Look what I have learned...

So many excelent examples here, do I as an absolute beginner dare to put in my doddle?
So many kind people here, always a positive remark or good advice to improve!
Yes, my doddle has some place here.

I already have introduced myself and my machine in another thread (and made a promise overthere to show some pictures.
Running a SC420/2+MM1000+WinPC-NC and FreeCAD/IncScape... and no experience with CNC to hinder me.
This *is* boot camp for me, any idea is a good idea until proven wrong.

First building my SC420/2 and getting it up and running with WinPC-NC.
Switching everything on the first time is frightening! What if I break it?
I was saving money for this a long time.

But I survived (so did the SC420 😛 )
Next job was selecting a test figure, relative easy but with enough features to see problem areas.
I thought of a heart, not being round and having some nice turns there is enough to test with.
And if the test does not completeley goes wrong I have my better half someting to give.
But finding one that pleased me failed and I ended up with a seahorse, the first one (of two) that M.C. Escher has drawn.
Additional test target: Two independed seahorses must stick together very tight, the head and the tail are *difficult* area's. :sick:

My very *very* first cutout was a seahorse in softboard.
Difficult to break anything right?
Almost did break it! Z-azis is inverted between FreeCAD and WinPC-NC.
But I noticed in time. :silly:
(See the first image in the attachment.)

OK, I managed to get a grip on the coordiate system and the differences between:
- GCode output Coordinates (FreeCAD) and GCode Input Coordinates (WinPC-NC)
- Machine Coordiantes and Stock Coordinates.
Pfew...:blush:

But softboard results look a bit fluffy and is not exactly what I'm looking for.
Next to.... hmmm I have some left overs of laminate flooring.
Nice finishing. That is good material to see what 'Speed and Feed' is all about.
(See the second image in the attachment.)

Not possible to move heads and tails of different cutouts together.
OK, I also have something to fix in the drawing of that seahorse.
.... :S ... I did not brake anyting? No, I did not.
But that spindle of mine is definitely *underpowered* (a dremel look alike of no specific brand).
Two seahorses at different speeds have different sizes?
I did knew that, It was warned for... See if the departmet of finance is willing to cough up a little more.

Next step, I have bought a Tool Length Swith but why am I not using it?
And I want to do something with glass of brass, and that will not be so easy to put a screw through.
Here I have a small pile of marble (oh, marble lookalike) tiles, leftovers of a bathroom redecoration.
I will use that as my next target.

Hmm... stone is a different matter in total!
But fixing it with masking tape and superglue shure does work!
My first try on a white marble tile looks nice but did I say that my spindle was underpowered?
Pushing too hard and too fast with a tool that is too small.
OK, I buy another tool, must have it.
Done at 25000 RPM 0.1mm depth
(See the third image in the attachment.)

Got an offer for a MM1000 from Reiner St.
A spidle with 135 W or 1 kW, that makes a difference! I am very pleased by this offe.
Once I have the MM100 I can see the difference.
Done at 5000 RPM 0.1mm depth, then at 0.2mm depth.
(See the lasr image in the attachment.)

The difference in the 'white marble' and the 'black marble' results are remarkable.
But that is also too many difference to account for:
- power available at the spindle (135 W versus 1 kW)
- actual used RPMs (25000 versus 5000)
- same bit but noticably worked down in the second use. (used dry in the white marble attempt, with water cooling in the second attemt)

Conclusions:
- Knowing your application is an utmost important target.
- Knowing materials is important if you want good and reliable results for:
* what feeds are realisable?
* what quality will the end result have?
* how much time is required for the processing?

Enough find outin the comming time.
Main question:
- How can I have a more distict resut in stone (white marble versus black marble results)

Any comments is welcome.