Yeah, I was thinking more of a mini mill or something where you can run it slow enough to use a fly cutter.Thats true too, I'm not sure if a face mill is better at when its hitting the edge or a hole in a thin part, Ive had a little chatter at edges when fly cutting, but I have a smaller mill so I tend not to get into face mills as you say HP and all that.
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Using a Fly Cutter
- Thread starter oskar
- Start date
I never thought of making one like that (the second one on the bottom). Pretty cool.
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2012
- Messages
- 9,408
I've always thought of a fly cutter as a flattening device. I use it primarily for squaring stock in prep for milling projects. It does transfer the angle of the spindle to the work, though, so being in tram matters.
I've come to prefer inserted carbide fly cutters over those that use HSS; they last far longer in use and a sharp cutter is a minute away. Carbide allows you to run at much higher speeds and produces a pretty nice finish. They also allow for some decent stock reduction over a fairly large area in a very short amount of time so they can be used to dimension stock as well. Depending on how the insert is oriented, some fly cutters allow you to cut to a ledge/shoulder and that can be really handy at times.
On my little Sherline 5400, I use their inserted carbide flycutter. This is essentially a single-flute face mill intended for use in the Sherline mill. It will cut to a shoulder and will surface, flatten and dimension most machinable materials and it leaves a beautiful finish. It only cuts a 1-1/8" swath so that is somewhat limiting but still, this is easily one of the best tools Sherline makes; their fly cutter that uses a HSS or brazed carbide tool does not even come close. An insert seems to last forever in this tool.
On my RF-31, I use the Tormach Superfly and that one is also pretty okay, too. It will not cut to a shoulder but does allow me to fly cut a 6" work piece. It can take at least a 0.075" deep cut in aluminum at high speed without even slowing down the motor so I sort of like it. I have also adapted a Sherline flycutter for use on the RF-31 and use it to cut shoulders ... I really like this tool.
I've come to prefer inserted carbide fly cutters over those that use HSS; they last far longer in use and a sharp cutter is a minute away. Carbide allows you to run at much higher speeds and produces a pretty nice finish. They also allow for some decent stock reduction over a fairly large area in a very short amount of time so they can be used to dimension stock as well. Depending on how the insert is oriented, some fly cutters allow you to cut to a ledge/shoulder and that can be really handy at times.
On my little Sherline 5400, I use their inserted carbide flycutter. This is essentially a single-flute face mill intended for use in the Sherline mill. It will cut to a shoulder and will surface, flatten and dimension most machinable materials and it leaves a beautiful finish. It only cuts a 1-1/8" swath so that is somewhat limiting but still, this is easily one of the best tools Sherline makes; their fly cutter that uses a HSS or brazed carbide tool does not even come close. An insert seems to last forever in this tool.
On my RF-31, I use the Tormach Superfly and that one is also pretty okay, too. It will not cut to a shoulder but does allow me to fly cut a 6" work piece. It can take at least a 0.075" deep cut in aluminum at high speed without even slowing down the motor so I sort of like it. I have also adapted a Sherline flycutter for use on the RF-31 and use it to cut shoulders ... I really like this tool.
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2018
- Messages
- 668
Hi Guys,
Here are some more pictures:
These pictures are of a dovetail slide that I made for tool grinding. Every surface in these pictures, including the dovetail was done using a fly cutter. The fly cutter used to cut the dovetail was ground at 45 degrees, and was similar to the one in my first picture but much shorter and more rigid. Notice the sharp corners. I had to stone them off to get a smooth travel without binding. The brass bolt in the side is to lock the slide in use.
Here are some more pictures:
These pictures are of a dovetail slide that I made for tool grinding. Every surface in these pictures, including the dovetail was done using a fly cutter. The fly cutter used to cut the dovetail was ground at 45 degrees, and was similar to the one in my first picture but much shorter and more rigid. Notice the sharp corners. I had to stone them off to get a smooth travel without binding. The brass bolt in the side is to lock the slide in use.
At the job, sometimes the part to be machined is of such a shape that you can't clamp it well enough. Sometimes the part is thin or it's a weird shaped weldment etc. I use a face mill and remove all the inserts but one. Then with a sharp insert I take a thou or two with the rpm turned up a little more with a slow feed will reduce or omit completely the chatter on the part. It really helps to make a nice finish.
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2018
- Messages
- 668
Hi Guys,
Yes it is surprising just how versatile a fly cutter can be, not just for facing. Careful consideration of the job in hand can produce some useful solutions.
Sorry about the slight out of focus.
This is the job that I was doing. Squaring up and sizing the slot width.
Yes it is surprising just how versatile a fly cutter can be, not just for facing. Careful consideration of the job in hand can produce some useful solutions.
Sorry about the slight out of focus.
This is the job that I was doing. Squaring up and sizing the slot width.
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2017
- Messages
- 38
Like your ideas with the various cutters - think I will be adding one or two to my tools. Thanks!
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