" ballnose as well, also at an 8% stepover. Results are beautiful and highly detailed. But, to get detail, you have to give back in time. Something that size... you're looking at several hours.

[309cnc]

Feb 12, 2018 16:36:55 GMT -5 chuck26287 said:

...... 1/32" balnose bit .....

I assume 1/32" Radius? Or diameter? Brand / Model? Thx......

[Deleted]

You might want to check out the Amana tapered ball bits 46282 (1/16" 5.4 degree) and the 46280 (1/32" 6.2 degree).


www.amanatool.com/46282-cnc-2d-and-3d-carving-5-4-deg-tapered-angle-ball-tip-1-16-dia-x-1-32-radius-x-1-x-1-4-shank-x-3-inch-long-x-4-flute-solid-carbide-up-cut-spiral-zrn-coated-router-bit.html?ff=1&fp=9182

www.amanatool.com/46280-cnc-2d-and-3d-carving-6-2-deg-tapered-angle-ball-tip-x-1-32-dia-x-1-64-radius-x-1-x-1-4-shank-x-3-inch-long-x-3-flute-solid-carbide-up-cut-spiral-zrn-coated-router-bit.html?ff=1&fp=9181

[stevem]

The Amans's cost more, but last much longer. Great results every time. For standard cutting, I use Whiteside.

[Gary Campbell]

Dick...
Use a smaller stepover. Preview your 1/8 bit at 6-8%. Then the 1/16 at 8-10%. Compare to the preview at current settings

[germanguitars]

Cedar is soft which makes it easier on the bit, but the tearout can be awful. I would suggest a denser wood that carves better.

[traindriver]

I agree with the 1/16th bit ballnose from Amana.  I get mine on Amazon.  I used to use 1/8 ballnose bits, but the detail from the 1/16th is so much better.  I made this out of a cedar log




Using these parameters

[redwood]

I also use the Amana bits and usually have a stepover of somewhere around 10%

[dickdelmi]

Thanks for all of the advice everyone. Sounds like the next one will be 1/16 at 10% - takes a lot longer but the results are worth it.
Great job on the cedar log Traindriver.

[chuck26287]

Feb 13, 2018 11:03:14 GMT -5 @fean said:

You might want to check out the Amana tapered ball bits 46282 (1/16" 5.4 degree) and the 46280 (1/32" 6.2 degree).


www.amanatool.com/46282-cnc-2d-and-3d-carving-5-4-deg-tapered-angle-ball-tip-1-16-dia-x-1-32-radius-x-1-x-1-4-shank-x-3-inch-long-x-4-flute-solid-carbide-up-cut-spiral-zrn-coated-router-bit.html?ff=1&fp=9182

www.amanatool.com/46280-cnc-2d-and-3d-carving-6-2-deg-tapered-angle-ball-tip-x-1-32-dia-x-1-64-radius-x-1-x-1-4-shank-x-3-inch-long-x-3-flute-solid-carbide-up-cut-spiral-zrn-coated-router-bit.html?ff=1&fp=9181

Yep... those are the two I use.  I've had GREAT detail results with them.

[Deleted]

Feb 14, 2018 18:05:32 GMT -5 traindriver said:

I agree with the 1/16th bit ballnose from Amana.  I get mine on Amazon.  I used to use 1/8 ballnose bits, but the detail from the 1/16th is so much better.  I made this out of a cedar log




Using these parameters

The changing grain, color and texture looks great. As for stepover, for an 1/16" tip, a step over of 8% (0.005") leaves ridges 0.0001" while 10" (0.0063") doubles the ridge height to 0.0002" so go with what you feel good about. You can check your results here:


www.custompartnet.com/calculator/step-over-distance

[ricphoto]

Feb 19, 2018 10:17:50 GMT -5 @fean said:

Feb 14, 2018 18:05:32 GMT -5 traindriver said:

I agree with the 1/16th bit ballnose from Amana.  I get mine on Amazon.  I used to use 1/8 ballnose bits, but the detail from the 1/16th is so much better.  I made this out of a cedar log




Using these parameters

The changing grain, color and texture looks great. As for stepover, for an 1/16" tip, a step over of 8% (0.005") leaves ridges 0.0001" while 10" (0.0063") doubles the ridge height to 0.0002" so go with what you feel good about. You can check your results here:


www.custompartnet.com/calculator/step-over-distance

Thanks for that link...great visual aid for those of us just getting started and trying to wrap our heads around the cost / benefits of different settings/bits...

[Deleted]

Personally, I go with 9% most of the time but for higher quality, I'll go with 8% which take slightly longer. You can calculate your toolpath with 8%, 9%, and 10% to see the difference in cut time.

[traindriver]

Thanks for the link fean, that'll come in handy! dickdelmi, don't be afraid to speed up the feed in your tool database. I kept burning my bits and it was a year before it dawned on me that the default values for feed were really low and that I could lessen the cut time by speeding up the feed (and thanks for the compliment!)