Please, I need some end mill bit advice for aluminum


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Thread: Please, I need some end mill bit advice for aluminum

  1. #1
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    Default Please, I need some end mill bit advice for aluminum

    I have no end mill bits for aluminum in my arsenal. I need some advice on what ones to buy. My machine is a Roland MDX650 with tool changer and ZCL650 4th axis.

    This youtube video is the same machine and setup I have. Cept, I am lacking the bit. (and T slot table, I still need to make one)


    I'd like to mill about this size of parts and in a similar manner. In this videos description it describes the bit, but not enough information for me to find one to purchase.

    I'd like to have in my 4 bay tool tray:
    1 bit for surfacing (Square?)
    1 bit for roughing (Square?)
    1 bit for finishing (is ball appropriate?)
    and the 4th bit available to change out when drilling is required. So an assortment of drill bits for this purpose is needed also.

    I could really use some advice and tips. Thank you.

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    Default Re: Please, I need some end mill bit advice for aluminum

    Any tooling supplier will have tools like that - you can look in my Links section under Tooling for them. For aluminum, you need 2 or at most 3 flutes for chip clearance. Order them by the shank size, which will need to fit the collets you've got. Don't get tools that are too long to clear the workpiece when the machine is at the top of its stroke. You need ball-end tools for finishing 3D contoured surfaces, but for finishing flat surfaces a flat-end tool works best. For drilling, if you don't have a Jacobs chuck, you'll need a set of drill bits with a uniform shank size, so they'll all fit in a collet.

    [FONT=Verdana]Andrew Werby[/FONT]
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    Default Re: Please, I need some end mill bit advice for aluminum

    I highly recommend IMCO Streakers. They are fantastic! They also have great tools for steel. --------------------- John



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    Default Re: Please, I need some end mill bit advice for aluminum

    The best tools I've found for aluminum cutting with high-speed spindles are "O"-flute, single edge, for roughing. You can get them with a "sweep" profile on the tip which will make them produce a smooth pocket floor as well. I prefer to switch over to a two or three flute coated endmill for the finish pass. For 3D contouring you'll need ball endmill or a tapered ball endmill depending on what you are doing. They make them in single edge as well, although not as easy to find.



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Please, I need some end mill bit advice for aluminum

Please, I need some end mill bit advice for aluminum