New to milling

[blindstar]

If you don't have a band saw you might try using an angle grinder to clean up the edges before milling.

 

[Highpower]

If you don't have a band saw you might try using an angle grinder to clean up the edges before milling.

This.

I won't touch a weld bead or torch cut slag with a milling (or lathe) cutter if there is any way to avoid it. Grind off the hardened slag - then machine. That's just the way I roll.

 

[Tom Griffin]

Tom,

Your chatter may be coming from dulled cutters. Slag is glass hard and if you tried to machine it you likely took the edge off of them, even the carbide ones. Do as Highpower suggested and grind the slag off before attempting to mill the part again (with a new cutter).

If that doesn't work, then you probably have a rigidity problem. Use a smaller diameter cutter and vary the rpm until the chatter stops. A more rigid set-up will help as well.

Tom

 

[Rbeckett]

The new water jet cutters are absolutely amazing. I would love to replace my plasma torch with a water cutter head but alas I can not afford to make that change. I always leave a little on the edges when I plasma cut an item so I can grind off the slag and get into softer metal. The slag is harder than carbide and will dull a bit in a heartbeat. I use a 4 1/2 grunder and just move over the area evenly till all signs of the cut and kerf are shined up to bear metal. Takes a few minutes, but then I can mill and cut on the lathe as needed. Hope this helps..

Bob