Hello everyone. Usually I post on the engravers forum. But this is about CNC's so here I am.
A little background, I own a small laser job shop. Currently the only tool style CNC I have is a Taig with Mach3 software. The machine at 10k rpm and a ridiculously small bed handles small aluminum engraving like a champ for the past 10 years and has paid for itself many times over. Now I have since added laser equipment the engraving that the Taig machine does now is rare and usually used for only small one up polymer engraving etc.
I've done a searches here and the internet in general to determine what type of metal I could cut or engrave with the CNC systems.
I emailed CNCRouterParts.com and await a reply.
FineLineAutomation.com has one paragraph on their website which says "To be clear, the size of the motor is not a indicator in what material you can cut. Both the NEMA 23 and NEMA 34 sizes will cut hardwoods, manufactured woods like plywood, plastics, aluminum and other non-ferrous materials like fiberglass, bronze, and brass. The ability to cut those materials are impacted much more by the rigidity of the machine and having the proper bits with the right feed rates."
I would like to know from a real world perceptive what metals and thicknesses others might be cutting with these machines.
Usually someone on the forum will ask what type metal I would like to cut.
Aluminum would be one type of material easily cut based on my Taig. But if a customer wants a custom panel cut out of a 16 gauge piece of brushed stainless, is it doable with of coarse the right tool, feed rate and coolant?
Thanks
John