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[apples000]

Originally Posted by asid61

If you don't already, I would highly recommend switching to insert face mills over end mills and flycutters when you can. You get absolutely stunning finishes while running the things at 2000 or 3000rpm. I run a 2" face mill at 2000rpm on a manual mill and it has greatly sped up how fast I do my work, because I don't have to take a finishing cut and I can chug through metal really fast.

Regardless of whether you get a manual mill or CNC, buy an insert face mill along with the regular stuff.

Fly cutters will get you a better surface finish if you go quickly and have your head very square. See 4:25 in this video for a pretty cool demonstration of a good fly cutter:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2Xa0PMHM1U

I use face mills when using big rigid machines, but I've actually found that a sharp flycutter in aluminum can do a good job too.