Lollipop cutters - anyone?

[Andy Fritz]

Hi Guys!

I am trying to figure out a good and repeatable way of cutting a groove for a sliding magnet. The groove is round, but functions like a T-slot, meaning you can slide the magnet sideways from the open top of the groove, but the groove still prevent the magent from falling out. I have done this before by clamping two pieces of material together and then drilling from the side of the workpiece. This works, but at least one in three fails when the drill pulls too much to one side. I have heard of "lollipop cutters" a type of ball end mill that works like a woodruff / t slot cutter, but I can't find them in any machine shop. Would anyone possibly know if this type of cutter exist? If so - where?

I got "lollipop cutter" from Master Cam, but maybe there is a different name?

Greatful for any advise.

Andy

[tobyaxis]

Yes they do exist. I've used them for picking hard to reach mold surfaces. As far as where to get them, I work for other people so I don't know where or who they buy them from. You could try MSC Supply, Sandvik, Kennametal, Seco Carboloy, or Greenleaf. They might have them. As for cutting a Groove with them, you may want to use a woodruff with large radii to Medium Rough after using an End Mill. You are looking at using three different cutters.

When using the Lollipop flood with high pressure coolant and light feeds and speeds.

tobyaxis

[JPMach]

Check out Harveytool.com they have them listed as undercutting endmills. They offer from 1/16 to 1/2" sizes.

JP

[l u k e]

I think this is what you want. I cant give you a direct link, but go here (Travers) and search for "catalog page # 266". It's the second picture.