Milling both sides of stock?

[toomuckinfuch]

I need some help. I'd like to cut out something that has a large pocket on top and a chamfered bottom edge all around.

What's the recommended way to flip stock over and assure it's still perfectly aligned? I've seen one guy on YouTube use holes through the stock and pegs for his jig to hold and align things. Would dowels work for that? Or smooth metal rods?

I've tried searching but I'm not familiar with the lingo or terms to get to what I'm looking to learn. Any tips or guidance would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

[toomuckinfuch]

youtu.be/MnDjxBikGMs

Just started sketching, but to give you an idea of the rough shape, one of my builds will be something close to that.

[Derek the Admin]

Using dowels is a common method. It's also common to use a corner jig where you have an L shape fixed to the table. The stock must be squared up and the interior of the "L" overcut so you can shove right into the corner.

[freik]

I've not (yet) done it, but instead of using dowels, I seem to have a fair number of very accurately machines 1/4" cylinders (that happen to have broken bits on end ) Seems like those would be better than dowels...

[mirthmgr]

Jul 7, 2018 17:53:51 GMT freik said:

I've not (yet) done it, but instead of using dowels, I seem to have a fair number of very accurately machines 1/4" cylinders (that happen to have broken bits on end ) Seems like those would be better than dowels...

Oh, that's a great idea! I've been tossing my 0.5mm mills as they break (only one broke in use, the other few just got dropped or bumped), but now...

[ricko]

Register X&Y to the center of stock on both sides

[toomuckinfuch]

Thanks for all the tips! My capacitor on my X endstop broke its leg again, so I ordered a few spares to be prepared next time. I can just turn off the X stop limit option in UGS right? It won't try to home X after that?


My impromptu setup now is cutting a 200x200 square in a scrap board with the corners over cut so I can shove the stock in there and know it's centered. I was also planning to route the outside edge of my stock to make it precisely 200x200. The top and bottom edge of my stock (highest and lowest on Y axis) is going to be scrap, so I may screw it down from behind well outside the toolpaths.


Another question. How do you set up tabs to be in the middle of the stock height-wise? Otherwise, how do you limit the depth on a perimeter cut to only half as deep? My initial thought was to set extra stock on top to the depth I want to cut and then pick the uppermost edge on the model as the geometry to cut out. There's gotta be a simpler way, right?


Thanks again, you guys rock!

[Derek the Admin]

Fusion 360 will allow you to set the bottom height to whatever depth you want. For instance, you can select the bottom height as the bottom contour and then change distance from there. Normally the offset is 0mm but you can add or subtract as needed. Similarly, you can go to the geometry tab and add tabs at points you designate. You can also declare the size and shape of the tab.