Recommend 4 fl EM for steel in BP

Conrad Hoffman · Dec 14, 2021

Looking for a short 4-flute end mill for O1 and mild steel in a Bridgeport. Carbide tends to walk in the collet and the machine isn't all that rigid. I had a Super Tuf years ago that was my favorite EM until I burned it up. Some old Weldons seemed to work pretty good but not sure what to buy today. I don't think what's best for CNC is necessarily best for the BP. Also, I like to run dry if possible, or veggie based oil if not. (diameter is 1/2", though if not too expensive I like 5/8" because it can do the side of a 1/2" plate in a single pass.)

crossthread · Dec 14, 2021

Hi Conrad. I know you didn't just fall off the turnip truck so please forgive me if I state the obvious. I have been using carbide with my BP for some years now but I have to use a dedicated end mill holder instead of collets. There is nothing like having your end mill walk on you in the middle of a critical cut.

Conrad Hoffman · Dec 14, 2021

Yes, f'd up several parts recently because of a bit of walk. The holders aren't expensive so I should probably try one. Still, I was getting some chipping on the edge of the carbide em and I don't know if a holder would help that. I don't think I'm into machine abuse but time is money so I'm fairly aggressive. We don't do much steel, so the tool selection is limited to 2-flute stuff that hammers the cut. Travers was having a 4-hour flash sale on 4-flute carbide end mills this morning but that's not enough time to process an order here, nor enough time to research if it's the right cutter for me. I was hoping somebody would say, go buy a Weldon, or SGS, or Niagara or something, with such-and-such a coating, as I'm just guessing.

dgfoster · Dec 14, 2021

Possibly also stating the obvious, but I commonly use 3/8, 1/2, 3/4 carbide 4-flutes in my BP and have had pretty good results with standard collets. I do cinch them up fairly well. But I have found that one thing that really reduces corner chipping is to use a fine diamond hone to dress off a relieved maybe 15 thou 45 degree flat rather than leave the flute corner extremely sharply pointed as usually supplied unless you pay the premium for radiused corners.

Denis

LKeithR · Dec 14, 2021

For steel on a Bridgeport get yourself some 4 flute roughing endmills and walk through the material.
Leave a little extra for cleanup and finish with carbide or HSS tooling. Use an endmill holder for the
roughing operation but you can switch to a collet for finishing if you need the extra accuracy...

Micmac1 · Dec 14, 2021

to avoid corner chipping, try a .015-.020 corner rad endmill, had great luck with SGS ZCARB stuff even in our TRAK mill along with our machining centers. believe it or not ebay has quite a few listed much cheaper than MSC.

TeachMePlease · Dec 14, 2021

I have one of these in my toolbox that I've used for years for roughing steel in a BP. Not that I use a BP every day or anything. But for fast, smooth removal without beating up my tool or my wrists, this thing is awesome. Helical Tool

Bobw · Dec 14, 2021

Variable helix/flute...

I know its fancy and high end, but it really works.. It works on a giant VMC that
weighs more than a semi truck.. But where they really really shine is on floppy
equipment. Knee Mills... Acrolocs.. Haas's :eek:

Works similar to a rougher.. Breaks up your harmonics.. Which is what kills you
on a light machine.

You could eat up your 1/2" plate with a 3/8" carbide vari flute endmill
(with a corner rad) far faster than you could with a HSS 1/2 or 5/8, and in
the long run, it'll last longer, and be cheaper..

And you can run them dry.

Maritool is a good spot to get a few.. or even one to try it out.

plastikdreams · Dec 14, 2021

I'd suggest going with a 5 flute .500 or .625 solid carbide variable helix AlTiN coated with .03 corner radius. I have endmills as described that eat 17-4, o1, and low carbon pretty regularly, and still leave an excellent finish on 2024...on a Bridgeport. They will take massive cuts in steel dry. You'd be better served getting a simple air blast rig for the tool steels though

Garwood · Dec 14, 2021

Don't ever buy sharp corner endmills for steel. That corner goes in minutes, but the rest of tool would have lasted days in the cut.

memphisjed · Dec 14, 2021

second the tool holder over collet. The travers and msc cheap ones on sale are good enough imo. The Garr 5 flute 3/8 with radius is the beees knees in steel on my bpc. I can hear the knock in the belt it is so quite.
I am no machinist and just learning- but this bit is without question the one that hides all my errors.

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Recommend 4 fl EM for steel in BP

Conrad Hoffman

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crossthread

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Conrad Hoffman

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dgfoster

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LKeithR

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Micmac1

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TeachMePlease

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Bobw

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plastikdreams

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Garwood

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memphisjed

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