Such design allows less chatter and leaves the finished surface smoothe r, making these kinds of bits ideal for trimming surfaces. They are commonly used for slotting and cutting straight contours.Ī spiral flute goes along the shank of the bit spirally, staying in constant contact with the material surface. On the other hand, they produce less smooth surface finish on the workpiece since such design brings more chatter. Straight bits are stronger than spiral bits and can be used at higher speeds.

A straight flute is parallel to the shank of the bit, striking the surface of the material perpendicular to the rotation direction.

There are two common types of flutes: straight and spiral. That's why you should try to find the balance when deciding the number of flutes. This is especially the case for materials like aluminum which produces large and sticky chips. Yet, if you can't get the chips out in time, the heat produced during cutting will build up, eventually destroy the bit and even lead to burning. When the number of flutes increases, chip clearance (i.e., the passage) gets smaller, hence the more difficult for the chips to be evacuated. Flutes serve as the passage for chips to evacuate, and chip clearance is the amount of space that a single flute takes up. To explain this, we need to introduce a new concept: chip clearance. However, this doesn't mean you should try to go for as many teeth as you can. Secondly, bits with more flutes tend to give a better surface finish. First, it adds to the strength of the bit, which means the bit can be fed into the workpiece faster and work on harder material. Having more flutes offers two main advantages. The number of flutes on your router bit impacts the work speed and the surface finish of your product. Though not to be taken as the same thing, these two terms are usually interchangeable since they are always identical in number. As the bit rotates, teeth are responsible for cutting materials off, while flutes help evacuate the chips (namely removed materials) from the workpiece. Teeth refer to the cutting edges, and flutes are the grooves formed between teeth. Therefore, this article aims to introduce the basics of cuttings tools and walk you through some of the most commonly used router bits.įirst, let's get to know the major features used to categorize a cutting tool. Choosing the right cutting tool is critical to your project's efficiency and even success. Just like you wouldn't use a dagger to chop ribs, various cutting tools are designed to cut out different geometries. The toolpath (or G-code) instructs the cutting tool (aka bit) on how to move, while the cutting tool engages with the workpiece to produce the outcome. We already understood that CNC machining works by removing material from a solid workpiece to achieve the desired geometry. Now, it's time to dive into practical machining.

The previous five episodes focus on the CAD and CAM processes. Stock CO2 Laser Lens Vs.Welcome to the CNC series of Snapmaker Academy. Wooden Puzzle Storage Box w/ Lizard Puzzle - Laser Cut Projects Learn How to Etch Metal with a Laser Engraver in Just 5 Minutes!ĬNC Bits For Beginners / Upcut Vs. You can get the Dremel Router Bits here: These router bits work with most rotary tools, like the Dremel 3000, Dremel 4000, Dremel 4300 and many other non-Dremel brand rotary tools. Along with a Dremel router attachment, it lets you turn your rotary tool into a mini wood router. Today I'm doing a test and review budget rotary tool router bits / Dremel router bits.