The Shop > Tools
Homemade Carbide Mill
vtsteam:
I was trying to mill the cast boring table I'm making today, and messed up an end mill trying to take off the skin in the slot on the bottom. A while back I made a small fly cutting mill to fit some odd radiused carbide inserts I picked up at the recent Bernardston meet. That mill worked great to take off the cast surface, and leaves a nice finish. I will make a larger version for the same inserts soon.
But today I needed to clean up a slot, and my homemade fly cutter only works on a horizontal surface. I remembered I had a different card of inserts picked up a few years ago -- another bargain table special -- wasn't sure what they were, but I remembered they were square in shape -- and realizing that wasn't ideal. A diamond shape is what I will look for in the future -- seems more useful for making cutters. But thinking about it today, I realized a square shape might work well for just scraping out the slot corner and getting rid of the sand and hard spots.
So a bit of a search located the card in a miscellaneous "treasure" box. I sliced off a section of 7/8" hot rolled I had on hand -- the same stuff I made the fly cutter out of. I clamped the piece in the mill and cut a flat down to the midpoint, and then milled a small pocket .125" deep by eye to fit the cutter. Then I transfer punched through the hole, drilled and tapped 8-32, and screwed the insert in place. I only had a round head screw, I'm sure it will work for light cuts, which is all I need for the present, but will pick up a flat head to fit next time I'm in town.
Didn't get to try it out, as my in-laws arrived early at 4:30.
Rats.... I want to see it cut! :zap:
awemawson:
Looks good : looking forward to see the shot of the finished surface which I'm sure will shortly follow after the departure of the inlaws :clap:
Arbalist:
Is the insert on the right side or will you run it counter clockwise?
vtsteam:
--- Quote from: Arbalist on August 29, 2013, 06:10:55 PM ---Is the insert on the right side or will you run it counter clockwise?
--- End quote ---
Ha! Well I guess it will match the other one, which I have to run in reverse. But in that case the insert is at fault. This one is the fault strictly of myself!
Wait a minute -- yes, yes it was the in-laws distracting me......
(suppose I could add another pocket on the other side... Oh well!)
dsquire:
--- Quote from: vtsteam on August 29, 2013, 07:33:18 PM ---
--- Quote from: Arbalist on August 29, 2013, 06:10:55 PM ---Is the insert on the right side or will you run it counter clockwise?
--- End quote ---
Ha! Well I guess it will match the other one, which I have to run in reverse. But in that case the insert is at fault. This one is the fault strictly of myself!
Wait a minute -- yes, yes it was the in-laws distracting me......
(suppose I could add another pocket on the other side... Oh well!)
--- End quote ---
Steve
Just add another pocket on the other side and call it a universal carbide mill. :lol: :lol:
Cheers :beer:
Don
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