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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    805

    Default End Mill Recommendations

    Hi All,

    Just got a new milling machine and am looking for some recommendations on what sort and size end mills to buy. I will mostly be making project in mild steel and maybe occassionally stainless. Upcoming projects will be making QCTP holders for the lathe, a toolpost grinder, ball turner, carbide tools etc.

    I am pretty green when it comes to milling and not sure if I should get 2 flute, 4 flute, ball nose, hss, carbide etc. Also if any stores can be recommended that would be good too - I used to buy a lot of lathe tooling from CTC tools which I liked but these days I notice that Bang Good seem to be popular however I dont know how their quality compares.

    My machines a big rigid machine with spindle speeds up to 1800rpm if that helps. Further info here:
    //metalworkforums.com/f65/t2021...machine-poland

    Brendan

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Age
    56
    Posts
    1,416

    Default

    Around 1800rpm is down in lower end for smaller diameter carbide tipped cutter's as it likes to spin fast, but will still work.
    I'd be going a large face mill like 150mm with 6 tips if your shed power supply is up to it. This will get your surface speed up.

    I followed the link, really nice mill, congratulations.

    Hss is a bit of hit and miss with the cheaper ones. You can get great or crap, steer away from AL advertised, it's for soft metal like aluminum mild steel (with coolant).
    Using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    805

    Default

    Thanks Dave. What about solid carbide end mills? Do they need heaps of RPM? It came with a 75mm face mill which is pretty good. It’s a sandvik one. I want to get a bigger one to work on cylinder heads

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Age
    56
    Posts
    1,416

    Default

    Here is a good little chart I found many years ago, It gives you a good ballpark figure to aim for, I have it taped to a cupboard in the shed.
    Using Tapatalk

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    34
    Posts
    1,075

    Default

    I've always recommended Carbitool on the woodwork forum, they make a whole range for metalwork as well and they're Australian made, which is nice.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    805

    Default

    Thanks mate, I’ll check them out !

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