Chamfer Tools

[mototraxtech]

I want to make 45 degree chanfers on all of my parts. Its the standard degree that I have chosen. How do you all do you chanfers. A special tool or just angle your compound slide. I tried the whole compound slide thing yesterday and it took forever to change it to the right angle for all the chanfers. I was looking at the scmt holders that use a square bit and a point which would be a 45 degree on either side but the only holders I could find are 80 bucks a piece. So what do you do to chanfer things.



Thanks!

 

[wquiles]

You have not told us the material you are trying to bevel nor the speeds you are trying to achieve, but I would suggest to forget about moving the compound angle and just grind your own 45 Deg chamfer tool from W1 drill rod. Here I am using my hand made tool (60 Deg) to bevel the edge to provide protection to the o-ring in a Mag tailcap:

Doing your own is very easy with a home grinder an cheap propane torch:
- pick a OD that works well for your needs (say 0.5" or 5/8")
- grind the tip to the shape/angle you need
- get it really hot with the propane torch
- as soon as it turns red dump it on a water bucket (right now it is too brittle)
- once it is cool, place it on the oven at 300F for about 25-30 minutes (more tough and less brittle now)
- remove from over and let it cool by air on its own

I have been using the one above for several months on soft Al and I have not even touched up the edge yet

 

[gadget_lover]

I just use a normal TCMT based tool and turn the tool post 45 degrees. I have a small triangle (part of an angle block set) that has a 45 degree side, so it's one wrench and a quick alignment to get 45 degrees. I also have a similar triangle with 30-60-90 degrees and, of course, machinists squares.

Of course, the trick is to make sure that you are measuring against a known surface that is on the same plane as the axis of rotation. In my case, I always put the compound back to 0 degrees when not cutting tapers. The leading edge of the plinth has been checked to ensure that it's aligned when the compound is aligned.

Daniel

 

[precisionworks]

Using any form tool (where the tool shape is a negative image of the desired form) does work on soft materials like aluminum, and on harder materials - as long as the depth of cut is shallow. As the DOC is increased there is a tendency for the tool to chatter since the edge contact area increases as DOC increases.

For a wide or deep chamfer, better results are obtained if the point of a tool is fed across the surface, using the compound to set the angle.

 

[mototraxtech]

We are talking many different materials but a very shallow cut of only .02" to maybe .04". For now I can use the angle as long as I am doing many chanfers at once but when I would like to get a tool for it. I found a square bit holder on mcmaster for about 50 bucks but I am worried the bottom would hit on inside chanfers. I like the drill rod but I have NOTHING to grind bits with nor the place to but anything else. That's why I like the insert tooling so much.

 

[darkzero]

That's why I like the insert tooling so much.

No need to spend that much money in indexable tooling for chamfering.

Like Daniel I used to use TCMT tools for chamfering but I got tired of having to angle the TP to get a 45deg chamfer since it's a 60deg insert.

Just pick up a D style brazed carbide tipped bit from your local tool supplier or any online tool supplier for $3. The D style is an 80deg so that will get you pretty close to 45deg leaving the TP square with the spindle.

Grinding your own tools is great & a great feeling but at $3 (or close to $10 for USA made) for a carbide tipped tool it's well worth the time saved. I've been using the same tool from acetal, steel, titanium & it still has a nice sharp edge for cutting softer plastics & it's C2 grade too.