End mill

[themayor]

looking for a good endmill that takes inserts for aluminum work any suggestions

 

[precisionworks]

Until recently there hasn't been a lot to choose from but that's starting to change. Mitsubishi started the ball rolling in 2005 with their BXD line of end mills & face mills: http://www.mitsubishicarbide.com/EU/West/product/pdf/b027e.pdf

Curt at Lathe Inserts sell a dead nuts copy made by Korloy & called the Ripper: http://www.latheinserts.com/category.sc?categoryId=86

Sandvik brought out the Coro Mill 390 in 2007 & a lot of mold & die shops run them: http://www.zorotools.com/g/CoroMill Milling Cutters CoroMill 390/00063082/

EBay sometimes has either the tool or the aluminum specific inserts. Retail pricing on the Mitsu & Sandvik mills is up there & even the Korloy copy goes for about $200 USD ... but it is a pleasure to run. Set the spindle for all the rpm you have, take whatever DOC & feed your machine can handle, enjoy the smooth finish. Chips fly about ten feet & leave small blisters if they stick to exposed skin. It's a nice tool.

 

[themayor]

thanks barry i saw your old post about the one curt sells wanted to c if that still the go to one do you know if the ripper comes with 2inserts or do i need to get them right away

 

[precisionworks]

Not sure about the inserts as mine was a Practical Machinist special (mill plus four or six inserts). If you email and ask if he still can offer that special it may save you some cash.

NOTE: That mill has a 1" shank & needs an ER-40 collet to run in an R-8 spindle.

Another popular milling insert is the APK* style & there are lots to choose from. Curt sells them & may be able to suggest a tool to run them in or you can find one on eBay: http://www.latheinserts.com/product.sc?productId=36

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ABS-5-8-DIA...559?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27c09679a7

 

[themayor]

thanks for the help barry curt is gettting me all said up n he also says hi

 

[precisionworks]

Curt is great to work with :)

Did you go with the Ripper or did you find something else?

 

[themayor]

i think still waiting for him to get back with me but i think i am going with the ripper is seems like it can do everything

 

[precisionworks]

It's a pretty awesome tool. Huge chips fly off the inserts, feed is fast even at large DOC.