Just looking to ask a few beginner questions

[nateflanigan]

Hello, I'm totally new to cnc, I'm really close to pulling the trigger on a carve king, I'm working my way through instructional videos but I have a few beginner questions that are so basic I haven't seen them addressed yet, some general some specific to what I hope to do so I thought I'd go ahead and ask.

Specific:

I plan on mllling anodized and/or powder coated aluminum faceplates for electronics enclosures, by this I mean both engraving text and dial indicators as well as drilling holes for potentiometers and switches. I hope to do work like this


www.muffwiggler.com/forum/userpix/3118_img_1256_1.jpg

www.don-audio.com/Frontpanel-STA-Level-Compressor-Gates

So mostly drilling holes in, 1/16th to 1/8th inch aluminum. Some fairly fine line work that doesn't need to be very deep at all. If I could get down to 8pt Arial font for text that'd be ideal. 

So, what kind of bits should I be looking at? The smallest standard mounting hole for the normal panel components i use is 1/4". Sometimes I'll likely need to make ~1/8" holes for mounting things like VU meters. No idea where to start with the text and fine line work, like what kind of bit does that?


General:

Sometimes I find that someone who's a year or two ahead of an outright beginner has better advice that a seasoned pro who's experience wise just so far away from that beginner mindset. If that's you what do you wish you knew going into this? What mistakes does everyone make?

This is dumb but I just don't know, do you put down some sort of substrate beneath your work piece that you can drill into to protect the main surface of the machine? 

How do you set things up in terms of jigs, clamps, things like that? Also super dumb, but how do you know where to put the work piece so that everything lines up right?

Thanks!

[Bruce]

You could probably use standard 1/8" flat end mills for holes. Larger holes can be cut with a smaller end mill.
Engraving would be done with a v-bit which could be any diameter but it would largely depend on the angle of the v-bit. I haven't engraved metal but there are some on the forum that have.

Check out the software you plan to use also.  Fusion 360 is free to hobbyist.  There are all kinds of videos on Youtube on how-tos also.  

[nateflanigan]

Thanks Bruce, I've learned a bit more since making the original post and now understand how folks set up waste boards and zero their machines and work pieces. Still very interested in what sort of hindsight folks have on their first few months with CNC, what do they wish they had done differently from the get go, that sort of thing.

[Bruce]

The software learning curve is really an issue. So really look at all your options and what projects you will want to do in the future.

[hans]

Nate: 20 months ago I was in the same position as you, totally new to CNC and contemplating a Carve King. I pulled the trigger and bought one -- and I bought a license for Vectric VCarve Desktop as well. I'm happy with both purchases. I SERIOUSLY recommend the VCarve purchase; $350 may sound expensive, but the VCarve software is easy to learn, quite capable, and interfaces well with UGS Platform (free) to create a solid, glitch-free system to drive the Carve King. I've found the VCarve/Carve King combination to be capable and flexible and have used it for a wide range of constructions in my workshop. It, of course, doesn't prevent operator error, and I've committed many -- mostly in the domain of material hold-downs. It's a learning process. All that said, I'm now comfortable with the software and the hardware and use them frequently, not just for CNC-focussed jobs but as a shop tool for many cutting or shaping tasks, especially where precision or repeatability is needed.

[nateflanigan]

Thank you guys, I haven't looked too much at the software side of this yet. I use Autodesks PCB software Eagle pretty regularly, and am generally good at learning new software. That being said, I've come to REALLY appreciate a software that makes learning a new skill easier. Especially considering my only goals are essentially drilling holes and 2d sign making style text engraving. I'll definitely take a look at Vcarve.