1/64 endmillls

[Lord Wukits]

I've recently been tasked to make exceptionally complicated branding stamps with deep depths. THis has me using a 1/64" endmill to clear material between letters and such. Working with such small bits is is new to me, and I was hoping to get some advice. The company plans on using a Cincinnati Mill  CNC-500, and a Mazak Mill VTC-200C to accomplish this. THe limits I have on RPM is 10k (I'm used to routers with a 30k spindle speed). The material being machined will probably be 6061 t6 as we have a lot of this laying around.


Many thanks,

Wukits, Christian James

 

[gcode]

Harvey Tool should be your first stop when looking for small endmills

[Guest]

With such small mills watch your chip per tooth load very closely......and pay strict attention to engagement percentages(radial & axial).....they are unforgiving on tools this size 

10k isn't nearly enough to be effective in this size range but it's what you have so you have to work with it....

I have found in this size range that 2 flute tools hold up better then 3 or 4 in aluminum......

When you're talking a .015" DOC and 15% axial engagement @ .0002" CPT x 10,000RPM you're at 4 IPM for finishing maybe 6 IPM

Edited March 21, 2018 by Guest

[mkd]

I think Tecnara has some 5:1 geared speeder heads that'll get you back to 20k.

and they're priced reasonable.

[Matthew Hajicek - Singularity]

In addition to what's been said above, the smaller your tool the more important it is to minimize runout.  It should be kept to a small portion of your chipload.  .0005" runout is a lot when it's equal to your chipload; it would mean that one flute is taking .001" and the opposite is taking zero.

[nickbe10]

Check out Mikron Tools as well. They do small endmills with coolant holes in the taper between the shank and the flutes. Per JP above the tools are so fragile ANY chip recirculation is curtains for the tool and while not exactly "thru coolant" these tools definitely help with chip control.....Both Harvey and Mikron  speed and feed charts seem very robust.