First mill project - slitting tool advice

[r-mm]

Hi all. Long time lathe user just getting to my Enco Knee mill with a simple part id like to recreate. Mill tooling is so much more complex than lathe so looking for some advice. Is a slitting tool the right approach to create this approx 2.5mm x 10.5mm deep feature which holds a clock spring tang?

If so - the saws I see are typically narrower. Is it common to take multiple passes with such a saw to achieve desired width or is this a job for an endmill? A slight radius would not be an issue here.

Thanks

 

[OTmachine]

Will get you the most precise slot.

 

[mmcmdl]

I think you would need a slotting end mill rather than a slitting saw . Slitting saws are narrow with no relief . They work well but multiple passes to achieve a thickness would need a thicker tool .

 

[OTmachine]

Get an oversized saw and surface grind it to required thickness or a side cutter. Use flood sulfurized cutting oil.

 

[r-mm]

Thanks. Did not know slotting end mills existed. The depth of cut may be limiting, when I search for 2.5mm or equivalent inch size the depth of cut is typically not sufficient. Is there a reason not to take multiple passes with a slitting saw?

 

[WobblyHand]

What @mmcmdl says, but, when you are desperate you use what you have. I used a 1/16" slitting saw to make a valve core removal tool and found the slot was too narrow. So I offset the saw both plus and minus 0.010" taking separate passes to open up the slot by 0.020". It worked. In machining there are better ways but there are also alternative ways. They might not be efficient, but they can be made to work.

 

[WobblyHand]

It probably depends on the thickness of the saw vs cut depth as far as the precision of an offset cut. The saw might wander. In my case it turned out fine.

 

[Batmanacw]

A slitting saw could work but it would need to be very stiff. The side load would flex a thinner blade.

 

[WobblyHand]

A slitting saw could work but it would need to be very stiff. The side load would flex a thinner blade.

Very true. Can't just blast through the material doing this. On the other hand, using a slitting saw in general is a somewhat slow process on my mill. I always have to feed slowly by hand or I get in trouble.

 

[stupoty]

You can get 2.5mm wide slitting saws , doing a 10mm deep slot with a 2.5mm end mill sounds like a very bad time indeed

Stu