Switched to HSM toolpaths for roughing last month

I used to just run standard trochoidal paths for my roughing passes on aluminum. Then I tried high speed machining toolpaths in Fusion 360 on a job at my shop in Detroit. Now I'm cutting cycle times by about 30 percent on the Haas VF-2 with way less tool wear. Any of you guys use HSM for steel or just aluminum?

3 comments

3 Comments

pat_stone1mo ago

Honestly, has anyone tried HSM on a manual machine with a DRO yet?

aaron7401mo ago

Steel is a whole different animal honestly. I've been running HSM toolpaths on 4140 prehard and some 1018 on a similar Haas, and the chip thinning really helps keep the tool from rubbing and work hardening the surface. For steel you gotta crank up the radial engagement but keep the axial light, like 10% stepover or less depending on your machine's rigidity. Just watch your feeds and speeds closer than aluminum, and make sure your chip load stays consistent or the inserts will chip out on you.

davidkim1mo ago

Totally agree with @aaron740 on that. I ran some 4140 prehard last week with a 12% stepover and it cut way cleaner than when I tried to bury the tool before. Chip thinning is the secret sauce for steel, keeps everything predictable.