CNC cutting copper

[John Miller]

Does anyone have experience cutting copper with a CNC? I need to cut knock-out letters in two 24"x36"x.250" plates. Copper alloy is 110. I assume an aluminum cutting bit would work but I think copper is a bit gummier.

 

[Flatbed Tools]

Hey John. What type of cutter do you have and what's your max RPM?

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

 

[SignEST]

Aluminum , brass , bronze , copper all cut about the same unless you're doing insane quantity where speed really matters. Ballpark numbers for copper using 1/8 cutter were 16K rpm 10 plunge 55 IPM. Would recommend 4 passes if using 1/8 o flute to avoid breakage and maximize your tool life.

 

[John Miller]

Hey John. What type of cutter do you have and what's your max RPM?

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

Thanks for your interest. My cutter is a Laguna smart shop II 11KW spindle, 24k max rpm

 

[John Miller]

This sounds like fun. Hopefully you have a mister setup going.
I'm curious, are they customer supplied pieces?

The two 24x36x.250 copper plates were bought by us. Interesting point. When I went to my supplier's web site they were $680.00 each. When I went to order them 4 days later they had increased in price to over $1100.00

 

[SignEST]

The two 24x36x.250 copper plates were bought by us. Interesting point. When I went to my supplier's web site they were $680.00 each. When I went to order them 4 days later they had increased in price to over $1100.00

I noticed one of our regular customers now has a new signature stating 'quotes are only valid for 5 days'. Weird times.

 

[Zendavor Signs]

The two 24x36x.250 copper plates were bought by us. Interesting point. When I went to my supplier's web site they were $680.00 each. When I went to order them 4 days later they had increased in price to over $1100.00

Any time you are purchasing metal off a website, you are paying too much. I would recommend trying local metal suppliers for better pricing.

 

[John Miller]

Aluminum , brass , bronze , copper all cut about the same unless you're doing insane quantity where speed really matters. Ballpark numbers for copper using 1/8 cutter were 16K rpm 10 plunge 55 IPM. Would recommend 4 passes if using 1/8 o flute to avoid breakage and maximize your tool life.

Thank you for the specific RPM and feed info. That will be a good place to start.

Any time you are purchasing metal off a website, you are paying too much. I would recommend trying local metal suppliers for better pricing.

Depends on the online vender. The one I use has a warehouse 1/2HR drive from my shop. Their prices always beat Yarde Metals where I used to buy my metal & we can pick-up saving silly delivery charges.