Pattnmaker
Stainless
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2007
- Location
- Hamilton, Ontario
My CNC router is coming first week of March and I am thinking about ordering some bits/end mills. What are those of you running routers using for bits?
I am shocked at how much more expensive most of the solid carbide router bits are compared to mid range or even high end end mills. As an example I am looking at a 1/8" ball nose router bit at almost $40 vs $18 for a Sowa solid carbide 2 flute end mill. Even their premium cutters made for cutting hardened steel is only $33. A 5" long 3/4" dia ball nose end mill is $286 vs the same in a router bit but only 4" long for $300, I don't even see 6" long ball nosed router bits.
I realize the cutting geometry is different for wood vs steel but I have used sharp end mills in a mill on wood lots of times with great success and a local tool store that also sells low end routers (General) tells me he just uses end mills designed for aluminum. Surface finish is FAR more important to me than speed as I am making tooling rather than running production. But if an end mill is going to be a real time hog I may have to bite the bullet.
One other option is I spoke to my local tool grinding shop and the pricing he gave me to make solid carbide router cutters was much lower than the normal price for router bits. He told me I would have to bring him in a bit so he could duplicate the geometry. He would not make downcut or compression cut bits but I don't plan on using either of them on a regular basis as I will be cutting solid wood or tooling board almost exclusively.
I am shocked at how much more expensive most of the solid carbide router bits are compared to mid range or even high end end mills. As an example I am looking at a 1/8" ball nose router bit at almost $40 vs $18 for a Sowa solid carbide 2 flute end mill. Even their premium cutters made for cutting hardened steel is only $33. A 5" long 3/4" dia ball nose end mill is $286 vs the same in a router bit but only 4" long for $300, I don't even see 6" long ball nosed router bits.
I realize the cutting geometry is different for wood vs steel but I have used sharp end mills in a mill on wood lots of times with great success and a local tool store that also sells low end routers (General) tells me he just uses end mills designed for aluminum. Surface finish is FAR more important to me than speed as I am making tooling rather than running production. But if an end mill is going to be a real time hog I may have to bite the bullet.
One other option is I spoke to my local tool grinding shop and the pricing he gave me to make solid carbide router cutters was much lower than the normal price for router bits. He told me I would have to bring him in a bit so he could duplicate the geometry. He would not make downcut or compression cut bits but I don't plan on using either of them on a regular basis as I will be cutting solid wood or tooling board almost exclusively.