hi dont no what the material is but i use celotex which is wall insulation most builders skips have some off cuts in and its free if you are careful it can be measured i find this works to prove your G code

hope this helps Geoff

Try googling trycut wax.

Blimey, cheaper to use a lump of Ali. I wonder why it's so expensive. I think I'll stick to MDF offcuts.

Stay well,

Rod

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Look up 'machinable wax' made by dissolving plastic bags (LDPE) in hot candle wax. Not tried it myself.

I imagine wax or plastic is a lot cheaper than aluminium when your program tries to run your last endmill across the table at the wrong height.

If it is fairly flat the offcuts of UPVC facia board work well, thats what i did some of my first cut in. This was a black surfaced one which shows the cuts well

Edited By JasonB on 14/05/2020 16:16:58

Our now departed friend Lord John did an article on forming a machinable wax, he called in at my workshop once and couldn't fathom why I was still using aluminium for trial cnc runs, perhaps it was on this forum or in a ME mag, anyone know ?

Ron, you can also collect al chips to reform into castings if you have the gear.

Emgee

Edited By Emgee on 14/05/2020 17:59:58

Yes, if you have the right gear.

With wax you can recycle it in a domestic oven, if the management is not looking.

I use Corian , A DuPont product – a material consisting of an acrylic polymer and alumina trihydrate. It is extensively used for kitchen counter tops and such like. It machines very well, with conventional milling cutters, carbide mills ( last longer) and Wood Router cutters. It holds sharp edges very, and polishes up to a near gloss – one or two wax coats and glass/carbon composites with laminating resin de-bond very easily.

The definition achieved with Corian allows really sharp, fine wing trailing edges in a two part ( top and bottom) wing mold.

For smaller projects ( the wings below are 3meter span..) many kitchen Installers will give you off-cuts of the stuff. really very nice to work with, although an errant tool path will still break the cutter…

Machining does create fine dust though.

Joe

Edited By Joseph Noci 1 on 23/05/2020 17:03:58