universal cutter grinder

[bertmiller]

the blunt millbits mountain is starting to get bigger and im thinking about buying a cutter grinder like this:
http://ww2.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=45707
is it any good?
anybody have good or bad experience with it?
my main interest would be sharpening the sides of the mills.

[Boots]

If your main interest is sharpening the sides then this not the sharener for you. You need an "AIR CHUCK" or floating spindle to do the sides. This grinder is basically for the ends and doesn't appear to me to have an "Air Chuck" on it. Without the air chuck your tools will not be round.

[bertmiller]

you mean what this guys is doing at 2:00 minutes in the movie ?
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Av025_pq6-I"]YouTube - End Mill Grinder PP-25
this appears to be included in the machine i like to buy.
the real machine im interested in, is on this page but its dutch but practicaly the same machine.
http://www.buitelaar.nl/comasy/templ...productid=3719

edit:
i found some info finaly on another forum:
http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/showthread.php?t=26651

[lerman]

I have the Harbor Freight unit. It is junk. One of the tool holders has half the dovetail missing. Fit and finish are terrible.

I received it in damaged condition. Getting replacement parts took ten weeks. The motor fan guard was bashed in when I received it. When I got the replacement motor assembly, the fan guard on it wasn't painted.

The motion of the various axes are rough. The locks sometimes bind and at other times are too loose.

The bottom plate looks like it was cut out by a teenager with a hack saw.

This product is definitely NOT recommended.

Ken

[bertmiller]

tx for the info.
glad i didnt already buy it.

[Boots]

On this particular grinder the spindle does not "Float" on air. Therefor the OD grind will not be that accurate. Trust me.... We bought one used for 5,000.00 that has the air spindle and it does a great job. Been using it for 10 years. Without the air your tooling will not be round.

[bertmiller]

5000 ! , i can buy endmills for that for the rest of my life.

[Boots]

I spend more than 5,000.00 a year on tooling (about 40 tools)even with the grinder. At over $100.00 each it don't take long to spend 5 grand. Unless you arn't very busy. The great thing about having an "In House Grinder" is you can make your own specialized tooling. For instance...we put "sometimes" a reverse taper on the OD of the tool of .0010 to .0005 this way it takes care of tool preasure and wear. Like doing keyways when you want the side walls to be perfectly straight. Sending them out for resharping is out of the question as they take off too much and sometimes they get damaged in shipping and they basically charge too much.

[mc-motorsports]

I have the Harbor Freight unit. It is junk.

Say it isn't so! LOL!
Everything I've ever bought from HF was junk. We have a HF store up the street from me, we call it "junk mart". I only buy chipping hammers and other tools that don't require accuracy and can be thrown away.

[gdgrinder]

I know a high precision cutter master M6020,the precision is very good.