- Joined
- Nov 23, 2014
- Messages
- 2,636
+1 on avoiding import sets of end mills though there are likely some good sets out there. I bought a set of cheap HSS import 2/4-fluters going from 1/4" up to 3/4" by 1/8". I tried one on some steel just cleaning the edge and thought I'd moved to "Chatter City, USA". Stuck in a Niagara with the same width of cut, depth of cut and feed rate; smooth sailing.
I'll use both HSS on aluminum or plastic, and try to stay with carbide on steel, especially stainless. I've had pretty good luck with carbide end mills from Niagara and (I think) Redtool42 on eBay. I have gotten decent life out of radius-tipped carbide end mills on steel. Sorry, I don't remember who turned me onto them from this forum.
I don't know if anyone mentioned it above, but chip control is key. If your tool starts running hot and welds the chip to the cutting edge, the snowball has started down the hill. You could be using the sharpest, best-quality end mill known to mankind and foul it with too heavy of a cut in aluminum with chips gluing themselves to the tip.
I tend to go with 2-flute end mills on plastic and aluminum; they aren't as still but clear chips well. I tend to use 4-flute end mills when cutting steel as they are more rigid.
Bruce
I'll use both HSS on aluminum or plastic, and try to stay with carbide on steel, especially stainless. I've had pretty good luck with carbide end mills from Niagara and (I think) Redtool42 on eBay. I have gotten decent life out of radius-tipped carbide end mills on steel. Sorry, I don't remember who turned me onto them from this forum.
I don't know if anyone mentioned it above, but chip control is key. If your tool starts running hot and welds the chip to the cutting edge, the snowball has started down the hill. You could be using the sharpest, best-quality end mill known to mankind and foul it with too heavy of a cut in aluminum with chips gluing themselves to the tip.
I tend to go with 2-flute end mills on plastic and aluminum; they aren't as still but clear chips well. I tend to use 4-flute end mills when cutting steel as they are more rigid.
Bruce