Tooling-Slitter advice

[pepi]

Getting ready to make a spacer/bushing, needs to have a keyway. Buying the tooling what should I look for, suggestions regarding type, teeth width of slitter are welcomed information.

What I have in mind for the tooling is a keyed arbor and slitter blade. The material is alum, can the same slitter and tooth count be used on different material HSS/ALUM. General purpose diameter, what cuts best and stays sharp. Thinking a 1/16 width could be sturdy and wont hog out to big of a cut.




Thanks in advance,
Greg

[rleete]

Using keystock, grind an edge on it and harden. It's what I have always used, and it holds up to all but the toughest steels.

Bonus is that the key fits perfectly, because it's made from the same stock.

[Roadracer_Al]

Is the key on the inside of the bushing, or the outside. Or both?

[pepi]

The key slot will be along the length of the bushing, bushing will not be a sold circle looking from the end.

Greg

[TomG]

Greg,

Why do you need a slitting saw to cut a keyway? I normally end mill mine. 

Unless you are cutting an internal keyway, then you'll need a broach.

Tom

[pepi]

Tom,
I was thinking a slitter would give me a tool that could be used for other machining as well, more vestal than the end mill...

However the end mill might just be the best option cost wise. Wait until I actually need a slitter for a specific purpose Buying one now, does not mean it will work for whatever later on....... Murphy's law rule #1.

Yup end mill is it .....

Thanks,
Greg

[TomG]

(03-01-2017, 09:25 PM)pepi Wrote: Tom,
I was thinking a slitter would give me a tool that could be used for other machining as well, more vestal than the end mill...

However the end mill might just be the best option cost wise. Wait until I actually need a slitter for a specific purpose Buying one now, does not mean it will work for whatever later on....... Murphy's law rule #1.

Yup end mill is it .....

Thanks,
Greg

Just be sure to use an end mill that is smaller than the slot you need. Unlike a slitting saw, end mills will cut a slot larger than their diameter, due to flex.

Tom

[pepi]

One last general question about slitter and the arbor, what brand arbor or arbors have a keyed mount that mount the slitter pictured.

 


  s-l225.jpg (Size: 7.47 KB / Downloads: 66)

I've found that Bridgeport R8 has this arbor, are there other manufactures, or some ArborsRus.com, link anyone care to share?

Curious as to what may be out there...for knowledge. Ordered a set of carbide end mills, set of five 1-8 mm, banggood, 19 beans...

Greg

[Roadracer_Al]

It's been ages since I bought my slitting saw arbor, but I recall that even a US-made arbor was pretty cheap. I chose a single-size (as opposed to the multi-size arbors) because I thought it would be more concentric. 1" is a pretty common size, and has served my needs well. It's a 3/4" straight shank, although I would have preferred an R8 shank.

[TomG]

Greg,

You can make a better slitting saw arbor than you can buy. The style shown in the pic is easy to make and allows you to get very close to a ledge on a part without interfering. This type doesn't use a key and in fact, you should never use a key for a slitting saw anyway because it will shear under load. The keyed ones you see with the 1" shank are for wider cutters or gangs of cutters.

Tom