03-09-2015, 11:31 AM
Hi Willie,
First and foremost I use mine just for facing. Its 25 mm diameter and I run it with two inserts out of the four, I think it would run with 3 inserts but then the cutting is asymmetrical.
Now Ed, also has a four insert face cutter and he did find it troublesome with all four inserts, with one insert it was OK. Also bear in mind Eds mill had a lead screw nut problem which probably made it worst.
The main reason I bought mine was at the time I was running a small engineering shop often I needed something to just square off the edges like that 16mm thick material. Using an end mill (HSS) was really wasteful just using the end part yes I use to sharpen them (off hand) a few times. That mill scale can soon blunt HSS end mills, I cant zap it off in one cut my milling machine just wasnt capable of doing it. So for me the carbide insert milling cutter was a good investment.
I agree with what Ken has said, I know it sounds like we dont agree but we do agree on most things regarding insert cutters and the odd minor point we dont agree we still agree (to disagree) thats all.
If I ask a question what will you use to face a 16mm or 25mm thick piece of steel? Single point fly cutter hardly suitable for that type of job. Use the end of an end mill then one has lot of end mills that are blunt just on the end.
You asked what would you gain over a fly cutter, you will have a face cutter and with the correct inserts and proper use will last you forever (not really but a long time). A very versatile facing cutter that is nearly indestructible and never needs sharpening.
However you must choose the correct inserts this is 99% of using a cutter with inserts I cannot stress this enough the right insert for your machine. Ken can tell you which insert to go for. (I think the same as Eds)
If it was me I would go for a 40mm dia. with four inserts some materials may cut better with just two inserts and it will work with one. We are talking only facing if you want to use it milling a shoulder then you are on your own.
DaveH
First and foremost I use mine just for facing. Its 25 mm diameter and I run it with two inserts out of the four, I think it would run with 3 inserts but then the cutting is asymmetrical.
Now Ed, also has a four insert face cutter and he did find it troublesome with all four inserts, with one insert it was OK. Also bear in mind Eds mill had a lead screw nut problem which probably made it worst.
The main reason I bought mine was at the time I was running a small engineering shop often I needed something to just square off the edges like that 16mm thick material. Using an end mill (HSS) was really wasteful just using the end part yes I use to sharpen them (off hand) a few times. That mill scale can soon blunt HSS end mills, I cant zap it off in one cut my milling machine just wasnt capable of doing it. So for me the carbide insert milling cutter was a good investment.
I agree with what Ken has said, I know it sounds like we dont agree but we do agree on most things regarding insert cutters and the odd minor point we dont agree we still agree (to disagree) thats all.
If I ask a question what will you use to face a 16mm or 25mm thick piece of steel? Single point fly cutter hardly suitable for that type of job. Use the end of an end mill then one has lot of end mills that are blunt just on the end.
You asked what would you gain over a fly cutter, you will have a face cutter and with the correct inserts and proper use will last you forever (not really but a long time). A very versatile facing cutter that is nearly indestructible and never needs sharpening.
However you must choose the correct inserts this is 99% of using a cutter with inserts I cannot stress this enough the right insert for your machine. Ken can tell you which insert to go for. (I think the same as Eds)
If it was me I would go for a 40mm dia. with four inserts some materials may cut better with just two inserts and it will work with one. We are talking only facing if you want to use it milling a shoulder then you are on your own.
DaveH