This is pretty much the same general idea and setup as the one I described there, but with the panel flat against the tooling plate.
The cutter sits at the far right end of its maximum travel. I made the rabbet in three manual CNC passes.
To set up for the rest of the cut:
- G0 X-4.25 to clear the left end of the panel
- Loosen the three clamps, slide the panel leftward
- Push the panel against the brass tubes
- Tighten the clamps
And away we go…
One disadvantage: you can’t do a final finishing pass along the entire length of the cut. There are tool marks at the stopping point, but nothing really objectionable on the back of a clock where a panel will cover the rather ugly guts.
The brass tube “locating pins” work surprisingly well.
About 2000 rpm with 3/8 inch end mill. Cut 1/8 inch wide and 0.25 inch deep @ 10 ipm in three passes. Finish pass 15 ipm at 0.257 deep to make it pretty.
The Smell of Molten Projects in the Morning 