08-31-2012, 07:33 PM
Hi Woodman,
Normally one would just use an ordinary end mill and the largest (within reason) end mill you have. That being said the milling machine must be able to handle the size of end mill. So the milling machine will dictate the maximum size of the end mill one can use.
The way one cuts the profile will again depend on one's milling machine, but normally in the home workshop it is cut in away that you can "sneak" up to the finished size.
If I was cutting it on my RF30 mill I would use a 1/2" end mill set to cut 1/8" deep with a depth of cut 1/8" for the first cut, the second pass will be set so as to leave a .020" finishing cut. A total of 3 passes.
However one could set it to 1/4" deep and take two (passes) of 1/8" depths of cut, again leaving .020" as a finishing cut, on the side and bottom.
Or one can set it to 1/8" deep with a 1/4" depth of cut, then a second pass at 1/4" deep cut, again leaving .020" or so as a finishing cut.
There is no real right or wrong way, some prefer one way others another way, but most of all it will depend upon ones milling machine.
DaveH
Normally one would just use an ordinary end mill and the largest (within reason) end mill you have. That being said the milling machine must be able to handle the size of end mill. So the milling machine will dictate the maximum size of the end mill one can use.
The way one cuts the profile will again depend on one's milling machine, but normally in the home workshop it is cut in away that you can "sneak" up to the finished size.
If I was cutting it on my RF30 mill I would use a 1/2" end mill set to cut 1/8" deep with a depth of cut 1/8" for the first cut, the second pass will be set so as to leave a .020" finishing cut. A total of 3 passes.
However one could set it to 1/4" deep and take two (passes) of 1/8" depths of cut, again leaving .020" as a finishing cut, on the side and bottom.
Or one can set it to 1/8" deep with a 1/4" depth of cut, then a second pass at 1/4" deep cut, again leaving .020" or so as a finishing cut.
There is no real right or wrong way, some prefer one way others another way, but most of all it will depend upon ones milling machine.
DaveH