Benchtop CNCs have seen incredible growth in recent years. As the machines have gotten better, cutting tools have gotten better as well. Freud Tools, with a 60 year history in cutting tools, is applying the same technology they use on cutters for large format CNC routers to make bits for benchtop machines.
Black I.C.E.
Freud’s Black I.C.E. (Industrial Cooling Element) bits on top of their TiCO Hi-Density Carbide will, according to Freud, give twice the life and performance compared to standard uncoated bits.
Heat and carbide are not friends. Freud’s I.C.E. coating helps prevent chips and resin from sticking to the router bit. The cleaner the bit stays, the easier it is for the bit to evacuate chips and shavings, and the cooler it’ll run. This is always important with router bits, but it’s especially important with the high feed rates of CNC routers.
Using I.C.E. bits
You can use I.C.E. bits on any wood product you’re using in your shop, but they’re specifically designed to optimize performance when cutting melamine, MDF, particle board and plywood.
Available alone or in sets
Freud router bits are available as stand-alone bits, so you can buy only the specific cutter you need. Or, you can purchase bits in sets. A set, like the set of commonly used CNC bits, makes a lot of sense, with everything you need under one roof.
Insert tooling
Insert tooling makes a lot of sense for CNC work. A great example is the Freud spoilboard cutter. When its carbide cutters get dull, simply rotate them to a fresh edge and you’re back in business.
Where does one find feed and speed info for these bits?