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A few tips on Feed Rates. During the cutting process, the cutter 'train' of the RS3000 is effectively floating in air. There is nothing causing the cut except the mass of the cutter 'train', and this is quite small. Too rapid feed rates, or dull cutters, cause the shape, quality, and position of the cuts to become un-predictable. The cutting edge of the cutters should be maintained at a level of polished razor sharpness, and the cutter should be fed into the work evenly and at a rate that permits fine shavings to form, about the thickness of soap flakes. There is no point hurrying. Give the cutter time to finish its work. As a rough guide, a feed rate of about 120degrees of rotation in the cutter advance wheel per minute is about correct for most timbers, when using 4mm wide cutters at about 500rpm. At the chosen depth of cut, allow the cutter a few more seconds to polish the cuts without moving the advance wheel. When using wider cutters, it is necessary to slow the rate down, especially towards the finish of a set of cuts, as more timber is being removed. Using higher lathe speeds on small work, (say under 25mm diameter) and the feed rate can be increased. The signs to watch for are thin even shavings, and smooth operation of the cutterbody, with no 'snatching'. With practice, the rate at which cuts can be produced can be increased without loss of quality, by speeding up the feed rate the commencement of cutting, and slowing down the rate toward the end. The end being judged by the shape of the 'blur' made by the moving indexed cuts in the profile of the workpiece. It is possible, for instance, to cut the 8index 'leaf' pattern, in Lignum Vitae, at 50mm diameter in about 10 minutes. |
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