What's Your Opinion On Indexable End Mills?

Thanks for all the comments so far, as far as buying an indexable end mill goes, it sounds like the longevity and the supply of the inserts is is just as important as the quality of the en mill.
I'm not sure if the cheaper(indexable End mills) imports are as cost effective in the long run .maybe I should stick with the 4 FLT Cobalt/HSS type since the have never let me down and with my hobby use they last a long time.
 
Greg, you're right,it's not wise to buy new tools just because I might need it in the future, I keep telling that to myself but the reality is so different :), but all kidding aside, when I bought my mini mill ,I had to buy the most basic accessories and cutting tools for it so I could use the mill, so far I got a small set of imported end mills, collets,a vise and two end mill holders, I'm all set for my basic milling projects, most of my other marking/measuring tools come from my other (main) hobby , woodworking.
There are times I run out of ideas for projects,(I'm sure we all go through it), those days are the worst for my wallet.
 
Went through the same tooling up process Ken but I hate to admit it, it was before the web brought up more than 10 hits on something and 8 of those were porn.
A machine shop our company used was a great source of info at the time, now I live in a machine wasteland.
Like yourself I had the basic measuring tools and cruised the pawn shops for pics and such. Then one day I called up an uncle to say Hi, told him what I was up to, and he said have I got a deal for you. He'd retired 10 years earlier as a machinist from a steel mill and had a whole closet in his apartment stacked with tooling. I literally moved two pallets of measuring tools, inserts, reamers, drills you name it from 5 hours away, a week worth it trip.
Wood working is about half my time, but lately the metal shop has kept me busy.
Never seam to have to look for projects, the list keeps getting longer.

Greg
 
Ken from ontario said:
Thanks for all the comments so far, as far as buying an indexable end mill goes, it sounds like the longevity and the supply of the inserts is is just as important as the quality of the en mill.
I'm not sure if the cheaper(indexable End mills) imports are as cost effective in the long run .maybe I should stick with the 4 FLT Cobalt/HSS type since the have never let me down and with my hobby use they last a long time.
Click to expand...

I would agree with Tony's comments in this video. Jump to 5:30
 
I don't know the capabilities of your equipment, so you'll have to accommodate (or not) to my observations.

IN MY OPINION carbide tooling doesn't have a place in the hobby shop. having said that, I do have an R8, 1 1/2" three flute (triangle) cutter. I obtained it used, and it works fine, within the power/rigidity of my PM25 mill. I can take .020 face cut the full width of the cutter without slowing down, but it really throws the chips, which are HOT.

If I had a Bridgeport, or larger sized machine, I could rationalize more inserted cutters, but HSS does the job for all I need, including half hard 4140 steel.

If you're running a 3 hp motor on a similarly sized machine, by all means, get the best tooling you can afford. My largest motor is 1/2 horse on my Ames Turret lathe, probably bigger than it needs to be.
 
My thinking is that the index ones and inserts are cheap enough that I use them for roughing or if im not sure how a cut is gona go .
If it doesn't go well it's only a $3 insert vs a whole end mill . I only ever chipped on insert and it was bc something let loose .
I have a bunch of usa NOS M42 end mills and NOS CPM-T15 end mills i got cheap off ebay . I use both them and the indexable ones .
My regular type M42 and T15 end mills have also held up very well .
The Shars indexed ones are cheap , several sizes priced from $30-$50 ...and the inserts readily available at $28-$35 a ten pack on ebay .
I like both regular and indexed and I guess there's a reason they are both readily available.
 
T Bredehoft said:
IN MY OPINION carbide tooling doesn't have a place in the hobby shop.
If I had a Bridgeport, or larger sized machine, I could rationalize more inserted cutters, but HSS does the job for all I need, including half hard 4140 steel.
Click to expand...


Subwayrocket said:
My thinking is that the index ones and inserts are cheap enough that I use them for roughing or if im not sure how a cut is gona go .
If it doesn't go well it's only a $3 insert vs a whole end mill . I only ever chipped one insert and it was bc something let loose .
I like both regular and indexed and I guess there's a reason they are both readily available.
Click to expand...

Dan.S , great video, learned a few things, thanks for posting it.
Tom, Subway, the point you made are both valid although I'm not sure where I should stand, maybe that will be resolved with time since I have just started to reacquaint myself with the world of milling/machining, the last time I was actively using a full size mill was 15 years ago, even then(except being allowed to do some basic setups) I was mainly operating one.

Another issue is I am quickly realizing the limits of my ( much smaller) mini milling machine.
It is time for me to evaluate my tools as I work with them just to find out what tools work for me and what needs upgrading in quality.
Your comments and guidance is what I rely on, keep it coming.
 
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