Quote:
Originally Posted by TD78
Any particular type of end mill recommended? Brand? Carbide vs. HSS? I used HSS last year, but never needed to have an LOC longer than 1/2". Is carbide the preferred alternative for rigidity in this case?
Also, maybe slightly off topic, but any recommendations on reference books/resources for workholding? That seems, to me, to be the biggest hurdle to get over. My team acquired a used CNC mill last year and while it took some time to learn how to operate it, fixturing was the hardest part.
|
Carbide is better if your machine is rigid. If it isn't, HSS will be more forgiving and less likely to break or chatter.
As for workholding, we bolt/screw/tape a lot of parts to subplates. The shop I work at does everything in at least 2 operations, typically milling the part out of a big block held in a vice, and then flipped over and held either against a stop or in soft jaws where the rest of the stock is machined off, and any other features are added. This does consume a lot of material, but your parts are a lot nicer.