Tooling for mills: what should I get to start?

S

STEMtheMachining

Registered
Registered
Joined
Nov 20, 2022
Messages
86
As the title says, I'm trying to get some tooling for my Unimat's mill function.

I know I need some 2 and 4 flute straight mills, maybe a woodruff, and a slot cutter - but what else? Chamfer bits, ball end bits, or should I focus things like v blocks and parallels?

I'm in the process of negotiating a kidney for an E16 collet set and chuck, and a 1/2 inch end mill holder.

I'm less concerned about price than I probably should be, but I really get aggravated when I have to buy the same thing multiple times because I confused inexpensive with cheap.

So what do you suggest?

And in how many different sizes of each?

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
 
A couple of straight cutting end mills are fine to get you started, but good approach is to buy only what you need for the project(s) ahead.
A example from my personal experience, I have a Woodruff key cutter yet I never have needed to cut a Woodruff key slot. You can tie up a lot of money in things you will never use.
 
I think you need to be at least a Silver member to access downloads.
 
I have built a bunch of stuff with a drill chuck holding cheap high speed steel end mills. A full set of drill bits (fractional, letter, and number) I would say is a must. Again, I have cheap drill bits and I just sharpen them a bunch. A cheap, five-piece set of end mills in various sizes can be had inexpensively on a popular online auction site. That would be a good way to find your favorite size. I like the 3/8, four-flute myself, but I don't do production and I'm just staying out of the wife's hair while I have fun.
 
I would not plan on trying to swing any endmills bigger than 1/4" and the machine may balk even at that.
This is a miniature, light duty machine after all and you don't want to buy tooling you can't use
Try a 1/4" endmill first in both steel and aluminum and see how it cuts before going any bigger. You may end up going smaller.
The Unimat like most combo machines is a more capable lathe than a milling machine
-M
On my DB200, I find that the head won't stay in position on the column when milling- it tends to swivel. The SL may be better in that regard.
 
Last edited:
STEMtheMachining said:
It's really annoying that pdfs don't open or download in the tapatalk app.

I'll look at it when I get to my computer, thanks.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Opens fine in TT for me….
I do pay the 4.99/yr tho so if your using the “free” version maybe that’s one of the extras they limit.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Cheeseking said:
Opens fine in TT for me….
I do pay the 4.99/yr tho so if your using the “free” version maybe that’s one of the extras they limit.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
You also have an iPhone, so that may be it too.



Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
 
3635c9cc2023b823c7a82e08e3a5da68.jpg

746ede0ed9ad162042c27d9715a225d0.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top