So, I'm trying to make the best use of the limited 10 slots on my tool changer. We're going to be doing a lot of drill/ream and drill/tap and these will take up most slots. Add a face mill, and and end mill and it's full.

Can I use a chamfer mill to chamfer, countersink, and spot drill? Would I want to?
If not, are there other ways to save a few slots on the tool changer for parts with lots of drill ops?

I use drill-mills a lot for that. They work great but you do have to be gentle with them if you use them to spot, the points are fragile compared to a real spot drill.

Micro 100 solid carbide drill point endmill?

Mike

cant one spot drill will do the work for the drill/ream and drill/tap and countersink? and a chamfer mill to chamfer
-chet

Spot drills do a pretty good job of chamfering edges too.

I use the Melin drill mills for spot,chamfer,profile, and drilling. http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/N2DRVS...C-T7L391316886

If your trying to make the best of empty pockets try the Kennametal Drill/Ream. (I looked on MSC and didnt see it) call Kennametal. I did a job recently with .2495 holes 1000x in t-100 and didnt have to spot or pre-drill. I was amazed at the performance and not one hole went over.

One of my guys was using this at a previous employer and put us on to it. Best thing I've tried and most of my local distributors carry it.

http://www.advancedcarbidetooling.co...sch_2007_3.pdf

Absolutely no question about it: Seco/Carboloy Minimaster.

If your trying to make the best of empty pockets try the Kennametal Drill/Ream. (I looked on MSC and didnt see it) call Kennametal. I did a job recently with .2495 holes 1000x in t-100 and didnt have to spot or pre-drill. I was amazed at the performance and not one hole went over.[/QUOTE]

cant find any thing on the net about Kennametal Drill/Ream?
-chet

He may be referring to a Kennametal TX drill, if the workpiece is aluminum or cast iron...it's not for steel or other long-chip materials!

The TX drill is a "bow tie" cross section straight-flute drill; sometimes called a "G-drill" in the automotive manufacturing community.

Mike

I use these on almost everything:

http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT...MT4NO=52789751

They're cheap, last a long time, and can be used for both spotting and chamfering. I run mostly aluminum, but they work with steel, as well. You just have to replace them more often.

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I dont think its the TX. The one I used was a solid carbide through coolant helixed drill, The material was t-100 Armor plate. I ll try to find the container tomorrow.

we use standard spot drills to spot/chamfer all the time just get one with the proper point angle.

We use the Iscar Multi-Master spot drill/chamfer toolsand have good luck in steel. They have a bunch of other style tips available but we have not tried the others. The tip replaces in about 15 seconds and the Z height repeats to less than .001".


http://www.iscar.com/ProductUpdate/P...teDetailID/482

My experience (Al and 416) says to use a cobalt spotter for chamfering and countersinking. I use a combined center drill/countersink for centerdrilling. The combinded drill/sink tools have a better geometry and don't break the tip. The spot drills have a .05 flat that tends to break easily, the drill/sink is more robust for spotting in my opinion.

Magafor tools work great

http://www.magafor.com/english/multi.htm

MSC has them

never tried them just know they exist...use the drop down menu at the top to navigate, kinda a goofy web site.

http://www.dreamertoolinc.com/


heres something similar in MSC

http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/GSDRVS...00000073937111

Thanks for all the suggestions! We'll probably try a couple different ones and find one we're happy with.