Plunge Cut into aluminum

[Ernie Martinez]

I'm about to make a panel for an airplane, and this is my first aluminum job on a Router. Can I plunge cut into .060 aluminum sheet, with a .250 end mill to start a circle cutout (3 1/8" circle) ?

[Jerome Stanek]

I would ramp the bit in

[Ernie Martinez]

Any suggestions on Smooth, ZigZag, Spiral, Angle, Distance? I'm cutting out circles, core of circle is waste.

[Neal Schlee]

I've had real good luck with carbide "Spiral O" bits when cutting alm. The highly polished ones that are ground for cutting alm. work best. It's best to use a ramp when cutting alm, a straight plunge can cause the heated alm. to stick to the tip of the bit.

Neal

[Ernie Martinez]

I've never used RAMP which why I was asking for some starting parameters.

[John McClanahan]

If you have trouble with aluminum sticking to the cutter, try giving the aluminum a squirt of WD-40 on the cut line.

John