Recommend me some Milling Cutters Please

[M@tt]

I'm going to ask for a cutter set for my milling machine for xmas off the missus, however i'm a bit overwhelmed as to which set would be the best.

I won't be doing anything serious so dont want to spend mega bucks on them but something like the 6 piece sets would probably do me to get started. However i'm unsure what material type would be best ie HSS/Cobalt/Carbide and whether 2 flute/ 3 flute / 4 flute etc would be better. Also any particlur brands to go for/avoid.

I've seen RDGtools and the like but was unsure whether their stuff was cheapy far eastern stuff or good quality brands.

I've got a Cromwells fairly local and they seem to do a Swiss Tech brand set but haven't ever heard of them either

Cheers

Matt

 

[bigbadbugga]

I know nothing about types and stuff, but g&m tools always seem to have loads of stock of milling tooling for a few quid a piece.

 

[jugs]

What type of machine ??
What material you gona cut ??
Cutting it wet or dry ??
What sort of jobs ??
Who won the cup in 1934

 

[M@tt]

What type of machine ?? - Its a Mathey Vertical Mill/JigBorer with ER32 Collets
What material you gona cut ?? - Probably Mild steel and some aluminum/alloy
Cutting it wet or dry ?? dry
What sort of jobs ?? making varoius bits and bobs for my car projects, brackets, mounts that sort of thing
Who won the cup in 1934 - Italy beat Czechoslovakia 2-1

 

[busastars]

I have used RDG tools for a fair few things, everything so far I have had off them has been well packed, fast delivery and all seems good. As I was ordering a fair bit and rang them up they checked there best price ie: ebay & web price and done the better one with aswell a nice discount over the phone.

With my Mill cutters though I have bought a few sets second hand off ebay all HSS. Wanted some quality cutters but just something to start with that dident cost me the earth.

 

[Pete.]

I'll give you some good advice I learned first-hand:

Make sure you don't run a new cutter backwards

 

[jugs]

I'm going to ask for a cutter set for my milling machine for xmas off the missus, however i'm a bit overwhelmed as to which set would be the best.


I've got a Cromwells fairly local and they seem to do a Swiss Tech brand set but haven't ever heard of them either

Cheers

Matt

Goto cromwells & get their big cat, loads of info on cutting.

What type of machine ?? - Its a Mathey Vertical Mill/JigBorer with ER32 Collets
What material you gona cut ?? - Probably Mild steel and some aluminum/alloy
Cutting it wet or dry ?? dry
What sort of jobs ?? making varoius bits and bobs for my car projects, brackets, mounts that sort of thing
Who won the cup in 1934 - Italy beat Czechoslovakia 2-1

Hi matt,
As you are going dry use Carbide. - HSS/Cobalt wont last long dry

For holes & slots use a center cutting slot drill 2 or 3 flute (3 is best but more cost)

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For edges use an end mill (they only cut on the side ) & come with 4 or more flutes.

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For faces use -wait for it - a face cutter.

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Stay away from fly cutters if you can,

they'll knock **** out of your machine .

Its a Mathey Vertical Mill/JigBorer with ER32 Collets Nice machine BUT beware, it was designed for vertical work (the X-Y table was for setup) If you do heavy cuts the head may twist around the round column So light cutting only

 

[hareng]

I would be very very selective in what i bought from RDG, Gloster and the like.
Cutters are chinese with German sounding name, they flex and forced to use one at the moment.
Sets i wouldnt go for, for the price of the sets listed, one decent/respectable cutter will cost you that. False economy and fit for cutting plastic, even wood wears em out rapidly, they are junk. Even on aluminium it will take you longer to load the cutter in using them crap ER32 than to wear them out taking it easy.

Buy most of mine from JLS when on offer or the bay but have to know the prices and whats good and whats bad etc.
Keep a look out for roughing cutters they generally last around 6 times longer on hard tool and spring steels than good Hertel and the like.

That face mill above looks the biz and do a have a couple, great for removing larger areas.