Thin grooving tools?

[Highpower]

(02-14-2014, 08:13 AM)stevec Wrote: What's the use of a parting off tool that can only part off from less than ½" dia. stock?

Steve,
Ever tried parting off a #6 machine screw with a big ole' 5/32" wide parting tool?

I do a lot of work on very small screws and pins. Thin and short will work well for me. (NO COMMENTS Darren!!!)

[EdK]

(02-14-2014, 08:59 AM)Highpower Wrote: Ctrl - scroll wheel.

Thanks Willie, I didn't know about that short cut. I was downloading the images and zooming in on them using the Windose picture viewer.

Ed

[TomG]

I was just thinking about this the other day, trying to figure out why so many newbies feel that carbide inserts are a necessity for machining. You can spend $10 on an insert and get three edges, or you can spend $10 on a HSS bit and get 100's. I just don't get it.

Tom

[EdK]

I don't necessarily think that people feel carbide inserts are a necessity. It's more of a choice people make. There's more to it than just the money aspect.

Ed

[Mayhem]

I'm not sure it is that simple Tom.

I can and have ground HSS tools. However, I get 1 day a week in my shop and I would rather spend that time making the part, than standing at the grinder making the tool to make the part.

Additionally, HSS blanks are not easy to find here and are expensive when they can be found. I had planned to pick some up when I was in the US last year but ran out of time.

[Highpower]

(02-14-2014, 07:17 PM)Mayhem Wrote: I'm not sure it is that simple Tom.

I can and have ground HSS tools. However, I get 1 day a week in my shop and I would rather spend that time making the part, than standing at the grinder making the tool to make the part.

The sad truth is I have a bunch of untouched HSS blanks. I only have a few cutters that I have ground already. I don't mind touching up and sharpening those on my carbide grinder, but I don't want to rough out new cutters on it.

If I had the space to have 4 different grinders permanently in place it would be a different story. It's just too quick and easy to grab a pre-ground carbide tool and get the job done, rather than swap grinders to make up a new cutter.

For any given machine in my shop I have to move a dozen other items just to be able to get to it because of the cramped quarters. It's like a real downer man.

[PixMan]

You don't want me to get into THAT discussion.

As a news note of community interest though, I will need to use my surface grinder and sine bar vise to make a HSS internal threading tool (bit) for a 1-1/4-5ACME and fairly soon. Yes, I could do it by hand on the bench grinder. However, short little internal tools tend to get very hot, and I want a very high quality thread form for this.

[Mayhem]

(02-15-2014, 08:58 AM)PixMan Wrote: ...I want a very high quality thread form for this.

Me too

[DaveH]

(02-14-2014, 07:06 PM)TomG Wrote: I just don't get it.
Tom

It's just an age thing Tom

DaveH

[DaveH]

Seems there is little or no difference between some grooving and cut off inserts. Most companies refer to them as "grooving / cutoff inserts"

DaveH