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Thread: HSS End Mill life
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23rd Feb 2019, 02:43 PM #1New Member
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- Jan 2015
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HSS End Mill life
G’day, I bought the set of HAFCO End Mill Slot/Slot Drills,used mostly the 12mm dia cutter, used on a HM36 mill/drill
What life can I expect before needing regrinding, I brush on cutting fluid and just hand feed, does touching up cutting edges help
cheers
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23rd Feb 2019, 03:48 PM #2China
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- Dec 2005
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- South Australia
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I am no expert although it will depend on what material you are cutting what speed you are running plus the rate of travel, it is a bit like
how long is a piece of string
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23rd Feb 2019, 07:01 PM #3Most Valued Member
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If you don't have power feed you'll just break them or chip the tips well before they actually become blunt. Otherwise it really comes down to material.
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23rd Feb 2019, 08:55 PM #4Philomath in training
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24th Feb 2019, 07:41 PM #5Senior Member
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- Jul 2012
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- Griffith NSW
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A few things:
- HAFCO end mills = garbage. Contemplate how tight a manufacturer has to be to braze HSS cutting sections to mild steel shanks for a 6mm end mill. Of course, youre not seeing the savings from that, youre just getting the craptastic end product and paying a fortune for it.
- Life is hard to guage, but rubbing is the enemy for end mills. Take light cuts and relatively quick feeds. A 12mm end mill can cut a 6mm deep channel in one pass in theory, but your mill is not going to be able to provide enough rigidity to drive the tool like that.
- Id ditch the cutting fluid, replace it with compressed air. Oils tend to make the endmills sticky, which encourages the chip to re-enter the cut and get recut. Its essential for tool life to get the chip the hell outta there. Get one of those 7 dollar misting setups from fleabay and use that to evacuate chips. That alone will pay itself off very very quickly.
- I wouldnt bother with regrinding at that size, its not going to be economically viable. Ditch the HSS and get solid carbide end mills off ebay. 15 bucks gets you a 12mm and youll never look back at those hafco pieces of...
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