key slot cutter (feed and speed)?

[beej]

I don't use a Key slot cutter very often. I'm cutting cold rolled steel using a HSS 1 1/4 keyslot cutter taking a full width of cut on a 40 taper machine. What feeds and speeds should I use

[Kelly Burns]

I like to use a smaller cutter then use multipass to finish them in. 1.25 dia. about 12-1500 rpm. For feeds, it depends if your doing an actual T-slot, or a keyway down the sides of a shaft, but usually Ill slow the feed down to around 10IPM for the first pass and pick it up from there. I usually cut on center and then move up and down on the next passes. This will work for a HSS slot cutter, the Iscars I use will go about 3x as fast with the feed at about 30IPM.

[beej]

it is an actuall t-slot. And unfortunately I don't have the tooling on hand to take a smaller cutter first. but I'll give 1200 rpms and 10 ipm a shot and see how it goes. thanks

[Chris Rizzo]

How many teeth on the cutter? Make sure your giving yourself some chip load or you'll rub the thing dull.

[beej]

quote:

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How many teeth on the cutter? Make sure your giving yourself some chip load or you'll rub the thing dull.

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