Can I skip roughing ?

Post by **DougE** » Wed Dec 30, 2015 4:52 pm

If I am cutting foam material with a ball nose that has 1 inch of cutting length...

Can I avoid the roughing cut and just do finish cut ?

Would I change the plunge rate to be lower ?

Or would this simply mangle the piece ?

I will be cutting a total of 2 inches deep. Would I instead break the 2 inch slices into 1 inch slices and then run each file one after the other ?

**I apologize for a lot of newbie-ish questions. I'm just trying to NOT mess up my machine or get hurt.

I appreciate your time and help greatly

DougE

Post by **IslaWW** » Wed Dec 30, 2015 4:58 pm

doug...
One way or the other you will have to make sure that you do not force the bit to cut deeper than its CEL. I would suggest either a roughing pass or a taper bit with a long CEL

Post by **Leo** » Wed Dec 30, 2015 6:00 pm

I cut HDU as deep as the flute length and I don't slow it down. Really it is dependent on your machine and what it is capable of. I don't know your machine.

I would not recommend trying to cut deeper than the flute length.

IF - the flute length is 2" - then try it at 2"

IF - the flute length is 1" - then try it at 1"

Post by **DougE** » Wed Dec 30, 2015 7:16 pm

Does anyone know where I can come upon some 1/4" ball nose end mills with 2 inch flute length ?

**Yeah,.. I'm googled knee deep,.. but still looking.

Thank you Leo and Isla for your input.

DougE

Post by **Rcnewcomb** » Wed Dec 30, 2015 7:42 pm

Does anyone know where I can come upon some 1/4" ball nose end mills with 2 inch flute length ?

The closest I could find was 1.75" LOC on a 0.25" ballnose bits available through MSC: ->Link

I've used bits from Gary Beckwith. He sells the BDP003 1/4” diameter straight ballnose with a 1-1/2” LOC on a 1/4” shank, 3” OAL: ->Link

Post by **Leo** » Wed Dec 30, 2015 11:14 pm

Harvey Tool has a lot of specialty stuff like that.

Post by **Bobtail Farm** » Thu Dec 31, 2015 6:29 pm

Niagara and Kodiak

Vectric Customer