# Need input on a Project I'm considering **URL:** \ **Category:** General Chat\ **Created:** [February 23, 2024, 11:36pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/need-input-on-a-project-im-considering/2997 "2024-02-23T23:36:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ronnierozier2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@ronnierozier2](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/ronnierozier2)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 11:36pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/need-input-on-a-project-im-considering/2997/1 "2024-02-23T23:36:45Z")
Good Afternoon, I found a project I would really like to attempt but I need input on several aspects of this project. Project Summary: I watch a video where a pistol slide was customized with some CNC cuts and what not. I have the same Pistol and would like to attempt this myself. I will post a YouTube link to the video that’s 10 minutes long. This video will show what im trying to accomplish. \*\*\*My First question at this point: Do you think the PRO4896 with 4HP HITECO spindle is ridged enough to attempt this project? My PRO4896 is basically a toy so I can take extremely shallow depth of cut’s and run for 2 days continuous if need be. I’m not limited on time because of customer projects… \*\*\*If the consensus is the machine is ridged enough then I’ll need to identify some tooling. I’m thinking I could do this project using 2 tools. A ballnose and Endmill that’s specifically for steel. I’m not sure which 2 tools would be the best so suggestions are welcome. If you would like to make a suggest please include the Amana part number. 100% of the time I use Amana bits that I purchase from [ToolsToday.com](http://ToolsToday.com) \*\*\*Brainstorming options for a vice to hold the pistol slide for this process. My Avid machine is used for woodworking projects 98% of the time. I have played with a couple blocks of 7075 Aluminum before so… I’m going to look at some amazon workholding devices since this will probably be a 1 time project. I don’t want to drop hundreds on a work holding vice for 1 project. For now I’ll stop here and see what information is posted then on to the next step. Here is the link to the YouTube video. [VIDEO LOCATED HERE](https://youtu.be/mYBAwJ8IEno?feature=shared) ---
**Author:** ![djdelorie](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/djdelorie/32/515_2.png) [@djdelorie](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/djdelorie)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2024, 1:38am UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/need-input-on-a-project-im-considering/2997/2 "2024-02-24T01:38:27Z")
The Avid CNC is rated at 0.005" accuracy. It wiggles and shimmies a bit (I’m currently trying to convince my laser to burn straight lines 😉 Other than that, I’ve done some milling with a stepover in the 5-10 thou range and got reasonable results in wood. I’d suggest getting some scrap metal and “try and see” what you can do. ---
**Author:** ![Stephen](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/stephen/32/2569_2.png) [@Stephen](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/Stephen)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2024, 2:11pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/need-input-on-a-project-im-considering/2997/3 "2024-02-24T14:11:24Z")
Youtuber Breaking Taps did a couple of videos cutting steel on an Avid Benchtop Pro with a 3 HP spindle. I was surprised he had any success because steel is something like 10x harder than aluminum, and basically no one cuts steel on a CNC router. That said, it was only a short test, and it took him a while to find decent feeds & speeds. Also, his benchtop machine has ballscrews and a shorter gantry and might be a little more rigid than a PRO machine. If you’re just doing one small project, it will probably work fine. Expect to do a lot of tests to get the feeds & speeds right. That looks like a really nice part, though, and if it were me, I’d be looking for a friend with a CNC mill so I wouldn’t have to worry about the vice, coolant, rigidity, machine wear, etc. Here are the two videos I saw: [![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/uploads/avidcnc/original/2X/2/2ea5e9d9ba61cbddd333e4f794c75ab6b25796bd.jpeg "Can we cut steel on a desktop gantry router?") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTFn84UwFCM) [![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/uploads/avidcnc/original/2X/f/f88f66cc6a8080afd422aa4fcd6dcd0d5d09b3ed.jpeg "More steel cutting tests on the Benchtop Pro") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEJ0z1uuni0)