Tooling

[p1lts]

So where does everybody buy their endmills and engraving bits from then?

Ian

[blackburn mark]

china through ebay mostly

if you buy any of the single flute carbide cutters from china make sure you measure them.... they tend to work great but can come in slightly under size

[Web Goblin]

The single flute cutters are good. I didnt think they would be but I got some a few weeks ago and I like them alot.

Ian

[blackburn mark]

and as jonathan pointed out, with single flutes you can re-sharpen them pretty easy if you chip the tip

[Jonathan]

eBay or toolstation for cheaps.

Single flute cutters seems generally amazing on router... I've been using 6mm and they're good with aluminium/nylon/polycarbonate/plywood but I've almost exclusively used them on aluminium as I've not been cutting much else.

Still this is irrelevant if it turns out you're using a milling machine and cutting steel! What are you intending to cut?

[p1lts]

I'll be cutting mostly alumium. Can you point me in the direction of the single flute cutters to which you refer.

Thanks

[Karl]

There was a recent thread on this - do a search for 'single flute' on this forum (I don't know how to post a thread link).

[blackburn mark]

I'll be cutting mostly alumium. Can you point me in the direction of the single flute cutters to which you refer.

Thanks

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-x-1-8-Carbide-CNC-Router-Bits-Single-Flute-Tools-22-/140548881238?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item20b95dbb56

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5x-6mm-Carbide-CNC-Router-Bits-Single-Flute-Tools-25mm-/140548881261?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item20b95dbb6d

the 3.175mm tend to be closer to 3mm so make sure you get your micrometer on them just to check.... i do somtimes cut alli with a bit of WD40 for lube but work mostly in acetal with a tiny bit of air (large fish tank type pump:wink:) to keep any slots from filling with chips and glogging

they last a long time in acetal, i snap more of them than i wear out :wink:

[Jonathan]

Mark has linked to the ones I bought.


There was a recent thread on this - do a search for 'single flute' on this forum (I don't know how to post a thread link).

This is it:
http://www.mycncuk.com/forums/showthread.php/3617-Single-flute-carbide-cutters/

[p1lts]

Thanks gents.

My main intention is to cut thin sheet aluminium. Success to date has been mixed. I think I've been using soft alu, so I've been suffering with the plate not cutting cleanly.

I've ordered some of the recommended cutters and some "harder" aluminium sheet so I'll hopefully have more success.

Ian