cnc-bits
An expensive bit will break just as easily as a cheap bit if used incorrectly. And we are still talking about a DIY CNC here, so we don't have to spend €100+ per bit. Yes, they are more precise and mutually more consistent, but if that is what you were looking for, you were not on this page. Good quality bits, for an affordable price.
Dreanique 6pc 4mm Engraving set
This set of 6 bits is a nice kit to start with engraving.
It is suitable for hard and soft wood, Trespa, HPL, Acrylic.
Make sure you dont start with the smallest radius tapered bit of 0.25mm, because it is very fragile.
Dreanique 2Flute Downcut bits for (Ply)wood
Downcut bits are a must-have for Plywood. This leaves a really crisp edge to your cut. If you use an Upcut or a too big compression bit, you will have frailed edges from woodfibres being pulled up.
Do note; a Downcut bit doesnt pull the chips out of the cut, so make sure your cut is wide enough and you have a vacuum to clear the slot.
Dreanique Carbide Ball Nose bit for Wood and Aluminium
Ballnose bits are great for hollowing out trays (may need a flat nose for the bottom) and for sloped edges. Due to the round bottom, there will be a smooth radius in the transition from horizontal to vertical. I prefer the 10mm size to hog everything out and get a nice 5mm radius, and then smooth the bottom of the tray with a flat bit.
Dreanique 1Flute Aluminium Bit
These 1Flute Aluminium bits cut like a hot knife through butter.
With a 1flute 8mm (Dreanique SP1FC-D8.0-L32) I can do a clean adaptive cut on 0.4mm stepdown, 25k rpm 1650mm/min, and 6mm Optimal Load (Your Yields May Vary!!)
Pick the flute length and total length as small as your workpiece can handle, to keep flex as small as possible.
Note: Always use a (mist) air cooling for your Aluminium work
Dreanique 2Flute Aluminium bit
When cutting Aluminium, you need to take your spindle speed and your machine speed into account. If you are able to run the machine at high speed (4000mm/min), you can opt to go for these 2Flute bits; otherwise, stick to the 1Flute versions.
With a 2flute 4mm alu bit (Dreanique AU2E-D4.0-H4) I can do a clean adaptive cut on 0.4mm stepdown, 25k rpm and 3500 mm/min (clean bottom) , 4000mm/min (Needs finishing pass) with 3mm Optimal Load (Your Yields May Vary!!)
Pick the flute length and total length as small as your workpiece can handle, to keep flex as small as possible.
Note: Always use a (mist) coolant for your Aluminium work
Dreanique Spoilboard Surfacing Bit 38mm / 45mm
This Spoilboard Surfacing Bit is a musthave for flattening your MDF spoilboard.
After installing your spoilboard, you must always run a flattening job on your spoilboard to make sure there are no high or low spots. This bit makes doing this a breeze.
If your AMB spindle can handle it, you can use the 45mm, otherwise go for the 38mm
On the Huan Yang spindle, you can go for the 45mm bit.
Do yourself a favor and order some spare inserts as well.
Note: The 45mm bit might be too big for the BASt dustboot!
Note2: When you see and feel ridges on your spoilboard, you might need to tram your machine.
Spetool Tool File Database
Dreanique bits look an awful lot like the Spetools bits on Amazon and Spetools.com
When you have 2 boxed bits side by side, everything including the packaging looks exactly the same. This doesn't neccessarily mean they are!
However, their Tool Library Databases for Fusion360, Vectric and Carveco might be a great start.
Note: Spetools tools files should only be used in conjunction with the SpeTool® item number specified. Using this file with other brands is dangerous to the operator and CNC machine.
ER16-A / ER20-A Extra Collet Nuts
It can be quite finicky to get your collet out of the collet nut.
Personally, I find it easier to have a bunch of collet nuts for my most used sizes of collet.
For AMB Spindle: ER-16-A-M22x1.5
For Huan Yang Spindle: ER-20-A-M25x1.5
Dreanique 0.005mm ER16 / ER20 Precision Collets
Getting precision collets for your spindle will help.
Get a cheap set for the ones you rarely use, and spend a bit more on the sizes you mainly use. In my case: 4mm, 6mm, 1/4", 8mm
RatRig includes ER20 precision collets with the Huan Yang spindle, but not with the ER16 AMB Spindle.
ER16-A / ER20-A Collet Wrench
A Collet Wrench is used to tighten the collet nut on your router. You can do this with a regular wrench for the ER-16, but the size of these wrenches takes into account the torque. With a regular wrench, you can easily over-tighten it and risk breaking the built-in stop on the spindle.
For the RatRig Spindle: ER-11-A
For the AMB Spindle: ER-16-A
For the Huan Yang Spindle: ER-20-A (you will ALSO need a 21MM wrench for this one)
100mm Ring Light
Originally, these are Angel Eyes for your car headlights.
This is a 9-30V version, which can work great with either your controller or directly connected to your 24V PSU. Sticks great with included 3M tape to the bottom spindle mount. Price is for 2, so you have one spare, or share it with a friend.
3D Touch Probe edge finder
Although the Openbuilds XYZ probe is very useful, some people might prefer a 3D edge finder. Instead of conductivity and a magnet, it works with a probing pin.
Note; the Openbuilds probe is NO (Normally Open) and will only trigger when 'connected'. In case of a wire breakage, it will not trigger.
Should you want to avoid this, get the NC version, which will disconnect on trigger. If you have a wire breakage, you will see this immediately. You will need to update the logic in your controller settings, should you swap.
Should you want to swap between the Openbuilds probe and the 3D Touch Probe, get the NO version, so the 'logic' remains the same for both tools.
Disclaimer
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