I've found that the KC935M grade inserts run better than the KC725M for us. We are running it in 15-5PH and 4340 that are HT to around RC36-39. Don't do tooling steel here, but that might help with your tool life. Those inserts also run faster dry than the KC725M.

We use a "skyhook" crane system. Mounts to lathe tool posts and they make adapters for the mills. Can bolt it to the T-slots. We are converting a cart to mount it for use on the lathes for chuck removal as well. Just add counter balance on the bottom of the cart. Their cart was too expensive and not engineered for what we need. Got turned onto them by another shop that has been using it to load their 4th axis since they opened. Edit: Forgot to add that this has very precise control for lowering the 4th axis with one hand letting you guide it with the other. One man needed to do the job that used to be 2. List is $595 plus the adapter.

Buck: There are two choices. John Wayne(SNA) or Long Beach(LGB) are the two closest, but LAX or ONT are viable options as well.

There is a long spec for the "T6/T651/Etc". It has to do with the alloy mix and the temper of the material. I've got a book of all the tempers and what they mean somewhere in the shop here, but I really only care what the spec on the print says. The rest of the info people have for bar or plate is correct. Try doing a google search for the spec and you will find suppliers that will give you the info on the web.

Gcode sent me a chart for 60° center drills, I'll see if I can dig it up and get it posted. Edit, Here is the file. http://files.me.com/workmantm/7viscm

The Blizzard line is mainly designed for shops like mine, 10K max RPM Haas machines. Compared to your standard EM they have 200%+ performance gains. You can call OSG to see if you can run them faster, but I can't get above that so I've never looked. The key to maximizing the tools is the 1/2 diameter DOC on a full slot. That is how they keep things running with the high chip loads. I can't really speak about running anything above 10K as we don't have the capability here in the shop, though I wish we did.

What Dave said, but if you can use square Endmills then I would reccomend looking at the OSG Blizzard line. For pure metal removal rates in a full slot they can take a cut that looks insane on paper and keep asking for more. Its my choice rougher for Aluminum.

Strabe, Thanks I'll let quality know so they can follow up on it.

Email sent Strabe. Enjoy.

I have copies of the specs here in the shop. Its a separate military Spec callout. I usually have to chase it down when I remember that its not in the handbook. You want everything for it or just something specific from the spec?