Maslow M2

About the Machine

The M2 is a 4ft x 8ft x 3.8in (1.22m x 2.44m x 9.65cm) cutting volume machine, up to 32 sq ft, made by MakerMade as the successor to the original Maslow 2 design. It runs on industrial drive motors on all three axes with 11ft chains (15ft chains available), an all-metal Z-axis, and an Arduino DUE v1.2 control shield. It ships without a router: the 65mm metal router clamp standard (71mm or 91mm clamps available) fits bits from 1/8in to 1/2in depending on the router used.

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.

MakerMade does not publish a spindle RPM for the M2 since you supply your own router, so check the plate on yours before you start. The M2 itself caps at 40 in/min (17mm/s) maximum cutting speed regardless of what the chip-load math returns, so treat that as a hard ceiling. A truly rigid, powerful setup can cut as deep as the bit is wide in a single pass, but that takes real spindle torque, a drive train and clamps that hold firm, a frame that will not flex, and enough mass to soak up vibration. Chain-driven machines like the M2 fall short of that bar, so take shallow passes. Push too deep and the bit deflects and chatters, leaving scalloped edges, or it rubs instead of cutting and burns the material. 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. MakerMade does not state a spindle RPM for the M2 since you supply your own router, so check the plate on yours and use its actual top speed in place of 16,000 if it is lower. 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, but the M2 itself caps at 40 in/min (17mm/s, roughly 1,020 mm/min (40 in/min)) maximum cutting speed, so stay under that regardless. For depth per pass, start shallow and check Community Cut Settings in Easel for what works on this machine. 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.