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deep pockets 7050 aluminum thin walls pushing out with finishing

lowCountryCamo

Stainless
Joined
Jan 1, 2012
Location
Savannah, Georgia, USA
I am programming a aerospace part in aluminum 7050. Okuma mu6300. Part is held in dovetail and is tabbed to finish. This pocket is 2. x 6. x 2.0 deep. One wall is .06 thick and is pushing out when finishing. I cannot get it to size without going negative stock to leave. I have tried roughing and finishing in 2 steps roughing in 1 step, leaving wall at .140 and finishing in steps. Both ways wall is not flat and is over and on size in different places. I have tried a mix of 3/4 sharp 4flt and 1/2 Em .125r. Anyone have any tips for these kinds of walls. For example EM diameter, flute count, corner radius size, amount for finish pass etc.

Thanks,

steve austin
 
I am far from an expert but I have gotten out of similar situations by taking a very heavy finish cut and by playing around with conventional vs climb milling. Is if possible to make a "hoop" to support the outside and climb mill it (should help push the thin wall into the temporary support)?
 
Possible to machine the pocket first and then the outside? Or could make a plug to go in before you finish the outside.
 
foam on the inside work really well, but I am guessing your running production and dont want the add'd start and spot time.
if thats the case rough both outside an inside leaving maybe .1-.150 stock then when you do finish pass's step down about .250 alternating between inside and outside and make it so one side finishes deeper then the other side to help hold rigidity.
I use 3 flute alumastars for deep pockets. I am assuming your tolorance is either + or - .003 or .005
On longer lengths in either x or y you maybe have to run some taper in the program as we have had the center sucking in about .002
also once you get deeper you will have to reduces the rpm by about 1/2 to keep the chatter away and a nice finish


Hope that made sense.
for example
outside 1st fin pass at z-.125 deep
then go to inside 1st fin pass z-.250 deep
then go to outside 2nd finish pass z-.350
then go to inside 2nd finish z-.500
etc etc

the other thing that helps with this is if you use a tool with a shorter flute length. and let the dia of the endmill above the flutes rub on the part. that actually helps stabilize the part.get a standard length 1/2" endmill and stick it out the total depth of your part. I assume your also tumbling them , if so you wont see any rub marks. if not then scotch bright is required. we tumble all out parts and never have a problem doing it this way.
 
we used to use reverse spiral end mills for that. (ie right hand cut, left hand spiral) Without seeing the part its hard to guess, but clay or wax on the outside could help.
 
I'm sort of surprised no one has said this (maybe i missed it?) but we do parts like this quite frequently.

Get rid of those big tools. way to much tool pressure.

I use SGS reduced neck tools but any brand should do, try a .375 or .250 cutter. The one I have in the machine right now is .250D , .250LOC 4" OAL, I think it has a .030r.

In an SK holder or Hydro I run it balls out 15k on the genos, 45ipm .025-.1 DOC.

YMMV
 
a huge problem I have run into in the past is 7050 moves all over the place ( reliving itself) and is very hard to get consistancy. I had 1 that was a housing 20x 30 " x 4 with .04 walls 4 inches deep ,so all the way through. I did the outside profile first. then built a 1 inch thick box that slid over the outside. then machined the inside. it had .13 radius in all corners. it had 2 chambers. I cut the small 1 out first. then made a block that slid into that. then I was able to finish the big chamber without the center wall blowing or collapsing.
 
Rough the part outside and inside tapered like a cone. Then finish in steps outside / in side with a 3/8 or 1/2 tool. I'd make sure I was taking a spring pass at each level as I went down. If your runnout isn't perfect and you leave some steps get a lower helix tool (35-37*) aluminum tool with 2" of flute and take a spring pass at the bottom level to clean up the wall. We do tons of parts with 1/8" thick tabs stick off the side of parts like you are talking about that are 2" from the base with this method. Have to hold +/-.002 on the tab thickness
 








 
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