06-05-2016, 09:37 PM
While I was out of my house after the fire, I picked up a Clarkson cutter grinder - MK1, I think. This weekend, I finally got around to trying it out on a few dull end mills. Some years ago, I started to build a grinder. I got as far as building the spindle, based on R8 collets, since those were the only ones I had at the time. If I were starting now, I'd use 5C collets. My original design was based on a different layout than the Clarkson, so some rework would be necessary to optimize its function.
I could either rework the spindle or try out the Clarkson spindle. No point in rejecting something until you've tried it. The manual I had found on the net was of poor resolution, but I got enough clues to set it up and grind primary and secondary angles to match what I measured on the end mills.
The buddy I had bought the grinder from had modified the pin indexer to make it easier to use. I added a large curved washer to the nut he had on the end of the shaft to make it easier to push. Very easy to move to the next edge to cut.
Non-centre-cutting end mills are easier to cut, since there is more room at the centre to stop the grinder before you run into other edges. I'm quite pleased with the results and expect to get better at it as I go along. I used 1/2" and larger end mills today. Smaller ones will be trickier. I found a small mirror to be of great value in setting things up and in checking results.
I could either rework the spindle or try out the Clarkson spindle. No point in rejecting something until you've tried it. The manual I had found on the net was of poor resolution, but I got enough clues to set it up and grind primary and secondary angles to match what I measured on the end mills.
The buddy I had bought the grinder from had modified the pin indexer to make it easier to use. I added a large curved washer to the nut he had on the end of the shaft to make it easier to push. Very easy to move to the next edge to cut.
Non-centre-cutting end mills are easier to cut, since there is more room at the centre to stop the grinder before you run into other edges. I'm quite pleased with the results and expect to get better at it as I go along. I used 1/2" and larger end mills today. Smaller ones will be trickier. I found a small mirror to be of great value in setting things up and in checking results.
Mike
If you can't get one, make one.
Hawkeye, proud to be a member of MetalworkingFun Forum since Jan 2013.
If you can't get one, make one.
Hawkeye, proud to be a member of MetalworkingFun Forum since Jan 2013.
