Sharpening Ball-nose
-
- Vectric Craftsman
- Posts: 261
- Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2016 2:45 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: Home made/Linear rails/1605 Screw-drive
- Location: London UK
Sharpening Ball-nose
Hi, does anyone know if I can get tapered ballnose cutters sharpened in the UK, I have some Whiteside and Yonico 1/16 inch cutters that need the tip sharpening, the Whiteside bits are over £50 each so not cheap to keep replacing
-
- Vectric Craftsman
- Posts: 232
- Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2017 9:13 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: 24 X 36 3 Axis
- Location: Ipswich, South Dakota
Re: Sharpening Ball-nose
I have had some experience with a couple of tool and cutter grinders sharpening end mills; one being a manual K O Lee grinder and the other a CNC. The geometry of a tapered ball nose end mill is pretty complex and when you get down that small the set up time alone would make it cost prohibitive IMHO.
I use small tapered ball nose quite a lot and I don't pay near that much for them. I have had good luck with the inexpensive Chinese carbide products which run about $25 for a 5 pack. If you are willing to try a metric equivalent they can be had even cheaper. Take a look at this variety pack as an example: https://www.amazon.com/Package-Assorted ... 05&sr=8-13
Ed
I use small tapered ball nose quite a lot and I don't pay near that much for them. I have had good luck with the inexpensive Chinese carbide products which run about $25 for a 5 pack. If you are willing to try a metric equivalent they can be had even cheaper. Take a look at this variety pack as an example: https://www.amazon.com/Package-Assorted ... 05&sr=8-13
Ed
- TReischl
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 4596
- Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2007 6:04 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: 8020 48X36X7 RP 2022 UCCNC Screenset
- Location: Leland NC
Re: Sharpening Ball-nose
+1 on GE's suggestion.
Been using them for a few years now and am completely happy with them. What I really like is that they are so inexpensive it is easy to have several spares on hand.
I run a porter cable router for a spindle. I finally bought metric collets for it so I could use the inexpensive metric bits. Since I am an old curmudgeon it has taken me a while to transition into metric. It has been worth it. I still run the machine in imperial units though. Just do not feel like fiddling around getting everything reconfigured. That is what is another nice feature of Aspire, we can use metric tooling and run in imperial units.
Been using them for a few years now and am completely happy with them. What I really like is that they are so inexpensive it is easy to have several spares on hand.
I run a porter cable router for a spindle. I finally bought metric collets for it so I could use the inexpensive metric bits. Since I am an old curmudgeon it has taken me a while to transition into metric. It has been worth it. I still run the machine in imperial units though. Just do not feel like fiddling around getting everything reconfigured. That is what is another nice feature of Aspire, we can use metric tooling and run in imperial units.
"If you see a good fight, get in it." Dr. Vernon Johns
- Xxray
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 2300
- Joined: Thu Feb 17, 2011 8:47 am
- Model of CNC Machine: CAMaster Stinger 1
- Location: MI USA
Re: Sharpening Ball-nose
Quality tools are never cheap, they are consumables so should be replaced by another quality tool when their life cycle is expired.
I personally would not recommend or even touch chinese made bits or tools in general.
I personally would not recommend or even touch chinese made bits or tools in general.
Doug
- martin54
- Vectric Archimage
- Posts: 7339
- Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2012 2:12 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: Gerber 48, Triac PC, Isel fixed gantry
- Location: Kirkcaldy, Scotland
Re: Sharpening Ball-nose
To be honest it will probably cost as much or more to get them sharpened & the other problem you will then have is that they will no longer be the stated size. You would then need to enter them as different bits using the new sizing, could lead to all sorts of problems if you weren't careful
- Leo
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 4082
- Joined: Sat Jul 14, 2007 3:02 am
- Model of CNC Machine: 1300 x 1300 x 254 Chinese Made
- Location: East Freetown, Ma.
- Contact:
Re: Sharpening Ball-nose
I will also agree with the inexpensive cutters noted by GE.
I have used tons of the "quality" cutters in my career in industry. I have also tried the inexpensive cutters on brass in my home shop. I am quite impressed with the inexpensive cutters, and I do use them in my home shop.
I have used tons of the "quality" cutters in my career in industry. I have also tried the inexpensive cutters on brass in my home shop. I am quite impressed with the inexpensive cutters, and I do use them in my home shop.
Imagine the Possibilities of a Creative mind, combined with the functionality of CNC
-
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 525
- Joined: Thu May 14, 2015 12:23 am
- Model of CNC Machine: FLA Saturn 4x4 / 7W & 60W lasers
- Location: Bemidji, MN
- Contact:
Re: Sharpening Ball-nose
I have not used any of the inexpensive 'Chinese' cutters, but wouldn't be opposed to giving some a try. Any recommendations for tapered ball nose sets, metric or imperial??
Thanks
Thanks
Dave
https://lakesedgewoodcraft.com/
https://lakesedgewoodcraft.com/
- Leo
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 4082
- Joined: Sat Jul 14, 2007 3:02 am
- Model of CNC Machine: 1300 x 1300 x 254 Chinese Made
- Location: East Freetown, Ma.
- Contact:
Re: Sharpening Ball-nose
Look up Drillman1 on EBAY
Imagine the Possibilities of a Creative mind, combined with the functionality of CNC
-
- Vectric Craftsman
- Posts: 261
- Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2016 2:45 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: Home made/Linear rails/1605 Screw-drive
- Location: London UK
Re: Sharpening Ball-nose
Thank you all for the replies, Martin I did know that if they could be sharpened that the size would be different but it would not make a lot of difference in my case, 3d clipart finish cut, I think I will try some Chinese bits and see how they go, I don't like buying cheap, but I think I will not know until I try, Leo I am going to look up Drillman 1 on Ebay, another thing I noticed is the bits are showing a radius instead of a measurement, so what radius would I look for to be close to 1/16 inch, as I seem to get the finish I like with that size
-
- Vectric Craftsman
- Posts: 232
- Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2017 9:13 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: 24 X 36 3 Axis
- Location: Ipswich, South Dakota
Re: Sharpening Ball-nose
1/16 diameter is .0625 and .75mm radius is 1.5mm diameter which is very close to .060 diameter ( 0.059055 to be exact ). The nice part about the variety pack I suggested is that you can experiment, at a reasonable cost, with them and find the best balance between detail and machining time that works for you and your particular project.
Ed
Ed
- Rcnewcomb
- Vectric Archimage
- Posts: 5887
- Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2005 5:54 am
- Model of CNC Machine: 24x36 GCnC/WinCNC with ATC
- Location: San Jose, California, USA
- Contact:
Re: Sharpening Ball-nose
If you are in the UK you can use this search for ebay.uk: tapered ballnose set
As of the beginning of September 2020 it looks like the set costs just under £40, although some sellers have them for around £13 to £18
As of the beginning of September 2020 it looks like the set costs just under £40, although some sellers have them for around £13 to £18
- Randall Newcomb
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out, another good day in the shop
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out, another good day in the shop
-
- Vectric Craftsman
- Posts: 261
- Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2016 2:45 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: Home made/Linear rails/1605 Screw-drive
- Location: London UK
Re: Sharpening Ball-nose
Thank's for that explanation GE, and yes it does make sense to experiment with the variety pack which I will doGEdward wrote: ↑Sat Sep 05, 2020 3:01 pm1/16 diameter is .0625 and .75mm radius is 1.5mm diameter which is very close to .060 diameter ( 0.059055 to be exact ). The nice part about the variety pack I suggested is that you can experiment, at a reasonable cost, with them and find the best balance between detail and machining time that works for you and your particular project.
Ed
- martin54
- Vectric Archimage
- Posts: 7339
- Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2012 2:12 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: Gerber 48, Triac PC, Isel fixed gantry
- Location: Kirkcaldy, Scotland
Re: Sharpening Ball-nose
He didn't use to ship to the UK so not sure how long he has been doing that. The only way you are going to get them from a UK supplier is if you find a Chinese seller who already has stock in the UK but be aware there are a lot who say they have but when you order all of a sudden it takes weeks to arrive
I normally buy a few at a time, I have from 0.5mm up to 4mm tapered, really depends what size the 3D work you are doing is. If you have a few different sizes then you don't have to worry about not being able to get enough detail on a smaller job or worry about the time it's taking on a larger job where you could use a larger bit
-
- Vectric Craftsman
- Posts: 261
- Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2016 2:45 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: Home made/Linear rails/1605 Screw-drive
- Location: London UK
Re: Sharpening Ball-nose
Yes Martin he is shipping to the UK now, I only have 2 colletts at the moment for my makita router 1/4 and 1/8 inch, no metric yet as they are hard to find, so I am limited as to what bits I can buy, so my next upgrade will be to get a spindle and a set of metric colletts