09-11-2015, 07:57 PM
I made my living for 2 years doing nothing but milling 1/4" keyways (closed ends) in shafts for envelope machinery. The shafts were 1045 steel and 1-1/2" to 2" diameter, clamped directly onto the center slot in the Bridgeport table.
The tool given to me to use was a stubby 1/4" 3-flute HSS end mill. It cut right to size every time and held the .2500" to .2505" width. As soon as the .2500" gauge block didn't fit smooth to the bottom and run end-to-end in the 2" to 6" long keyways, it was tossed and a new one took it's place.
Worked for me.
The tool given to me to use was a stubby 1/4" 3-flute HSS end mill. It cut right to size every time and held the .2500" to .2505" width. As soon as the .2500" gauge block didn't fit smooth to the bottom and run end-to-end in the 2" to 6" long keyways, it was tossed and a new one took it's place.
Worked for me.