Will this end-mill plunge?

[Tenson]

These look good :)

5 X 3mm Spiral Double Flute HSS Milling Cutter CNC Bits High Quality | eBay

However before I found that I found some new old stock and bought those.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...E:L:OC:GB:3160

[martin54]

Why do you need them to plunge if you don't mind me asking? Reason for the question is that I have read that it is always better to ramp down into the substrate rather than plunge.

[Tenson]

I often find it convenient to put 3mm holes in stuff and it's a pain to change bits. Also the standard pocket and contour commands in Dolphin don't ramp the Z.

[GEOFFREY]

Would it not be possible to use 3mm carbide end mills with a 3.172 shank and an adaptor if you dont have a 3.172 adaptor? these cutters will plunge and are very cheap. I use them quite often although I mostly use 0.5mm - 2.0mm. G.

[Tenson]

I can use them, but I prefer a 6mm shank so I don't need to spend time changing the collet in the chuck.

[GEOFFREY]

Sorry, the 2nd time I used the word adaptor it should have read collet. You could still use the cutters with a 6mm adaptor without changing the collet. These cutters are seriously cheap and very good and I cut material up 15mm thick and could go to 18mm, but using the 3.172 cutter. G.

[Tenson]

Would you be able to link to an adaptor? I've not seen any. I presume it is just a kind of sheath that makes the shank larger? It would be good to have.

Also, I should have said above that when I plunge the Z axis I only do so in wood and plastics.