Can an X1 bore a deep 70mm dia hole in Al?

[philbur]

Providing you can get the rpm down to something like 300 fpm surface speed then it depends on how bigofa bite you take. The issue is not necessarily the size of the tool (within reason) but the amount of material you try to remove per minute.

Reducing a 70 mm diameter by 100mm long section of aluminium to small chips is going to take a long time on an X1 however you do it. Ideally you need to keep the rpm up and therefore the HP up and therefore the highest possible removal rate. Keeping the tool diameter down helps in keeping the rpm up and also minises the torque and therfore machine deflection. It is quite feasible to make a purpose made cutter out of silver steel (drill rod) specific for the job.

Regards
Phil

Originally Posted by mugabe Can X1 drive this shell mill?

[mugabe]

I just got the 60 mm cutting surface long 12 mm Ti plated HSS roughing mill . It did good job removing 40 mm al if lub is used . So may be combination with turntable +rougmill then fine boring could be fast .

[digits]

Originally Posted by mugabe I just got the 60 mm cutting surface long 12 mm Ti plated HSS roughing mill . It did good job removing 40 mm al if lub is used . So may be combination with turntable +rougmill then fine boring could be fast .

Do you mind sharing what exactly you're using and where you got it/what it cost?

Cheers.

[mugabe]

Actually it is longer than conventional roughing mill. It removes material faster than end mill . I guess it is possible to make a pilot hole with drill bit larger than this mill and then put this roughing mill inside a hole and mill by turning the table (the part is placed on) to get rough circle (assuming material on hole center is already removed by same mill).

It costs me 20 USD and it is not brand one .

[digits]

I still haven't found anywhere in the UK that sells any type of roughing mill

[philbur]

You arn't looking hard enough. for one example try:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s?ie=UTF8&rh...3332011&page=2

if all else fails:

Dormer http://www.dormertools.com/uk

then check for a stockist in your area.

Phil

Originally Posted by digits I still haven't found anywhere in the UK that sells any type of roughing mill

[digits]

Originally Posted by philbur You arn't looking hard enough. for one example try: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s?ie=UTF8&rh...3332011&page=2 if all else fails: Dormer http://www.dormertools.com/uk then check for a stockist in your area. Phil

Thanks for the links Phil - I had seen the Amazon UK ones before - but they are all unavailable.

A quick search on Dormer however did produce some interesting hits - thanks

[philbur]

there is of course ebay

Phil

Originally Posted by digits Thanks for the links Phil - I had seen the Amazon UK ones before - but they are all unavailable. A quick search on Dormer however did produce some interesting hits - thanks

[digits]

Originally Posted by philbur there is of course ebay Phil

Ebay UK isn't that great, and the indeterminate delivery time is a bit of a problem for me. Still, an end mill in a Jiffy bag should fit through my letterbox

If only I could find a way to fit the 118mm long 18mm dia rougher to my X1! I'll have to replace my broken back-gear first though

[philbur]

If all else fails try these guys in the USA.

www.discount-tools.com

I recently ordered something like 12 HSS and carbide endmills ranging from 1/4" to 1/2". It cost me USD 15 shipping from the USA to Norway (arrived in 7 days). All cutters where USA made and of excellent quality. It was much cheaper than buying locally. Get a quote including shipping.

Regards
Phil

Originally Posted by digits Ebay UK isn't that great, and the indeterminate delivery time is a bit of a problem for me. Still, an end mill in a Jiffy bag should fit through my letterbox If only I could find a way to fit the 118mm long 18mm dia rougher to my X1! I'll have to replace my broken back-gear first though

[digits]

Originally Posted by philbur If all else fails try these guys in the USA. www.discount-tools.com I recently ordered something like 12 HSS and carbide endmills ranging from 1/4" to 1/2". It cost me USD 15 shipping from the USA to Norway (arrived in 7 days). All cutters where USA made and of excellent quality. It was much cheaper than buying locally. Get a quote including shipping. Regards Phil

Cheers Phil - it's not going to do my carbon footprint any good, but I might order some tools from them. To be honest, their array of cutters is a bit overwhelming - they have plenty that will cut 100mm deep though

[project5k]

well there are certinally some interesting ideas on how to tackle this issue... ofcourse, by now, he could have mailed me the peice of stock, i'da chucked it up in the 4-jaw on the big lathe, chewed it out, finished it, polished it and mailed it back to him....