Need Help!- machining copper isn't easy!

[b23]

Can anyone tell me the best way to mill copper using end-mills/slot-drills?
I've tried varying the speeds and feeds and different cutting fluids, but even a carbide tool doesn't seem to last very long.
The best I've come up with so far is by cutting it dry and a relatively fast feed on fairly slow revs. - but not sure if this is the best way?
Any suggestions?

[JWB_Machining]

I had to face copper the other week and I got a really nice finish using a Ti Coated Solid Carbide Endmill. I cut at SFM = 262 and IPT = 0.00025. I felt like I could have gone a lot faster actually, my depth of cut was shallow however and I cut it dry because I didn't feel like cleaning up coolant at the end of the day. If it helps I used a 0.25" Cutter with 2 Flutes. So with that I was running at 4000 RPM and a Feed of 2 IPM. Lemme know if this works for you. Like I said I was just facing with a shallow depth of Cut to make some specimen parallel so I guess take that into consideration. Nice Avatar btw

[RICHARD ZASTROW]

Don't laugh but I've used vegetable oil spray AKA "PAM". It kept the copper from adhering to the tool like cheddar cheese to a sharp knife. Might stain, however.

Dick Z

[JWB_Machining]

Yeah Maybe try hittin it with Tap Magic if MSC is out of PAM haha. But the finish I got by running dry was to die for.

[Delw]

you need to use a very high rake and sharp endmill, we usually had better luck with Cobalt endmils Carbide never really did good.

med. speeds slow feeds.

if your doing this on a hand mill keroseen works well, pam works good

if your doing it on a CNC flood collant works fine needs to run a tad rich. I cut quite a bit of copper in a lathe and I use oil, hoever the parts need to be rinsed immed otherwise they will tarish

[Cyclotronguy]

Best lube with OFC is a water soluable oil that is low in sulfites. OK guys don't laugh but in a pinch I've seen it done with milk.... yeah, thats right milk, not low fat btw.

[Delw]

you wanna laugh.......

Try walking up to one of your new employees who is doing some tapping work on some 316 and 304 stainless and breaking taps and parts ,hand him a bottle of astroglide telling him to use it.

then its even worse when you run out and no one in the shop will go and buy it even on the clock.

I was talking to a tap manufacturer a bunch of years ago and he said something to the effect that for this application you need something very slick ( The thread we were doing with these special taps in a very thing piece of ss were having tearing issues and we needed a good finish)
he suggested slick 50, but the only place we could find it was on the other side of town I made a joke that there was an adult book store 2 miles away. He kinda laughed, then I got to thinking WTF I went and got some.

It doesnt work in all metals but it did help with the stainless.