Machining Rhodium

[Guest]

Does anyone here have experience turning pure Rhodium? None of the tools we have attempted so far will hold an edge. The part is small diameter: 0.5-1.0mm

[cncchipmaker]

Have you tried a CBN tool?

[Tim Johnson]

I know nothing about Rhodium but I will soon feel your pain. I'm currently programming for milling Molybdenum (Mo) for the first time. The cutting will probably start Monday.

[Matthew Hajicek - Singularity]

Got some Tantalum coming up.  Anyone got experience in that?

[jlw™]

Anybody running adamantium?

[AMCNitro]

Anybody running adamantium?

Logan? Is that you?

[Guest]

Have you tried a CBN tool?

Well...we have tried CBN, single crystal diamond and a few carbide/HSS boring bars. The diamonds broke almost immediately, and @ $800-$2000 apiece that adds up quick  . The CBN held up longer but still breaks after a few passes. Currently we are roughing everything down with the boring bars (go through ~4 per part) and finishing with the CBN. It is getting the job done but I had hoped there might be a better way.

[Reko]

Wow... is EDM an option?

[Mike@Lustre]

what about grinding it ?

[balnh]

I have done quite a bit of annealed niobium in the past 6 months. Very similar to tantalum. Stuff sucks. Avoid full slotting cuts if you can. High speed toolpaths work great.

[mmack]

any progress ?? most awkward material I have worked with was pure carbon , in the end of all things good ole HSS got the job done .