Material tips and tricks with APSX Spyder CNC

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APSX Spyder CNC can mill a variety of materials. Here are some examples.

Aluminum, bronze, copper, brass, steel, creamic, plastics and wood. 

Metal milling

Aluminum is a great option for several applications. It is a very light material but durable enough. It is also corrosion resistant. There are different types of aluminum available to buy. The most common one is 6061 aluminum, and it is a great choice for milling. It can also be anodized to get an attractive look.

Brass and copper have zinc in them. They have a gold like color that looks great. There are different types of brass available to buy. The most common one is 360 brass, and it is a great choice for milling.

Bronze has mostly copper and tin in it. It is corrosion resistant and a good conductor. It is very good for bearing applications too. There are different types of bronze available to buy. The most common one is 954 brass, and it is a great choice for milling.

Steel can also be milled on SPyder CNC. Use the mist feature all the time and take your cut of depth is at a minimum. 

• Use a 1/4in endmill to start milling
• Move to 1/8in then 1/16in then 1/32in end mills. If you need fine tune details, we suggest using ball end mills. 
• Keep the mist feature on all the time during the operation

Plastics and other materials milling

Plastics such as polycarbonate and Delrin are a great choice for some parts. Although they are both hard materials, they are easy to machine. 

Ceramics are very durable and good insulators. However, they are brittle and extremely prone to edge collapse in the milling process. Try to use smaller tools and avoid pointy edges.

Hardwood milling is an enjoyable process. Consider some adjustments in your settings for different hardness levels and grain directions. 

• Use a fresh and sharp endmill to start milling plastics - always
• Move to 1/8in then 1/16in then 1/32in end mills if you need fine tune details
• Keep the mist feature on all the time during the operation

Resources for Metal Milling

HUBS CNC machining - Metals. 

Xometry Types of Metals for CNC Machining. 

Fictiv CNC machining - CNC Material Datasheet.