BlueCarve Full Sheet Trax

About the Machine

The Full Sheet Trax is BlueCarve’s full-sheet CNC router, with a 1500 x 3000mm rail size and a 1270 x 2770mm cutting area (105mm height clearance). It ships with a 65mm spindle mount sized for a Makita RT0700 trimmer (a 1.5kw or 2.2kw air-cooled spindle and VFD is an optional upgrade), 330ozin closed-loop steppers with an 8mm shaft on all three axes, and a 20mm helical rack-and-pinion drive on X and Y riding on 15mm linear rails.

Cut Settings on this Machine

Every cut starts with one formula: Feed Rate = Spindle Speed (RPM) x Chip Load x Number of Cutting Edges (flutes). Chip load is the thickness of material each cutting edge removes in one revolution of the bit. This number comes from the manufacturer of the bit, which publishes a chip-load chart for each bit diameter and material. Look up your exact bit and material, start from the middle of the published range, and you have the third number in the formula. The chart below shows the recommended spindle speed for each material and bit type.

If this machine's spindle cannot reach the listed speed, run the spindle at its maximum and control the cut with feed rate. For 65mm trim routers, the DeWalt DW611 dial maps to: 1 = 16,000; 2 = 18,200; 3 = 20,400; 4 = 22,600; 5 = 24,800; 6 = 27,000 RPM.

BlueCarve does not state a maximum RPM for the Full Sheet Trax’s spindle mount, since it ships bare for a Makita RT0700 trimmer or an optional 1.5kw/2.2kw upgrade spindle, so check the plate on whatever spindle you install. The 20mm helical rack-and-pinion drive and 330ozin closed-loop steppers make this a rigid, full-sheet machine, which supports more depth per pass than a light desktop router, but a truly rigid, powerful setup that can cut as deep as the bit is wide in one pass still needs the drive train, clamps, and gantry to all hold firm and enough mass to soak up vibration. Push too deep on any machine and the bit deflects and chatters, leaving scalloped edges, or it rubs instead of cutting and burns the material. Start conservative and work up. The fastest way to dial in a cut is to see what has already worked for other people.

Worked example for feed rate: 1/8in (3.175mm) two-flute solid carbide end mill in hard wood. The chart says 16,000 RPM. With the bit maker’s 0.025mm per tooth (0.0010 in): 16,000 x 0.025 x 2 = 800 mm/min (31 in/min) feed. For depth per pass, start shallow and check Community Cut Settings in Easel for what works on the BlueCarve Full Sheet Trax. If the cut sounds strained, reduce the depth, not the feed. Slowing the feed below the chip load makes the bit rub instead of cut.

Community Cut Settings shows the spindle speed, feed rate, and depth per pass other makers actually run for your machine, material, and bit.