[PROJECT] Clamp Knurling Tool

[f350ca]

Whats plunge milling Tom? Educate us both please

[EdK]

(10-17-2016, 06:02 PM)TomG Wrote: Ed,

Did you try plunge milling for the roughing out part? It's quicker and a lot easier on the end mill.

Tom

Yup, I'm following your videos almost to the 'T'. Plunge milling is so much quicker and easier on the mill and the VFD. The fan on my VFD didn't even come on while I was plunge milling. I do have an auxiliary fan inside the enclosure that runs as long as there's 220VAC turned on to the enclosure so that's what keeps the VFD cooled when I plunge mill.

Ed

[EdK]

(10-17-2016, 06:50 PM)f350ca Wrote: Whats plunge milling Tom? Educate us both please

Greg,

Check out this video, 29 minutes into it.

Ed

[TomG]

Greg,

When plunge milling, you start off the edge of the part with the stop set to depth, then plunge the end mill to depth, moving over as much at a time as the mill will comfortably handle. Be sure to climb along any critical edges, so any flex will move the cutter away from them. It's just a method of removing a lot of metal in a hurry without generating a lot of heat.

I was going to point out a video with it in use, but it looks like Ed beat me to it. :)

Tom

[f350ca]

Thanks, I'll give that a go.

[EdK]

Got'r done. Finally found some time to finish this part off.

Ed

   

[Vinny]

Looks good!

[PixMan]

Plunge cutting is OK and good with HSS end mills. With solid carbide end mills, I don't. They're far more sensitive to feed per rev. being exceeded. If you get a chance and want to see what fast end mill work is, search YouTube with the term "trochoidal milling" or "dynamic milling."

[EdK]

Finally getting back to this project. Got the body squared up and bored. I sure do like the power down feed. Next will be milling the slots.

Ed

   

[TomG]

Hey Ed,

Since you are working on the body, you may want to change the tapped holes for the adjusting screws from 5/16-18 to 5/16-24 for a bit more control over the depth of the knurl. You may as well make the locking screws 5/16-24 as well for consistency. There is plenty of thread engagement for the finer pitch thread. I've been meaning to make that change on the drawing.

Tom