Reverse fluteend mill

For tips on getting the most from your machining operations, catch more episodes of Jay’s #SecoTechTalk on Seco’s Instagram. You’ll find practical advice that makes your machining more efficient and sustainable. Leave a comment to let him know what you want to hear about next.

Time is money. And so is tool wear. Tool wear and tool failure cost shops money in terms of tool replacement, lost production due to downtime for repairs and tool changeovers, additional secondary processes and scrapped parts. Excessive tool wear and tool failure makes for unsustainable manufacturing. Understanding the factors affecting tool wear and how to measure tool wear are crucial to achieving efficient and cost-effective machining.  There is an entire shop full of tool wear types, and successful machining depends on accurate troubleshooting and understanding the role machining parameters play in tool life longevity. Generally, factors causing excessive tool wear include improper speeds and feeds, poor chip evacuation resulting in recutting of chips, improper helix angle and hard workpiece materials. Decreasing spindle speeds to match lower feed rates, using appropriate tool coatings and grades for the work material at hand, choosing the correct helix and relief angles and applying high-pressure coolants can all play a part in reducing tool wear, thereby, extending tool life. Common tool wear conditions include flank wear, crater wear and chipped cutting edges.  Flank wearTool wear, of course, is inescapable, and of all the possibilities, flank wear – a relatively uniform abrasion along the cutting edge – is the most desirable form of tool wear. It is predictable and dependable, so measures can be taken to avoid disaster with adequate tool wear monitoring. Erosion is the primary cause of flank wear as are low cutting speeds. On the other hand, higher temperatures generated by high cutting speeds will create the right conditions for diffusion to occur, which also contributes to flank wear. Optimizing cutting speeds, using harder carbide grades and the correct coolant application will mitigate against flank wear.  Crater wearCrater wear is a common cause of premature insert wear. Heat causes tungsten carbide grains in the substrate to decompose and leech into the chips. This wears a crater into the insert’s rake face. The crater can grow enough to cause the insert flank to chip or cause rapid flank wear. Proper coolant application to control machining temperatures, lower speeds and feeds and the use of a heat-reducing free cutting geometries will minimize crater formation. Chipped cutting edgesMechanical instability in the machine tool setup and inclusions in the workpiece will create small chips in the cutting edge. Processes that involve several interrupted cuts will also cause stress along the cutting edge that will result in chipping. Reducing feeds on entrance and exit along with increased cutting speeds, proper machine tool setup to maximize rigidity and minimize deflection and using a stronger cutting geometry and tougher carbide grade will help prevent chipped cutting edges. Pro tip: Troubleshooting tool breakage and tool failureIn this #SecoTechTalk installment, Seco Product Manager Jay Ball reveals that tool failure and tool breakage are the leading issues in the industry. Solid carbide tools and end mills are not designed to break. So if yours are, you need to consider a holistic approach to examining your machines, tools and processes. Check out Jay’s #SecoTechTalk to learn what you need to do immediately if your tools are breaking. Seco’s Tool Wear Analysis can help, too.  For tips on getting the most from your machining operations, catch more episodes of Jay’s #SecoTechTalk on Seco’s Instagram. You’ll find practical advice that makes your machining more efficient and sustainable. Leave a comment to let him know what you want to hear about next.  Inline Content - SurveyCurrent code - 5fce8e61489f3034e74adc64

End MillRouter Bit

Mechanical instability in the machine tool setup and inclusions in the workpiece will create small chips in the cutting edge. Processes that involve several interrupted cuts will also cause stress along the cutting edge that will result in chipping.

Reducing feeds on entrance and exit along with increased cutting speeds, proper machine tool setup to maximize rigidity and minimize deflection and using a stronger cutting geometry and tougher carbide grade will help prevent chipped cutting edges.

Time is money. And so is tool wear. Tool wear and tool failure cost shops money in terms of tool replacement, lost production due to downtime for repairs and tool changeovers, additional secondary processes and scrapped parts. Excessive tool wear and tool failure makes for unsustainable manufacturing. Understanding the factors affecting tool wear and how to measure tool wear are crucial to achieving efficient and cost-effective machining.

DowncutEnd MillAluminum

Crater wear is a common cause of premature insert wear. Heat causes tungsten carbide grains in the substrate to decompose and leech into the chips. This wears a crater into the insert’s rake face. The crater can grow enough to cause the insert flank to chip or cause rapid flank wear. Proper coolant application to control machining temperatures, lower speeds and feeds and the use of a heat-reducing free cutting geometries will minimize crater formation.

PlasticEnd Mill

I had previously been doing all my slab flattening on a home made sled. It worked ok and it got the job done, but it had many limitations, some of which I didn't even realize until I started using the SpeTool sled. The first issue was that it had too much flex in the wood rails and would sag when I tried flatting slabs larger than about 20" wide. The second issue was the mess it made in the shop. It was actually so bad that I would have to use it outside. The biggest draw back however, wasn't realized until I started using the SpeTool sled. With the SpeTool sled I was able to work the router with the grain down the long side of the Slab This was something that I couldn't really do with my homemade sled. Working with the grain produces a smoother surface and is less work in my opinion. Then when you add in the dust collection, I was able to work in my shop again. Now I am not going to say you won't need to vacuum when you are done, but the mess is drastically less than with no dust collection. Also, the aluminum rails are much stiffer than my wood ones and don't flex nearly as much over larger spans. I would absolutely put this kit at the top of my list if I was setting a small garage shop up for slab flattening. Rob @ RM Woodcraft llc

I have used the 18" bit more than most of my bits. Its great to use in cut outs in 1" thick material. The only problem I have had is breakage. 1 Was clearly my fault as I caught a nail on my spoil board, 1 was possibly my fault with the length of bit so long it was probably deflection. The last one broke up near the 1/4" shank ad I saw nor reason for that one. overall a very good bit!

EndMills

CompressionEnd Mill

Downcut spiral tools are best used for thinner materials that will be pushed down into the machine bed rather than being lifted with an upcut spiral. This can be particularly useful when using vacuum hold down where maintaining the seal between the material and sacrificial bed is crucial. These tools are predominantly used when a high-quality cut finish is required on the top surface of cut parts.

Tool wear, of course, is inescapable, and of all the possibilities, flank wear – a relatively uniform abrasion along the cutting edge – is the most desirable form of tool wear. It is predictable and dependable, so measures can be taken to avoid disaster with adequate tool wear monitoring. Erosion is the primary cause of flank wear as are low cutting speeds. On the other hand, higher temperatures generated by high cutting speeds will create the right conditions for diffusion to occur, which also contributes to flank wear. Optimizing cutting speeds, using harder carbide grades and the correct coolant application will mitigate against flank wear.

There is an entire shop full of tool wear types, and successful machining depends on accurate troubleshooting and understanding the role machining parameters play in tool life longevity.

In this #SecoTechTalk installment, Seco Product Manager Jay Ball reveals that tool failure and tool breakage are the leading issues in the industry. Solid carbide tools and end mills are not designed to break. So if yours are, you need to consider a holistic approach to examining your machines, tools and processes. Check out Jay’s #SecoTechTalk to learn what you need to do immediately if your tools are breaking. Seco’s Tool Wear Analysis can help, too.

End millfor HDPE

Generally, factors causing excessive tool wear include improper speeds and feeds, poor chip evacuation resulting in recutting of chips, improper helix angle and hard workpiece materials. Decreasing spindle speeds to match lower feed rates, using appropriate tool coatings and grades for the work material at hand, choosing the correct helix and relief angles and applying high-pressure coolants can all play a part in reducing tool wear, thereby, extending tool life.

This is an investment! That being said, if you only doing one slab, I would recommend DIY build or having someone professionally flatten your project. I would hazard a guess that you would be saving for a fifth of the cost of this rig. I bought the dust shield with vacuum hose attachment and was disappointed on a few levels. Firstly, it's a gimmick that falls short of its intended purpose and although it may cut down a little of the waste being scattered in the shop, it does not work as advertised. Do your slab flattening outside or you'llbe vacuuming for days. Secondly the hose port fit is not standard for any shop vac, so you'll be needing some type of adapter. As for the router sled itself, the build is sturdy, and it does work as intended. However there is the minimal clearance issue. Even at its lowest setting, I still had to raise the work piece as the plunge depth of routers are limited. Also expect to clear debris (constantly) from wheel path as it collects and will hinder the smoorh and level tracking of the wheels Overall, it works. But I'm thinking I should have opted for the bearing rail system. I gave it 3 stars because that's where it falls in the overall rating. Average! These are my opinions from my experience. Your millage may vary. If I could send it back without the hassle. I probably would. I don't have the box, and the return policy says everything has to be in original unused condition, which is impossible after use.

Only having used this tool a couple of times, I am completely satisfied with it's performance. I have used the bit to flush trim a few patterns in walnut and white oak. This bit moved right through the wood. The cut was very smooth. I am also happy that I will be able to turn / swap out the cutters.