New Group Created - Australia - New Zealand Metal Shavers

hey, so first time i have noticed this section aswell, any kiwis lurking around this forum?

always keen to meet like minded people....

i haven't had any luck getting metal in small quantity's either ... a local shop often gives me off cuts when im in there asking for bits and pieces but i feel bad going in there too often, im after a place that sells bronze for a reasonable price, seems damn hard to find.
 
Hi All,

I'm looking to buy some decent endmills for cutting mild steel, would just like to know where people buy theirs from, I don't mind spending a bit of coin for quality. Would like to buy Aus made if possible, but not mandatory but would be good to buy from an Aus seller.

I'm new to machining and have bought a HM-50 mill second hand and am starting to get comfortable enough with the machine now, although really I don't know what I'm doing.

I've tried side facing some 16mm thick mild steel plate with the end mills I've been buying from Hare and Forbes but I can't seem to get it to cut well, the tool seems to start to flex or doesn't cut at all, it just seems to slide off the side of the material, I believe I have my speed right and I have tried adjusting my feed rate, but nothing seems to work, I was starting to wonder if I was using the wrong type of cutter.

Cheers

Damo
 
Little-Eagle said:
Hi All,

I'm looking to buy some decent endmills for cutting mild steel, would just like to know where people buy theirs from, I don't mind spending a bit of coin for quality. Would like to buy Aus made if possible, but not mandatory but would be good to buy from an Aus seller.

I'm new to machining and have bought a HM-50 mill second hand and am starting to get comfortable enough with the machine now, although really I don't know what I'm doing.

I've tried side facing some 16mm thick mild steel plate with the end mills I've been buying from Hare and Forbes but I can't seem to get it to cut well, the tool seems to start to flex or doesn't cut at all, it just seems to slide off the side of the material, I believe I have my speed right and I have tried adjusting my feed rate, but nothing seems to work, I was starting to wonder if I was using the wrong type of cutter.

Cheers

Damo
Click to expand...
Hi Damo, Not familiar with that machine, but I looked it up and it appears to be well liked, What size cutter are you using. what does your manual say about this process.

I have to ask a couple of obvious questions. Is the cutter sharp and is it rotating the right way. Is the cutter HHS or carbide inset, what RPM are you running. These questions are all relevant and as you are a newbie, you are allowed to get it wrong. When the tool doesn't cut and starts to flex something is wrong.

What is the condition of the face you are trying to machine, is it off a saw cut or oxy cut, or heavily rusted , can you file the edge, or other? What is the depth of cut and feed rate?

Can you post a pic of the set up and a close up of the cutter.

Bob
 
Hi Bob,

Thanks for the reply, I'm using a 12mm HSS End Mill, It was pretty new when I first used it but the more I think about it the more I think I have it running too fast.

Depth of cut was probably .5mm, aI think I tried bigger and smaller cuts at the time to no avail.

Will have to check the speed tomorrow, time to get kids to bed and all that stuff.

The condition of the material is what is left after cutting with an angle grinder.

After some teething problems at the start again either running to fast or too slow I now have my 50mm carbide insert face cutter making nice chips and cutting through the stock like butter.

The material 16mm thk. flat plate, 100mm long set up in the vice with as little overhang as possible, probably 10-15mm.

Depth of cut, I'm trying to face the full depth of the 16mm plate, I've tried cutting small sections and I've tried the whole face.

I'll try take some photos tomorrow after work if I get the chance.

Damo
 
Little-Eagle said:
Hi Bob,

Thanks for the reply, I'm using a 12mm HSS End Mill, It was pretty new when I first used it but the more I think about it the more I think I have it running too fast.

Depth of cut was probably .5mm, aI think I tried bigger and smaller cuts at the time to no avail.

Will have to check the speed tomorrow, time to get kids to bed and all that stuff.

The condition of the material is what is left after cutting with an angle grinder.

After some teething problems at the start again either running to fast or too slow I now have my 50mm carbide insert face cutter making nice chips and cutting through the stock like butter.

The material 16mm thk. flat plate, 100mm long set up in the vice with as little overhang as possible, probably 10-15mm.

Depth of cut, I'm trying to face the full depth of the 16mm plate, I've tried cutting small sections and I've tried the whole face.

I'll try take some photos tomorrow after work if I get the chance.

Damo
Click to expand...

Looks like you're onto it, If you were running too fast then have probably dulled the cutting edge of the HSS. They are buggers to sharpen by hand. even for the experienced, much harder than a drill.

It's a good idea to have a cutting speed chart, particularly if you're new to machining, after a while they sort of become instinctive. It's easy to make one using any spreadsheet program. Or you can find some online, and download and print it out. put in a plastic sleeve and hang in the shop.
 
I got about 20 minutes in the shed the other day and yep, looks like I was running a bit fast.

I slowed it down ti the lowest setting (which still seems bit fast) and got some better results, but I think you're right Bob, I think the end mill has lost some of it's sting with the abuse I gave it. Not to worry.

Hopefully now I can progress my project a bit more now that I've worked it out, will try to remember to take some photos tomorrow if I get the chance.
 
Little-Eagle said:
I got about 20 minutes in the shed the other day and yep, looks like I was running a bit fast.

I slowed it down ti the lowest setting (which still seems bit fast) and got some better results, but I think you're right Bob, I think the end mill has lost some of it's sting with the abuse I gave it. Not to worry.

Hopefully now I can progress my project a bit more now that I've worked it out, will try to remember to take some photos tomorrow if I get the chance.
Click to expand...

If your slowest speed is still too fast you might have to figure a way to get it lower. But do the calculations make a chart or download one from the internet. Always remember you can get away with running HSS a bit fast on a lathe because it is easy to resharpen the tool, but with a milling cutter not so always start a bit slow and build up until the chips are just starting to com off with a bit of blue colour, that's fast enough and run coolant, your cutters will last much longer.
 
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Perth, W.A.
Turnin' junk inta jewels an' pigs ears inta silk purses with this lot.
IXL Leader 12" x 40"ish, Atlas 10 F, Chinese copy of Russian Teknika 6" x 12", 4 bench drills, 3 grinders, 3 welders, 2 presses, band saw, chop saw.
Some build/race cars, boats, planes.... I soup up my machines and give 'em a belting.1592954166039-566527357.jpg1592954224253-422844126.jpg15929542759471660970798.jpg15929543304692008840270.jpg
 
I had totally forgotten about this section since my last post in 2017 so just in case are there any members close to townsville?
 
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