Issue with small designs

[beardben23]

I am wanting to make some small wooden tokens about 3 “ diameter with a 2d pocket design. The problem I’m having is, whenever I go to create the tool path there are passes too small for my bit fit through. I’m using a .8 mm flat bit. What are my options for going smaller? Would I be able to use a v bit? I’ll add the design I’m trying to the thread when I get home. Thanks In advance for any help.

[ttabbal]

I've seen some pretty small tapered ball end bits. Not a lot smaller though. I think a v-bit might be a good option. Give it a go in the CAM and simulate it.

[rowiac]

For designs that small, definitely try V-carving. What CAM software are you using? F-engrave is a free V-carving app.

www.scorchworks.com/Fengrave/fengrave.html

[mirthmgr]

How close is the .8mm bit to fitting? I've had good luck with these as long as I take it nice and slow (200mm/min with .25mm depth per pass in very hard wood):
smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B073RJ3SYZ

They're definitely delicate, but I've found that they provide excellent results for the price. If you pick some up, be careful when handling them; not only will they break if they drop a few inches onto a hard surface, they are small and sharp enough to puncture skin, and those burrs hurt like crazy when you remove it.

V-bits are definitely a good option if you don't need vertical walls. In my experience, it's pretty important when doing tiny v-carving to either have very well surfaced material (and a faced spoilboard) or run a facing operation on the material before v-carving. Any discrepancy in height is really obvious in tiny features.

[hans]

I wanted to use my Carve King to cut fret slots in a guitar fingerboard. That requires using a 0.6mm end mill. (Banggood.com - $0.73 each if you buy 10 or more.) After breaking several, I found that restricting my cutting speed to 4mm/sec helped, but the key was to shorten the 0.6mm section of the end mill. As supplied, my mills had a 0.6mm section that was 5mm long. I cut them with a side cutter to 3mm and haven't had breakage since. The tool will still cut to the 0.125" depth that I need for the fret to fit in the fingerboard.