Softwood - CNC Milling Guide

Softwood is a type of wood that is derived from trees with needle-like or scale-like leaves, such as conifers. They are commonly used in construction, furniture making, and as raw materials for paper production. Softwoods are known for their straight grain and uniform texture, making them easy to work with and finish. 

Examples of softwoods : PINE, SPRUCE, CEDAR, FIR...

Softwoods are easily milled on EVO and they allow room for variations in parameters without danger. You can reach a feed of around 3 000 mm/min in optimal conditions, even fas
Use passes not deeper than half the tool's diameter and ramps to enter the materials. Your goal is to obtain chips and not dust out of the cut : nice thin chips is a good indicator of good cutting parameters.

But remember: always start with safe parameters and increase them progressively to find the sweet spot for your own setup. 

Parameters Used in this video

• Machine : Mekanika EVO S / High-Z / Router AMB 1050W
• End mill : Ø 6mm / 2 Flutes Carbide / Upcut spiral
• Feed rate : 2 500 mm/min
• Spindle speed : 17 000 rpm
• Depth of cut : 3 mm

Softwoods are easily milled on PRO and FAB. You can set relatively high feed rates as long you chip load stays in the required levels.
Use passes not deeper than the tool's diameter and ramps to enter the materials. Your goal is to obtain chips and not dust out of the cut : well formed but not too warm chips is the indicator of perfect cutting parameters.

Parameters used in the video :

• Machine : Mekanika PRO S / Standard-Z / Spindle VFD 2.2kW
• End mill : Ø 6mm / 1 Flute Carbide / Compression bit
• Feed rate : 3200 mm/min
• Spindle speed : 19 000 rpm
• Depth of cut : 6 mm

• You can go up to 3 flutes end mill, as chip evacuation isn't the main issue with softwoods (as long as the spiral angle is high enough to evacuate them).
• One of the main issue encountered can be the tear out on the top layer : to avoid it, do a first pass with a downcut bit, or even better use a compression bit for the job (it will give a nice finish on both faces as long as the depth of cut reaches the downcut part of the bit). 
• Use ramps or helix instead of plunge to increase your tool's lifetime.
• C shaped chips should be produced (not dust) and their warmth and thickness are good indicators of the setup's quality : thin chips or dust means the tool is rubbing and not cutting enough material at each rotation (those chips will likely be very warm when evacuated), increase the chip load progressively until they have a nice chip shape and do not feel too hot to the touch.
•  If the surface finish is not good, it can be related to various things: 
  • check that your stock is fixed strong enough and not vibrating
  • check your tool's edges to see if it is damaged
  • use the shortest tool possible for the job to avoid tool deflection
  • Test different feeds/speeds (most likely : reduce feed rate or increase spindle speed, within the machine's capabilities and while maintaining an acceptable chip load).

You can find here a link to a feed and speed calculator for the most classic materials, and safe values adapted to each of our machines.

MEKANIKA CNC FEED & SPEED CALCULATOR 

IMPORTANT NOTE: this is made to help you find parameters for your milling, but you should always think by yourself and enter cutting parameters that are matching your own setup.
Calculating the theorical values in this table is easy, but many parameters in your setup may make them unfit for your case. Always start with low engagement and speed, and test deeper/quicker parameters progressively.