01-12-2015, 07:55 PM
The brother of one of my ex-wives, works for an industrial supplier, that sells machine shop supplies and equipment, in Central and South American, they don't actively sell in the US. We were friends before, I married his sister and remained so after the divorce. From time to time, he sends me samples, I buy overstocks and generally get a big box of stuff, for a small cash outlay.
A while back I bought about 100 HSS end mills, in 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", 7/16" and 1/2" sizes (for about $1/ea). They are sourced out of Korea, in a plain plastic sleeve, with only the size and Korea on the shank. According to the ex-BIL, they are mid-grade, meant to be private labelled by the end supplier, as their house brand. I been using them and they (at least for me) have been great. When I opened a tube this weekend for a small job, I noticed something I hadn't seen before.
I opened a 3/8" tube, out popped a 3/8" HSS end mill with a 1/2" shank, I looked at a couple of others, some were 3/8" with a 3/8" shank, and (2) were 3/8" with a 1/4" shank. Almost all of the other end mill I have in the shop, have a cutter and shank the same size, a few of the 1/8" and 3/16" I have are on 3/8" shanks. Now the question, is it common to offer all these different shank sizes? Is it so, you can limit the number of collets needed?
If you set them side by side the fluted end seem identical, same helix, same cutter edge shape the only difference seems to be the shank. I have lots of collet so they are all usable, but the shanks are different.
I'd post a picture, but I'm in Northern Vermont, working for the Great State of Vermont (their words not mine).
I do appreciate your responses.
A while back I bought about 100 HSS end mills, in 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", 7/16" and 1/2" sizes (for about $1/ea). They are sourced out of Korea, in a plain plastic sleeve, with only the size and Korea on the shank. According to the ex-BIL, they are mid-grade, meant to be private labelled by the end supplier, as their house brand. I been using them and they (at least for me) have been great. When I opened a tube this weekend for a small job, I noticed something I hadn't seen before.
I opened a 3/8" tube, out popped a 3/8" HSS end mill with a 1/2" shank, I looked at a couple of others, some were 3/8" with a 3/8" shank, and (2) were 3/8" with a 1/4" shank. Almost all of the other end mill I have in the shop, have a cutter and shank the same size, a few of the 1/8" and 3/16" I have are on 3/8" shanks. Now the question, is it common to offer all these different shank sizes? Is it so, you can limit the number of collets needed?
If you set them side by side the fluted end seem identical, same helix, same cutter edge shape the only difference seems to be the shank. I have lots of collet so they are all usable, but the shanks are different.
I'd post a picture, but I'm in Northern Vermont, working for the Great State of Vermont (their words not mine).
I do appreciate your responses.
jack