Finishing cutters

[justCNCit]

Hey, it's been pretty easy finding the bigger rougher cutters. Been over a couple of suggested suppliers, but looking for a cutter diameter smaller than 1/16", or 1/16" at maximum length for finishing signs.

Solid carbide. This seems to be more of a rarity as the smallest they usually sell is 1/4" and maybe 1/8". Quick suggestions are welcome.

[rowbare]

Check out http://www.bitsbits.net/ they have all kinds of small bits.

[ger21]

A lot of guys on the Vectric forum like these.
http://www.beckwithdecor.com/index_files/Cutters.htm

[TDA]

Warning: The following post was made at 3:30 am local time and my not represent my best ability to.......use.....word....things.... But you have to do what you can when you can. So....

The problem you run into is the depth of cut. Most sign makers that I've talked to want to go .75" to 1.25" deep. Even at .5" you are taking about a cutter that has a 8 to 1 aspect ratio (in other words it cuts 8 times the diameter of the tool). The higher the aspect ratio the easier it is to break the tool. I believe the highest aspect ratio tool we ever made was 12 to 1 which in a .0625" cutter would only give you a depth of cut of .75". We would also have to grind it on a 2" blank which would make it more expensive.

One way people get around this is with a tapered cutter (a tool that gets bigger as you go up it). You can get the small detail in the bottom of the cut with the strength of a larger tool. BDP001 and BDP008 on the page that ger21 gave you are both examples of tapered cutters. Unless you need a straight wall cutter this style of tool is probably the way to go.