Home » Knowledge Base » Knowledge Base Article What's New  |  Site Map 

 

 
   
   
 
 


Today's
Sponsors:


Saw Trax Mfg.

Sawmill and Woodlot Magazine

Schmalz, Inc.

Schultz Forming Products

Scientific Dust Collectors

SCM Group USA, Inc.

SCM Group

SCM

SDN Contracting

Seagrave Coatings Corporation

Sears Trostel Lumber Co.

Shade Dri

Shomaker Lumber Company

ShopBot

SII Dry Kilns

Silvaris

Simantech

SIS Machinery

Nebraska Tool

NEMI

New England Kiln Drying Association

Newman Whitney

Norment and Lambert

North Pacific Lumber

Northtech Machinery

NPO BARS

Nydree Flooring

Nyle Dry Kiln Systems

O'Shea Lumber Company

Old Mississippi Brick and Heart Pine Company

OMGA, Inc.

Omnitech Systems

Onsrud Cutter

Opti-Sand

Original Saw Company

Osolnik Machinery & Supplies

Patton Cabinet Doors

Paul Saws and Systems

People Logic Software Corp.

Pinske Edge

Pioneer Lumber Company

Planit Solutions Inc.

plastiMACH

Plogic Solutions Ltd.

Pond Cove Paint

Porter-Cable

Precision Drive Systems

Precision Saw Sharpeners

Premium Specialty Hardwoods

Pricecutter.com

Prime Estimating and Software Services, LLC

Pro.Woodworker.com

Pro100

Professional Hardware & Supply Co.

Quality VAKuum Products, Inc.

Quick Machinery Company

Quickscrews International Corporation

QuickScribe

QuickWood

QuikDrawers

Quis Machinery

R&R Drummond, Inc.

R.A.W.

R.D. Billhofer Company

Rangate

Rawles-Aden Lumber Corp.

RazorGage

Reliance Building Products

Restoration Specialists

Rex Lumber Company

Riethmiller Lumber

Ritter Manufacturing Inc.

Rockler Woodworking and Hardware

Roger Shaw and Associates

Rose Machinery

Routech

Royce Ayr Cutting Tools

RT Machine Co.

Safety Speed Cut

Sand-Rite Manufacturing

Sandman Products



WOODWEB DISCLAIMS any and all RESPONSIBILITY and LIABILITY for the accuracy and application of the information below. Readers agree to evaluate the significance and limitations of the information provided, and accept full responsibility for the application of this information. Read More ...

Would you like to add information to this article?
Interested in writing or submitting an article?
Have a question about this article?



Bit Life in High Pressure Laminate       How many sheets should you be able to cut before a bit wears out? Comparing carbide with diamond, and a discussion of feed rates and settings. July 3, 2005

Question
Can someone suggest spindle speed feed rates for cutting HPL (Pine PB Core)? Tooling? We have been using an Onsrud 163MW at 16,000RPM and a feed rate of 16M/M. We are only getting about 10 sheets per cutter before the cut quality degrades severely.

Forum Responses
(CNC Forum)
From contributor G:
HPL does destroy a cutting edge. We suggest using a 3+3 tooth design and reducing your RPM's or increasing your feed speed. What is the thickness of your material? As the 163 is 7/8" LC, if you are machining 3/4" and the board is not 100% flat, you may be cutting with no cutting edge.



From contributor S:
Try diamond compression bits. I cut a lot of 1" board with HPL on one side, and backer the on other. I get well over 200 pieces out of a cutter before sharpening. I run at 6 meters per minute at 22,000 rpm. Tooling guys will tell you to run faster, but my experience is that it will cause problems.


From the original questioner:
Contributor S, what cutter exactly are you running? That yield sounds high, but that would be great to get even 50!


From contributor T:
We use a 1/2 compression diamond bit for laminate on MDF or PB. I ran a job of 200 + sheets, and when I was done you couldn't even tell which part of the tool cut all the laminate. (Not like carbide where you see a groove in the cutter after not very many sheets.) I was very impressed by diamond tooling. Definitely worth the money.


From contributor G:
The PCD tool is a great alternative, but you gain on tool life what you lose on productivity. If you are not running a high production and if you are machining small parts with the PCD, it is great. If you are running production with our 1/2" tool feed, speeds should be around 20-25 MPM. 5-7 MPM at 18,000 rpm's is what we recommend.


From contributor G:
What does a diamond bit go for? I was told $1500 at 200 sheets = $7.50 a sheet. Carbide is $35 at 20 sheets = $1.75 a sheet. Am I missing something?


From the original questioner:
Interesting responses. Contributor G, I tried slowing down the spindle speed feed rate to what you suggested for the 60-163MW I am using, and I fried the bit in about three sheets. Is diamond tooling really in the thousands of dollars? I'm not sure I could justify such an expense.


From contributor G:
A ball park for the PCD would be about $200+ (in stock). Without having the tool here, it seems to me the angles (primary and secondary) may be off.


Have you reviewed the related Knowledge Base areas below?
  • KnowledgeBase: Knowledge Base

  • KnowledgeBase: Computerization

  • KnowledgeBase: Computerization: CNC Machinery and Techniques

  • KnowledgeBase: Laminates and Solid Surfacing

  • KnowledgeBase: Laminates & Solid Surfacing: Materials

  • KnowledgeBase: Laminates & Solid Surfacing: Equipment




    Would you like to add information to this article? ... Click Here

    If you have a question regarding a Knowledge Base article, your best chance at uncovering an answer is to search the entire Knowledge Base for related articles or to post your question at the appropriate WOODWEB Forum. Before posting your message, be sure to
    review our Forum Guidelines.

    Questions entered in the Knowledge Base Article comment form will not generate responses! A list of WOODWEB Forums can be found at WOODWEB's Site Map.

    When you post your question at the Forum, be sure to include references to the Knowledge Base article that inspired your question. The more information you provide with your question, the better your chances are of receiving responses.

    Return to beginning of article.



    Refer a Friend || Read This Important Information || Site Map || Privacy Policy

    Letters, questions or comments? E-Mail us and let us know what you think. Be sure to review our Frequently Asked Questions page.

    Contact us to discuss advertising or to report problems with this site.

    To report a problem, send an e-mail to our Webmaster

    Copyright © 1996-2008 - WOODWEB ® Inc.
    All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without permission of the Editor.
    Review WOODWEB's Copyright Policy.

    The editors, writers, and staff at WOODWEB try to promote safe practices. What is safe for one woodworker under certain conditions may not be safe for others in different circumstances. Readers should undertake the use of materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk.

    WOODWEB, Inc.
    RR4 Box 265A
    Montrose, PA 18801

    Contact WOODWEB