hsm on steel

[seawolf217]

Hi,

I'm new to high speed machining. We do a lot of work with 4340 and stainless 303. We have a few HAAS machines (7500 max rpm, 20hp) and a mazak (max 4000 rpm, 50 hp). I'd like to look into hsm for the parts that we do. I know that hsm for aluminum is somewhere around 15k-30k rpm. What is it for 4340 steel and stainless? Also, what are the best endmills for this type of machining? Any help would be appreciated. Also we just purchased a VF-9 (40"x84") if anyone has any large scale work you need help with.

[tobyaxis]

There is a lot of information here and on MMSonline.

http://www.mmsonline.com/search.aspx...ext=HSM&page=1

Good luck with your new machine!

Cheers

[seawolf217]

i've already read through most of those articles, but i didn't see anything specific to the materials we are using. i think the closest is mold making? i'll read through them again thought, thanks for the links!

[tobyaxis]

Have you searched cnc zone yet?

You can try this one too.
http://www.moldmakingtechnology.com/zones.html

[tobyaxis]

Here is a Google search on HSM.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...ng&btnG=Search

[Geof]

Originally Posted by seawolf217 Hi, I'm new to high speed machining. We do a lot of work with 4340 and stainless 303....I'd like to look into hsm for the parts that we do... What is it for 4340 steel and stainless? Also, what are the best endmills for this type of machining? .....

TiAlN coated carbide tooling is what you use for high speed machining at least on alloy steels, I don't know about stainless. Actually I don't know if you can apply quite the same hsm techniques to stainless as you can to plain carbon or low alloy steels.

Regarding speeds your Haas should be able to get into the correct rpm range with a maximum of 7500 rpm available. With hsm you may run 1-1/2 to 3 times what would be considered conventional so if you have a 1/2" cutter on 4340 you would be running up to 600 or 800 fpm which is in the ballpark of 6000 rpm.. You will also be running anywhere up to 200 ipm feed, possibly more but that is well within the capability of the Haas.

You are also going to need to find out about trochoidal toolpathing because this can be the key to making hsm feasible.

At the risk of being accused of blowing my own trumpet here is a link to a thread I started on my version of hsm which morphed into my version of trochoiodal tool paths.

Now I'm a believer; you can mill C1018 at 800 FPM

[seawolf217]

wow you guys are awesome! thanks! i just got out from college and i'm helping my dad with the family business and i have a lot to learn in a short time so this is really helpful

[seawolf217]

i'm reading through all these articles and i'm really overwhelmed with the amount of information. Its going to take me decades before I'm as good as you guys... u guys are my heroes now

[tobyaxis]

Originally Posted by seawolf217 ... u guys are my heroes now

This could cause inflation, LOL.

The other guy just has a lot of helpful posts so if it looks like he is blowing his own trumpet, he isn't the type.

Glad you found what you needed.

Welcome to CNC Zone

[seawolf217]

what kind of depth of cut do you recommend?