Z-Carbs

[Chad M]

Hi,

I did some reasearch on the forum on z-carb endmills and found it interesting that many users say they blast it with coolant. I was told by our supplier they don't like coolant and it lowers the tool life. Any thoughts?

[chris m]

I guess that it depends on application, material being machined, tolerances involved, etc. Thermal shock caused by coolant can definitely shorten tool life by cracking the tool. Suppliers, in general, typically don't know sh!t; I'd call SGS tech support direct, tell them what your application is, and run what they tell you

 

C

[Storkman]

quote:

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Suppliers, in general, typically don't know sh!t

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+1 Chris

[randymcdermott]

Chris is right about thermal shock. The rapid cooling and heating of carbide will lead to cracking/chipping. However if the tool is getting 100% flood coolant, that shouldn't be an issue in my opinion.

 

Randy

[HEAVY METAL]

we use coolant with are z-carbs.

[Kannon]

we were always told that if you had interupted cuts not to use coolant, and if you didnt have interupted cuts you could. Probably thermal shock issue.

 

Brian

[Psychomill]

I run them dry as "roughers", with coolant as finishers.....

 

but not always

[john_070]

always used coolant but you better use air blast if not. recutting chips are there worst enemy

[jspangler]

HI

I use them for slotting and finishing ops and always use coolant. These end mills kick butt!!

 

John

[jimspac]

I use them exclusively when I run Inconel 718. I flood them with coolant and they give me up to double the tool life over most anything else

[one shot]

I run them with high pressure coolant. They last forever that way.

[cncIT]

I have heard, by SGS, also not to use coolant!

 

I am curious???

[ChuckM]

The Z Carbs use a aluminum nitride coating. The coating is suppose to create a layer of super hard aluminum oxide which supposedly has a very low friction coefficient but it wont do this until higher temps are reached.

 

You won't ever get there using flood coolant. I use these end mills and our regional SGS guy is adamant about running them dry. He knows his stuff and spends most of his time testing the tools he sells. I don't know about running them on nickel alloys like Inconel (usually run with coolant) as I only use them on harder steels and stainless.

 

My 2 cents.

 

-Chuck

[g huns]

I cut lots of S-7 between 50 and 56 RC and use air blast only. These are my most favorite end mills. Rough with them, finish with them, except for 3d contouring, not so good for a nice finish. And very reasonably priced I might add

[Chad M]

+1ChuckM

That is what I was told by our SGS rep as well. I think im gonna continue running them dry.