Leather Hot Stamp Made From Brass On A Desktop CNC
Many times people think of using a CNC router for cutting wood and plastic and not for detailed machining. This project is a small stamp made out of brass that you head up and then press into material such as leather. Due to the fine detail, the job had to be machined with 5 separate end mills each getting progressively smaller. Keep in mind that with such small tools you have to be extra careful with speeds and feeds so you get a good finish and you don't break end mills. The wall thickness on some of these letters is only 0.1mm thick... So it takes some patience and a good understanding of the tool path programming to ensure success.
The end mills and feed and speed settings used on this job are as follows:
STEP 1 - Flattening The Surface
Cutting Tool - ¼" End Mill
Pass Depth: 0.1mm
Stepover: 15%
Speed: 11,000 RPM
Feed Rate: 8mm/sec
Plunge Rate: 5mm/sec
Final Cut Depth: 0.3mm
STEP 2 - First Pocket
Cutting Tool - 1/8" End Mill
Pass Depth: 0.1mm
Stepover: 15%
Speed: 11,000 RPM
Feed Rate: 6mm/sec
Plunge Rate: 3mm/sec
Final Cut Depth: 3mm
NOTE: This tool path makes a small outline of the logo to get the end mill closer without touching the text.
STEP 3 - First Profile Tool Path For Details
Cutting Tool: 2mm End Mill
Pass Depth: 0.1mm
Stepover: 30%
Speed: 11,000 RPM
Feed Rate: 4mm/sec
Plunge Rate: 2mm/sec
Final Cut Depth: 3mm
NOTE: This tool path is the same as STEP 2 but slightly closer to the final vectors.
STEP 4 - Second Pass For More Details
Cutting Tool: 1mm End Mill
Pass Depth: 0.06mm
Stepover: 15%
Speed: 11000 RPM
Feed Rate: 2mm/sec
Plunge Rate: 2mm/seg
Final Cut Depth: 3mm
All the way to the text
STEP 5 - Final Detail Pass Removing Last 1mm
Cutting Tool: 15 degree V-Bit with
1/8 shank and 0.1mm Tip RadiusPass Depth: 0.05mm
Stepover: 4.5%
Clearance Pass Stepover: 10%
Speed: 11000 RPM
Feed Rate: 4mm/sec
Plunge Rate: 2mm/sec
Final Cut Depth: 1mm
NOTE: This tool path contains all outlines of the text to obtain all the details.
STEP 6 - Final cut made with the 1/8" end mill again, same settings
Cut with a pocket ½ diameter more of the end mill and final 1mm direct profile with tabs
Below are some images from the job including various stages of the progress as the cutting took place:
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