Machine Ultem 30% glass filled

[Metric]

Hello every one.

Does anyone have experience with milling Ultem 30% glass filled plastic material on a production basis? Easy? Mean? Rough on tools? Whatever. Can't seem to find any real machining info on it so far other than cautions about certain kinds of coolants.

Thanks in advance.

Metric.

[kh012]

don't know about the ultem but we used to cut alot of carbon filled peek. the only thing that would

last were diamond coated tools or cbn inserts and boring bars. with reg. carbide the tool wear is drastic.

like offsetting .0005/.001 per part just to hold tol. speed and feed arn't the problem just tool wear.

 

HTH Ken

[gcode]

Ultem is nasty stuff.. hard on your tools .. hard on your machines.. hard on your lungs

[Oscar R.]

Yes, rough on tools. Most materials with any amount of glass or carbon will wear your tools quickly even under optimum conditions.

Bright finish carbide or PCD will help get the job done. I would suggest roughing with carbide and finish with a fresh carbide tool or a PCD if you run into wearing or finish problems.

Coolant will help, but most customers want there Ultem 2300 oil, solvent, and debre free.

It's prone to chipping on exit cuts if your walls run thin, or if your tool dulls.

 

Here's a link to get your started. Not sure if you've run accross this one before.

http://www.boedeker.com/fabtip.htm

 

Hope this helps.

 

Edit: Forgot to mention, this stuff will destort very easily. Very, very easily. I suggest rough, anneal, finish if you can get away with it.

[GoetzInd]

Very abrasive. may want to look into diamond. also, make sure you have a good smoke extraction system and ventalation.

 

mike

[mig]

We machine ultem 1000 from time to time , but not production.

Using regular carbide cutters .

use coolant and wach not to over heat

[Metric]

Hi All.

Thanks a lot for the in put. I may order diamond coated end mill to try out.

Regards

MDT.

[drogers]

my company machines ultem often and in production quantities and yes its hard on the hands but the only tools we have problems with dulling are taps

[drogers]

it will distort and edges do tend to chip off during machining. if your part has thin walls look for cracks they will be hard to see so look very closley. and we use high speed steel and carbide endmills and rarely have to change tools because of dulling so i wouldnt go all expensive and order a diamond coated endmill just yet. unless you have to do some major roughing.

[Newbeeee™]

We do a lot of glass filled. We use garr 4 flute carbide coated double ended. They last just as long as diamond on back to back testing, so we haven't justified the cost of diamond.

Use coolant to keep the dust contained.

Use gloves and a mask for cleaning the parts after they have dried off.

Then shovel out the sand/flour from the machine while still wet.

This is for 1/8th thick panels.

[jorges]

If your part is thin or has thin walls it will distort a lot. we made some parts that we could not hold them flat. They got bent .100" or more. Part shape will determine if you can get away with it. We used carbide end mills without a problem.

[Metric]

Hello Newbeee and Jorger,

Could you please in put some cutting feed & speed? I plan to use 3/16 4flutes carbide end mill to rough out

(open pocket .395" deep) and finish with 3/32 4flutes carbide end mill then finish .025" radius corner with .05" 3 flutes

carbide end mill .Stock is holding very good in fixture.

Thanks a lot.

MDT