End mill sizes

[MBG]

I need to cut a .020" slot. Is there and endmill that would cut this? Peferably carbide. I want to do it on an indexing head. and spinning the part at the same time therefor getting a grove around the diameter.

Who thinks this would work? Currently I lathe turn it but don't want to do that anymore.

[mxtras]

You can get endmills as small as .005", so the answer is yes.

Pay close attention to speeds and feeds - a .020" endmill is gonna snap faster than Mike Tyson at a cheerleader convention.

You might be better off in the lathe with a grooving insert ground with adequate side and end clearance.

Scott

[psychomill]

Yes you can get a .020 carb endmill (and even smaller). Check Robb Jack or even Micro 100. There are many others as well.

Will it work?... Yes, but why would you want to? A groove like that is much faster to run on a lathe, consistent, longer tool life, etc.... I'd think you'd be happier with parts on the lathe than milling it.

[MBG]

Originally Posted by psychomill Yes you can get a .020 carb endmill (and even smaller). Check Robb Jack or even Micro 100. There are many others as well. Will it work?... Yes, but why would you want to? A groove like that is much faster to run on a lathe, consistent, longer tool life, etc.... I'd think you'd be happier with parts on the lathe than milling it.

true but my lathe is manual.. You do 2k a week on a manual mill!!! it is ridiculous. If I can put it in the mill I would be happier than a pig in **** .....

What to do waht do to...

[mxtras]

I love running manual lathes....what's the aversion to a manual lathe to cut a face groove?

From what you describe, the lathe is the way to go.

Scott

[psychomill]

true but my lathe is manual.. You do 2k a week on a manual mill!!!

Yes, but I think a big reason why you CAN do 2k a week is because its on a lathe. Put it on a mill, you may not make as many,... certainly not as quickly at any rate.

What is the reason (besides the quantity) its a pain on the lathe?

[JPMach]

Sounds like it's time to get a cnc lathe!

JP

[MBG]

Originally Posted by JPMach Sounds like it's time to get a cnc lathe! JP

true... but if I got a mill I could do A LOT more work... That is my catch 22.

[MBG]

Originally Posted by psychomill Yes, but I think a big reason why you CAN do 2k a week is because its on a lathe. Put it on a mill, you may not make as many,... certainly not as quickly at any rate. What is the reason (besides the quantity) its a pain on the lathe?

just time and exhaustion. Really it isn't time it's just tiring and I bet if all I had to do was load and press a button I wouldn't be as tired.

[HuFlungDung]

If the configuration of the part is suitable, you might use a slitting saw to cut the groove in the mill. I'm not saying it is the wise thing to do, but if you are determined..... I would not waste 2 seconds considering an endmill for this type of job.

[MBG]

Originally Posted by HuFlungDung If the configuration of the part is suitable, you might use a slitting saw to cut the groove in the mill. I'm not saying it is the wise thing to do, but if you are determined..... I would not waste 2 seconds considering an endmill for this type of job.

no? Well the thing is.. I only have money for one type of machine right now... I got this job to do for 2k a week at $.75 soo if I can do it decent money.. but I want to have a mill cause I can do a lot of other jobs with it also.... :\ I dont know.. It is just a groove

why wouldn't you use an end mill?

[psychomill]

I'm with Hu on this one. If you're 'determined' to mill it, I'd go with a saw.

true... but if I got a mill I could do A LOT more work... That is my catch 22.

Yes, if you got a mill you could do a lot more work (at least a lot more different type of work). However, cutting a groove on the OD of something that can be held in lathe is not exactly the right direction in my mind (unless you only had a mill and not a lathe). Time is money. Besides, what makes you think that loading 2k parts on a mill to cut a groove is less exhausting than loading 2k parts on a lathe? Not to mention, for this app., the lathe is 10x easier to set up and get going....