Smallest diameter endmills

[Sanghera]

High all,
Just wondering what the smallest possible size endmill is to use on wood safely. Can you go .25" at a time with it? I want to make some wood signs and the size I'm making I use 1/8" right now and not enough detail on the edges yet.
Thanks.

[Ken_Shea]

Of course you can go smaller which usually dictates faster rpm, shallower cut and slower feeds or some combination of all three.

As an option have you thought about using the current bit for speed and then follow with a second operation only for those areas that require more detail using the smaller bit.


Ken

[Sanghera]

Yes, that is exactly what I want to do I want to cut it out with .25" or 1/8" and then use a small endmill for the edges and small details. I wonder if a 1/16" bit can handle a 1/4" at a time or do that small of endmills even have a flute length of that? Multpiple passes would work also though.
Thanks.

[Ken_Shea]

Yes I believe it may have a .250 flute length but that would be in my opinion way too deep a cut for a cutter of that size, I would think you would have better success with faster feed speeds, light DOC and multiple passes.
1/16 ain't much

[Sanghera]

What do you mean faster feed speeds?
Thanks.

[Ken_Shea]

Faster feeds would be referring to travel speeds. I am used to using IPM or "Inches per Minute", some use IPT "Inches per tooth” or IPR "Inches per Revolution" but IPM seems less confusing for us less then experienced

So you take a lighter depth of cut and are then able to move faster through the material. This method seems to be gaining in popularity and gets almost bazar in complexity and will surley start an argument if you even dare try to call it HSM "High Speed Machining" of which in reading what it is by many, I am so confused that I just have made my own definition, KHSM or "Ken's High Speed Machining"

[gcz]

i've done 1/16 bit 1/4 deep in teak at 2 in/minute with noooo problem - it turns the wood to dust (spindle at max speed)

[Ken_Shea]

GCZ you are of course correct, you can slow down the feed to accommodate the cut. My opinion was based upon a gut feeling and not experience, but at 2 IPM it would seem to me that this would be a perfect candidate for what I was referring to. I am too old and do not have the time to operate at 2 IPM

[Sanghera]

Cool, where can you get a nice 1/16" bit? The flute is actually 1/4" ?
Thanks.

[gcz]

i get stuff on ebay - there's a guy there selling small carbide cutters only...
but i don't want to tell you this for a couple days so i can snipe the last 2 sets i need!

Ken- you just need more mills!!!!

[strat]

my code generator assigns 50% of bit diameter as cut depth and i have used a few bits that are like needles no probs

[Sanghera]

I have looked at a few bits, is there any small 1/16" bits or 1/32" bits that have a flute of 1/4" or more because they all seem to have a smaller flute with the smaller diameter which makes sense but just wondering if they even go that deep?
Thanks.