recomendations cutting nickel

[Surface]

I'm quoting a job, milled from nickel (pure) 200/201. Does anyone have any experience they could share?

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

All I gotta say is RUN FOR YOUR LIFE

 

It pushes a mean burr, ummmm, drilling small diameter holes (.125 or less) more than about 4-5 Diameters deep you're going to have to do some grinding on the drill to get it to cut bigger because the material shrinks down on the drill and snaps 'em off. Plan on loosing about 1/2 your Coiffe and if you don't have much to start with, well... get used to being bald.

 

HTH

[Surface]

I was reading that it pushes a big burr. The article seemed like they were causely recommending tools with a high rake angle, but they were turning.

The holes aren’t a big problem with this part. Mostly surface machining with a 1/8 ball. I was thinking I would be ok with a sharp AlTin coated endmill and running it with high-speed speeds and feeds. Something like 450 SFM, .05D DOC and feeding a little heavy .0015-.002 FPT.

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

Probably not a bad idea to go with high rake. It is VERY abrasive though, Cast Iron abrasive TiAlN is a good start, I think Robb Jack X Series, OSG ExoCarb, or something of that nature would help the cause.

[Harryman]

Can you get a sample of material and do some test cuts? I think it would be wise. See if your planned speed, feed, tool, and tool path work.

[Bruce Caulley]

It is quite abrasive and as James said holes will close up. Forget about reaming small deep holes. I have some data here for a job I did using Garr solid carbide. I will dig it up today.

 

Bruce

[masterp]

I have cut alot of nickle chrome alloys. TiAln is a good coating choice also TiCN works well. However I dont think the speed and feed is realistic. Kennametal guidelines for a 1/8 carbide emill with TiAlN in nickle is 100sfm and .0004 FPT

this is in line with my experience as well. I am interested to see any data retrieved from the machinist who actually setup and ran this material. _mp

[Müřlıń®]

50-80 SFM....use TiAln coated and air to cut...

[masterp]

what kind of tool life do you get runnin dry

[Müřlıń®]

We cut high Nickel, Cromium and Molydendeum alloy steels exclusively.

 

 

Thermal edge fracture is a problem because of the abrasivness of the material.

 

Using only air and TiAln coated tools, get three times the tool-life vs using coolant.

[masterp]

excellent thanks for the tip

[Bruce Caulley]

10mm Garr 870MA: 1600RPM 192mm feed

5mm Garr 870MA: 3200RPM 300mm feed

12mm dormer A002 HSS drill: 346RPM 70mm feed

 

This was in 99,97% pure nickel. These speeds and feeds are probably a bit on the cautious side.

 

HTH

Bruce