OK face mill for benchtop machine?

[mrcodewiz]

I am looking for a face mill to use on my G0704 for making skim cuts across 6061. It needs to be about 3" to face the entire part (not up to a shoulder).

Does anyone have opinions on what (economical) face mill and insert would give me the best finish?

I was looking at this face mill at wholesale tool:


Screw Insert Type 45 deg. Face Mills (WT)

thanks,
Kevin

[SCzEngrgGroup]

For a few $ more, you can get a Glacern (Glacern Machine Tools - Premium Quality Vises and Tooling), which is a work of art. I have their 4" 45 degree face mill, and it leaves a near mirror finish on aluminum.

Regards,
Ray L.

[mrcodewiz]

Thanks, Himy. I have heard good things about the Glacern. I should probably just go that route. My intent is to use this solely for finish cuts (< .015 or so). Would I be served better to just get the 4" - i.e. would the G0704 run it OK?

[mrcodewiz]

and also, could you tell me which inserts you are using?

[SCzEngrgGroup]

Thanks, Himy. I have heard good things about the Glacern. I should probably just go that route. My intent is to use this solely for finish cuts (< .015 or so). Would I be served better to just get the 4" - i.e. would the G0704 run it OK?

I suspect the G0704 could probably handle light cuts - the 45 degree inserts reduce the HP requirement substantially. I've done 0.150" cuts in aluminum with my knee mill, and it didn't really complain.

I use the inserts Glacern sells for aluminum - not cheap, but well worth it if you care about finish quality. And they seem quite rugged - I've got a lot of miles on mine, and they still work perfectly.

Regards,
Ray L.

[paulsv]

I have a Shars 2 and 1/2 inch 45 degree facemill for my G0704. They sell lots of other sizes, and seem to be a pretty nice product. Not as pretty as the Glacern, but reasonably priced.

shars.com - 45 Degree Square Shoulder Face SEHWSEHTSEHW

The 2.5 inch does very well on the G0704 in aluminum, but I wouldn't go any bigger than that if you plan to cut steel. At the lower speed required for steel, I don't think the 704 would have enough power to take much of a cut with a 4 inch face mill. Even with the 2.5 inch, I have to cut steel at higher speeds than I would like. I have the stock motor, though.

[mrcodewiz]

I have a Shars 2 and 1/2 inch 45 degree facemill for my G0704. They sell lots of other sizes, and seem to be a pretty nice product. Not as pretty as the Glacern, but reasonably priced.

shars.com - 45 Degree Square Shoulder Face SEHWSEHTSEHW

The 2.5 inch does very well on the G0704 in aluminum, but I wouldn't go any bigger than that if you plan to cut steel. At the lower speed required for steel, I don't think the 704 would have enough power to take much of a cut with a 4 inch face mill. Even with the 2.5 inch, I have to cut steel at higher speeds than I would like. I have the stock motor, though.

Hmmm... The shell mills seem to be about the same price between shars and glacern but the glacern arbor is about double the price of the shars. The glacern arbor sure does look a lot nicer. Is the roughly $40 savings worth it (either way)?

[TXFred]

I've been very impressed by the Tormach face mill. It's smaller, only 1.5" across.

It's not a 45 degree mill, so it probably isn't as fast as some others. On the other hand, it can do limited amounts of contouring.

I use the inserts that Tormach sells, and have so far run it on aluminum and cast iron. I haven't tried steel or stainless yet.

[rwskinner]

I use the Glacern FM45 and with an arbor from Shars that I shortened for my TTS system. Works great and very nice finish. Yes, the arbor was much less expensive at shars.

Richard

[mrcodewiz]

That's a thought. I am definitely getting the glacern face mill though.

[mrcodewiz]

I use the Glacern FM45 and with an arbor from Shars that I shortened for my TTS system. Works great and very nice finish. Yes, the arbor was much less expensive at shars.

Richard

Richard-

Sorry to dredge this back up. Are you using the .75"shank, 1" arbor from shars? Did you modify it to have a recessed shoulder ala TTS or just shorten the shank? What diameter face mill do you have?

[WOTDesigns]

if you are wanting to use it with TTS I would get the .75" and order a $10 conversion kit from tormach for the shoulder.