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March 25, 2021 01:53
single pitch thread millsIf you are familiar with thread milling then you know that it is a fast and efficient way to add threaded surfaces to your components using a milling machine. Thread mills are extremely versatile tools that can cut threaded surfaces in seconds. They are less prone to jamming and other common tap and die issues and a full form thread mill has rows of cutting teeth that can cut an entire threaded surface in a single 360 degree pass. In addition to these full form cutting tools, there are also single pitch thread mills that only have a single cutting point. While these tools might seem less efficient compared to their full form counterparts, there are a lot of jobs that they are better suited for.
What Can’t Full Form Tools Do?
As we mentioned before, full form mills are extremely useful because they can cut an entire threaded surface in one quick pass. They are great for cutting internal and external threads quickly and efficiently, for both right hand and left hand threads. Part of what makes these tools so fast and efficient is the fact that the cutting teeth are all separated by the length of the thread pitch you need. All you have to do is drop the tool by the pitch as it cuts to produce perfect threads. This also means that a full form tool can only cut threads with a certain pitch.
Single Pitch Tool Advantages
Unlike full form cutters, single pitch thread mills only have a single cutting point. This means that one tool can cut a wide range different thread pitches, making them a great choice for mixed production. One of the largest drawbacks to using these tools is time. Single pitch thread milling requires tracing along the entire length of the threaded surface, a process that takes many more passes than using a full form thread mill.
Despite this extended cutting time, machining with single pitch thread mills has another advantage. One small cutting point has a significantly lighter cutting pressure than the rows of teeth on full form thread mills. This means that you can use single pitch cutters to thread more delicate components such as parts with thin walls or pieces that overhang. Basically if you want to have versatility when you are threading, then you need to to have some single pitch tools on hand.
If you want to find some of these versatile single pitch thread mills for your machining shop, then you need to visit www.onlinecarbide.com. Online Carbide is a manufacturer that specializes in thread mills and other milling tools including various end mills and drill bits. All of their tools are precision machined from solid carbide here in the US. They also offer all of their products at manufacturer direct prices so you can save big on the tools that your shop needs when you visit their online store.
Posted March 25, 2021 01:53
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March 22, 2021 04:27
Spot drills are compact tools that are easy to overlook, but they serve an important purpose in any machine shop. These little cutting tools are important for drilling holes with extreme accuracy, a task that can be difficult when milling.
What makes drilling such a risky procedure when it comes to milling is the potential for drill bits to deflect off of hard surfaces. Drill bits are relatively long compared to other milling cutters and that length comes with drawbacks. Long tools, especially those constructed from steel alloys like high speed steel, will naturally wobble while they spin. This can lead to them not hitting the surface of a workpiece at the optimal angle, which can deflect the point of the drill bit and ruin the cut.
Because milling is typically a very precise machining process, this can cause some serious problems. End mills and other cutting tools are more stable because of their width to length ratio, meaning this problem is almost only isolated to jobber length drill bits with a long flute length. Using carbide drill bits can help to minimize this issue due to their increased rigidity, but spot drills are another great way to produce accurate results.
Spot drills are short drill bits that usually just have a drill point and little to no flutes beyond that point. Their extremely short length makes them far more stable than longer twist bits. Instead of being designed to drill holes, these tools are intended to begin drilling to create a cone shaped dimple on the surface of a workpiece.
This depression helps to mark the location of hole you want to drill with your longer twist bit. Instead of deflecting off the surface, the point of your longer bit will be guided into the dimple created by your spot drill. The spotting process will greatly increase the accuracy of your holes.
In order to get the best results while spotting you need to consider a few things about your tools. If the point angle of your spot drill is not equal to or greater than that of your longer bit, you can still risk the bit deflecting on contact. This is a common issue when operators use a center drill in place of a spot drill. You should also consider your tool materials. You should spot drill when using steel drill bits but spotting may not be necessary when drill with carbide bits, especially of shorter lengths.
If you need some spot drills or some carbide drill bits for your milling machine, you should check out Online Carbide. They are an American manufacturer of high performance solid carbide cutting tools. When you visit www.onlinecarbide.com you will find manufacturer direct prices on products like jobber drills, stub drills, spot drills, drill mills, and several types of end mills. You can also reach out to a member of the Online Carbide team by sending an email to sales@onlinecarbide.com if you have any questions about their tools.
Posted March 22, 2021 04:27
March 18, 2021 07:30
End mills, like all cutting tools, have edges that will eventually wear down. No tool can keep its edge forever, but there are several methods used to extend the life of your tools. One of the most basic ways to get the most out of your milling machine’s cutting tools is to purchase end mills and drill bits constructed from solid carbide. Carbide is a stable and heat resistant tool making material that combines the strength of metals and the heat resistance and edge retention of ceramics. In addition to using tools made from strong materials, using specially treated tools like TiAlN coated end mills can help to increase the longevity of your cutters.
Sources of End Mill Fatigue
There are a lot of different factors that can contribute to the fatigue of your tools. Cutting tools like end mills are striking your workpiece multiple times per second, often with several different flutes. Every one of these many impacts is going to slowly erode the edges of your tools. Luckily using high performance materials like carbide can help to slow down this process. High speed and high heat applications will put even more strain on your tools’ cutting edges. This is why some manufacturers go to extra lengths to preserve the edges of their tools.
Coating End Mills
One of the best ways to resolve the issue of fatigue is to coat tools with a protective substance. There are a wide variety of coatings available. Most of these materials are extremely strong and designed to protect against heat or lower the coefficient of friction on the tool’s cutting edge. While the idea of a “coating” might bring to mind a significant material build up like a coating of paint, the physical vapor deposition or PVD coatings are deposited in extremely fine layers.
In the PVD process, the tool coating is vaporized in a vacuum before being deposited onto the surface of the tool. This means that the coating bonds directly to the surface of the tool in an incredibly thin layer, preventing built up edges that could dull the cutting edges.
TiAlN Coated End Mills
One popular coating for tools that have to deal with high temperatures is titanium aluminum nitride or TiAlN. This coating is designed to offer wear resistance while also forming an insulating layer so when heat is generated by machining, it is deflected into the chips instead of building up in the cutter. A TiAlN coated end mill will offer a superior tool life compared to uncoated carbide end mills.
If you are looking for TiAlN coated end mills for your shop, you can find plenty of great options when you visit www.onlinecarbide.com. They offer a wide range of cutting tools, many of which are coated with TiAlN to offer extra protection from high temperatures. If you have any questions about any of the cutting tools that Online Carbide produces, you can reach out to a member of their team by sending an email to sales@onlinecarbide.com.
Posted March 18, 2021 07:30
March 17, 2021 06:50
When it comes to milling tools, most cutters are only designed for a singular purpose. That is one thing that makes drill mills shine. These versatile cutting tools are designed to perform a wide range of tasks, making them a must have for any machining shop. These specialized cutting tools are designed with the cutting flutes of an end mill and the pointed tip of a drill bit, giving them some of the strengths of both of these cutting tools.
Drilling
One of the most obvious advantages of using a drill mill is the fact that it can perform drilling operations. Most end mills excel at side milling, but have difficulty forming drilling tasks. You can easily use these tools to drill small holes, though they will rarely have the length needed to drill deep holes in your workpiece.
Spotting
The point on these cutters can also be used to spot drill locations for using longer twist bits. It is important to make sure that the point angle of your drill mill is equal to or greater than the tip angle of your longer drill bit in order to ensure that your bit will seat itself properly. This will help ensure that you produce clean and accurate holes.
Milling
Because of the flutes on these tools, they can also perform side milling tasks. The point can be used to side mill V shaped notches quickly and easily. If you have a sacrificial material underneath your workpiece, you can easily drill through it and begin the milling process.
Chamfering
The pointed tips on these tools also makes them well suited for chamfering and beveling. Many people confuse these two terms. Chamfering involves removing part of a corner in order to create a third intermediary plane between the original two sides. Beveling involves removing material in order to change the angle at which two sides meet. The pointed tip of a drill mill can perform both of these operations.
Finishing
Along with chamfering and beveling, you drill mills can be used to perform a few other finishing operations. You can use the point to trace along your workpieces edges to deburr them with the sharp point of the cutter. You can also use the points on these tools to perform simple engravings when you are finishing your piece.
If you need some of these useful cutters for your machine shop, then you need to visit www.onlinecarbide.com. Online Carbide manufacturers all of their tools from solid carbide tool stock. This means that you can expect a longer tool life and superior edge retention to similar tools made from steel alloys. Their drill mills are available in a range of sizes and with either a polished carbide finished or coated in TiAlN. All of their tools are available at manufacturer direct prices. If you have any questions about any of their tools, feel free to send an email to sales@onlinecarbide.com.
Posted March 17, 2021 06:50
March 16, 2021 03:47
When it comes to milling tools, there are a lot of options available on the market. This includes both domestic and international tool solid carbide end mills manufacturers. If you are interested in finding some high quality tools then it is important to work with manufacturers that pay attention to details in order to make sure that your tools can handle the strain of high speed machining.
The Importance of Carbide
End mills are hard working tools, especially when it comes to cutting into harder materials at high speeds. High speed machining into hard materials like cast iron or stainless steel not only causes wear on cutting edges but also can produce extremely high temperatures. Metal tools can only handle so much heat before the edges lose their temper and begin to soften. Even tools manufactured from high speed steel alloys can only handle so much heat before the edges begin to soften. The answer to this issue to use tools made from solid carbide.
Carbide is a tool making material that looks metallic but is actually a composite material. The actual carbide in a carbide cutting tool is tungsten carbide, a ceramic material. In its simplest form, tungsten carbide is a grey powder. While this powder is actually more dense and more rigid than steel, it cannot do much cutting in its raw form. Carbide tool stock is made by combining this powdered ceramic with a metal such as cobalt that serves as a binding agent. The resulting material has the strength of metal but the heat resistance and cutting power of a ceramic. This makes it perfect for handling the extraordinary strain of high speed milling.
Online Carbide
If you need some reliable tools for your shop, then Online Carbide might just be the right solid carbide end mills manufacturer for you. They specialize in producing high performance thread mills and some other end mills and drill bits. Because they are an American manufacturer, you can always reach out to their team and expect a quick response. Their inventory includes standard square or ball ended mills, full form thread mills, single pitch thread mills, jobber drills, stub drills, spot drills, center drills, 6 flute end mills, end mills for aluminum, variable end mills, and chamfer mills.
Every one of Online Carbide’s tools is precision manufactured using advanced robot fed 5 axis computer numerically controlled grinding machines. This means that their tools are precision machined and will arrive sharp and ready to use. Because they offer all of their cutters at manufacture direct prices, you can save big when you buy their tools. In addition to offering all of these amazing tools, the team at Online Carbide can also help you create custom milling tools for your shop. All you have to do is reach out to a member of their team by sending an email to sales@onlinecarbide.com.
Posted March 16, 2021 03:47
March 3, 2021 05:58
While drilling holes is a common carpentry task that can often be achieved quickly and easily, things become a little more complicated when it comes to milling harder materials like cast iron and steel. When used for these tougher jobs, drill bits have a tendency to deflect off of hard materials and miss their marks. This is what makes the use of spot drills so important, especially when you are drilling into hard materials at high speeds.
Drill Bit Length
One of the biggest factors that leads to issues with drilling operations is the length of the drill bit being used. The longer the tool, the more of a wobble it will have at high speeds. All tools oscillate somewhat when they rotate, though these vibrations are usually too small for us to see with the naked eye. These small vibrations can have big repercussions, because the bit will have a harder time finding purchase in the desired center point. Using shorter drill bits can alleviate this problem, but there is no guarantee that a shorter drill bit won’t deflect.
Spotting
The best way to produce accurate results when drilling into a hard surface is to spot the drill site ahead of time. Spot drills have drill bits that have a very small cutting surface. Typically just the point of the cutter is fluted to make cuts. Instead of being designed to drill holes like other drill bits, these tools are designed to perform a process known as spotting. Spotting is the use of spot drills to create small dimples on the surface of a workpiece to mark the location of holes. Because these tools are so short, they can produce extremely accurate spot points. These points will later help longer twist bits create holes with significantly lower risk of deflecting off the surface of a workpiece.
Choosing the Right Spot Drill
Spotting is a simple process that can offer incredible results, but there are a few important considerations to make sure that your drilling will go as smoothly as possible. Even if a hole location has been properly spotted, the tip of your longer drill bit can contact the side of the spotted location instead of seating properly in the bottom of the spotted point. In order to achieve this, the point angle of your spot drill should be greater than or equal to the point angle of your final drill bit.
If you have been having trouble producing accurate holes while milling, then adding spot drills to your routine could be a great way to get the results that you are looking for. You can find a wide range of high quality drill bits and end mills when you visit www.onlinecarbide.com. Online Carbide is an American tool manufacturer that makes all of their tools from sturdy tungsten carbide tool stock. If you have any questions about any of the tools they carry, feel free to reach out to a member of their team by sending an email to sales@onlinecarbide.com.
Posted March 3, 2021 05:58
March 1, 2021 08:21
End mills have to undergo a lot of stressful forces, especially when working at high speeds. Like all rotating tools, end mills have a tendency to wobble at high speeds. While this effect might not be visible to the naked eye, it can have a big impact on the performance of your tools. One of the most noticeable side effects of high speed milling is tool chatter. Variable end mills have made big steps in alleviating this problem.
What is Tool Chatter?
Tool chatter is a loud, screeching like sound produced by high speed machining. Because tools are naturally prone to oscillating, they end up applying different amounts of force against the surface of a workpiece. If you viewed a straight cut at slow motion, the tool would be wobbling and striking the surface harder or softer at different points in the cutting process. These tiny impacts create the sound known as chatter and the effects can range from irritating to deafening.
Is Chatter Dangerous?
When it comes to tool chatter, most of the issues are auditory. The sound can be extremely loud, just another reason why ear protection is so important around any milling machine. On top of producing an irritating sound, the effects of tool chatter can also have an impact on the finish of your cuts. The force of those tiny impacts can lead to machined surfaces that have an almost scale like pattern on the cut portions of your workpiece. This is especially obvious on soft materials like aluminum, though chatter can also impact the finish of harder materials like stainless steel. The effects of chatter tend to increase at high speeds and feeds.
Variable End Mills
The name of the game when it comes to preventing tool chatter is minimizing the vibrations that impact forces. One way to do that is to minimize how tools oscillate. Part of the reasons why tools oscillate is because they are subjected to regular impact forces of the cutting edges contacting your workpiece at perfectly even intervals. Variable tools are designed to be slightly asymmetrical, which helps to break up the internal vibrations caused by even impact forces. This asymmetry can be achieved using variable helix angle and variable flute end mills The end result is a significant reduction in vibration, which can help to cut down chatter without sacrificing your material removal rates.
If you are interested in finding some high performance variable end mills for your shop, you need to check out the cutting tools available at Online Carbide. Their variable helix end mills can help reduce chatter so you can get a clean finish on your workpieces. All of their tools are also constructed from solid carbide tool stock, a material that provides superior edge retention, tool life, and heat resistance compared to tool steels. You can see all of the tools available from Online Carbide by visiting their store at www.onlinecarbide.com.
Posted March 1, 2021 08:21
February 24, 2021 07:36
When it comes to hard working tools like end mills and drill bits, there are a lot of different options available on the market. If you are looking for the best options when purchasing tools for your shop, then carbide cutting tools are the clearly superior choice. If you have been wondering about the functionality of carbide tools vs steel tools, today we will be looking at both of these materials and their differences.
What is Carbide?
While carbide tools may look similar to metal to the layman, the two materials are actually quite different. The actual carbide within a carbide tool is a ceramic material made up of tungsten and carbon. In its natural state carbide is a grey powder, not suited for cutting applications. In order to make a material for tool construction, this powder is mixed with a binding metal that acts like cement in concrete, while the carbide itself is like the aggregate material. The resulting material has advantages of both ceramics and metals.
What About High Speed Steel?
One of the most popular materials used in the construction of milling cutters is HSS or high speed steel. This is a term used to describe a class of steel alloys that are designed to operate at high temperatures. All steels have to be tempered, a process of heat cycling that locks the metal into its strongest internal structure. If a tempered steel cutting tool becomes too hot, its internal structure will change, softening the cutting edges and reducing the tool life. HSS tools can withstand higher temperatures than conventional steel tools, but they still have limits.
Working Hard and Fast
In many milling applications, speed is the name of the game. Carbide cutting tools are built to handle heat better than steel tools. This is because their cutting strength comes from their ceramic content. Ceramic does not have to deal with tempering, which means that high heat will not soften the tool’s cutting edges in the same way. Instead, the ceramic will remain strong even under the extreme temperatures that come with high speed machining. This means that you can run your tools faster and speed up production runs when you make the switch to solid carbide tools.
If you are interested in finding some high performance carbide cutting tools for your shop, then you need to visit Online Carbide. At www.onlinecarbide.com, you will find a wide range of cutters including end mills and drill bits. All of their cutting tools are precision ground from high quality solid carbide and many are available in a semi finished option or with coatings to provide extra wear resistance. In addition to making great tools, they also offer them at manufacturer direct prices, helping their customers save big on the tools they need. If you have any questions about any of the tools they carry, feel free to reach out to a member of their team by sending an email to sales@onlinecarbide.com.
Posted February 24, 2021 07:36
February 23, 2021 02:18
Threading is essential when working with pipes and other interlocking components. Threads make it easy for two components to be connected together and using the right kind of threads can help to prevent leaks. The process of cutting threads needs to be extremely accurate in order to create components that will join together to produce a leak resistant seal. One way to cut threads quickly and efficiently is to thread mill pipe threads.
Threads for pipes are typically cut using specialized pipe threading machines. These machines work in a similar manner to traditional tap and die tools. The pipe is rotated while a cutting tool cuts and breaks the chips out of the threads. These tools often produce large helical chips along the threads. This process works well, but any jams that occur from unbroken chips can damage both the tool and the component being threaded. The design of these cutters makes them difficult to remove during a jam without damaging the pipe.
Nowadays, milling machines are becoming an increasingly common tool in manufacturing. These computer numerically controlled tools are able to precisely control a cutting tool to perform a huge range of tasks. One extremely specialized milling cutter is a full form thread mill. These can be used to cut internal or external threads. These tools have a line of pointed cutting teeth that are spaced based on the thread pitch of the threads they are designed to cut. By dropping the tool by the length of one thread pitch during a 360 degree pass, you can thread mill pipe threads in seconds.
In addition to full form thread mills, single pitch thread mills can also be used to cut threads. These tools are slightly different in function, featuring only one small cutting point at the end of the tool. Instead of cutting the entire threaded surface in one pass, these cutters are used to trace along the entire length of a threaded surface. This process takes longer than using a full form tool, but a single pitch thread mill can be used to cut various thread pitches and they are also capable of machining more delicate components or threading overhanging parts.
If you are interested in finding some reliable thread mills for your shop, then you need to visit Online Carbide. They offer a wide range of solid carbide milling tools on their site including drill bits and end mills. Their selection of thread mills include single pitch options and full form mills set up for cutting UN, Metric, NPTF and NPT threads. If you want to thread mill pipe threads with extremely precise results, then Online Carbide’s tools are the perfect choice for your shop. If you have any questions about any of the tools that they carry, feel free to reach out to a member of the Online Carbide team by sending an email to sales@onlinecarbide.com.
Posted February 23, 2021 02:18
February 22, 2021 01:08
Drilling into hard materials like cast iron and steel pose a few risks. Drill bits are long and flexible tools, which can make them difficult to position accurately. This is especially true when drilling at high speeds. Even while using a milling machine to precisely align the cutting tool, drill bits still have a tendency to “walk off” their mark when they come in contact with hard surfaces. If the accuracy of your holes is important on your workpiece, then using spot drills is the best way to ensure proper placement.
What is a Spot Drill?
When most people imagine a drill bit, they are thinking of a jobber length bit. These tools are long and feature long twisted flutes, terminating in a pointed cutting tip. By contrast, spot drills are extremely short tools that only feature a pointed tip and minimal fluting. Instead of being designed to drill deep holes, these drill bits are only designed to create a small dimple on the surface of your workpiece. This is a process known as spotting.
How Does Spotting Help?
The idea of spotting is not to drill a hole, but rather to mark the location of where holes need to be drilled with a longer twist bit. This means that when the larger bit is used, it’s point will find solid purchase within the spotted dimple instead of deflecting off the surface. This will lead to producing extremely accurate results with much less of a risk to your workpiece.
Choosing a Spot Drill
There are a few considerations to make when choosing which spot drill to use. The best options will be made of solid carbide, as carbide is more rigid than steel. This means that the spotting process itself will be more accurate when using a carbide drill. In addition you need to consider the point angle of your spot drill compared to the point angle of your longer twist bit. If the angle of the spot drill is smaller than the angle of the longer bit, then the bit can catch along the edge of the dimple produced during spotting. This is one reason why it’s important to use a real spot drill instead of a similar tool like a center drill, which tend to have smaller point angles.
If you need to produce extremely accurate holes using your milling machine, then spotting is the best way to ensure success. You can find some high quality spot drills, drill bits, and end mills for your milling machine when you visit Online Carbide. As an American tool manufacturer, their team is dedicated to making high performance tools from solid carbide tool stock. Their spotting drills are available in a polished carbide finish or TiAlN coated and are available with 90 degree or 120 degree point angles. If you have any questions about their carbide drills and end mills, you can send an email to sales@onlinecarbide.com to talk to one of their machining experts.
Posted February 22, 2021 01:08
February 18, 2021 00:39
When it comes to machining components, aluminum is an incredible material to work with. It is light yet strong and easy to machine when compared to denser metals like steel. Even though aluminum is easier to machine, you do need to make sure that you are using the correct cutting tools when working with this material. If you need to find the best end mills for aluminum, then there are a few important factors to consider.
While aluminum is easy to machine because it is so soft, this advantage comes with its own set of issues. Consider a harder material like steel. When you cut steel, the metal breaks down into small chips. When you are machining aluminum, the chips that are created do not break easily. Instead the soft metal bends and creates long curved chips. These chips are heavy and difficult to eject from the base of your tool.
When working with steel, you want tools with many flutes in order to create more cuts per rotation, as the small chips will still be easy to evacuate. If you’re choosing the best end mills for aluminum, you need to think differently. Instead of more flutes, end mills for aluminum should only have two or three flutes. It may seem counterintuitive to use less flutes when cutting into metal, but there is a good reason. The wider spacing between cutting edges leads to easier chip evacuation.
Higher removal rates can be particularly valuable when machining at high speeds and feeds because it will prevent the aluminum alloy chips from building up around the base of the cutter. Another way to ensure chip evacuation is to use tools with a high helix angle. This angle helps to provide more upward force on the chips, which helps them easily clear the flutes. All of these different aspects of flute design can help protect your cutting tools and your aluminum workpieces from being damaged during the milling process.
In addition to flute design, different types of tool coatings can help to improve the evacuation of chips. One of the most popular coatings for aluminum cutters is zirconium nitride or ZrN. This coating provides a golden surface finish and helps to lower the coefficient of friction on the surface of the cutter, which helps to prevent the soft aluminum chips from sticking to the surface of your cutting tools.
If you are trying to find the best end mills for aluminum, there are some great options available at www.onlinecarbide.com. Their three flute end mills for aluminum feature a 37 degree helix angle and are coated with ZrN to help promote easy chip evacuation. The solid carbide construction also means that these tools will hold their edges and have a superior tool life compared to steel tools. If you have any questions about their tools, you can reach a member of the Online Carbide team by sending an email to sales@onlinecarbide.com.
Posted February 18, 2021 00:39
February 16, 2021 07:46
Aluminum is a pretty amazing material for several applications. It’s ratio of material strength to weight makes it the perfect choice for producing a wide range of components for several industries. It is also significantly softer than steel, making it much easier to machine. Despite the fact that aluminum is softer than steel, you cannot use the same tools to machine both materials. It is important to use special end mills for aluminum if you want to machine components from this material while minimizing any potential risk to your workpiece or your tools.
Aluminum requires material specific tools for several reasons. The biggest issue to overcome is how aluminum alloys create chips during high speed machining. When steel is cut, it’s dense and rigid nature causes the chips to break up into smaller, almost powder-like pieces. The issue with aluminum chips is that they are flexible and they do not break as easily. This can lead to long and heavy chips forming that may not be easily cleared from the cutting tool.
As metal removal rates increase, the risk of chips getting caught near the cutting edges. If these chips are not properly evacuated, they can jam up at the bottom of your cutter. This can lead to the chips being continuously cut until the resulting almost powdered aluminum can compact and jam up your tool. Small pieces of aluminum may also cling to the edges of your tools, causing more wear during regular operations.
In order to prevent any of these scenarios from occurring, end mills for aluminum have a few unique design features. In order to provide more room for chip evacuation, lower flute counts are preferred. Typically these tools feature 3 flutes which also have a steep helix angle to put more upward force on the chips and move them away from the cutting edges. Finally these tools are usually treated with a layer of gold colored ZrN which lowers the friction on the cutter and makes it harder for chips to stick to the edges.
The shape of an end mill has a big influence on its performance, but it is not all that you should consider. End mills, especially those being used to cut harder materials at high speeds have to stand up to extreme temperatures and intense impacts. These factors will eventually wear down any tool, so the material used to make your end mills is crucial. Carbide is one of the best options due to its superior edge retention and temperature tolerance when compared to stainless steel tools.
If you need some carbide end mills for aluminum for your shop, you can find some great options when you visit Online Carbide. They are an American carbide drill bit and end mill manufacturer dedicated to providing shops with high performance tools at manufacturer direct prices. You can see their full tool inventory at www.onlinecarbide.com. If you have any questions about their tools, feel free to reach out to their team by sending an email to sales@onlinecarbide.com.
Posted February 16, 2021 07:46
February 9, 2021 03:11
If you work with milling machines, then you know just how common tool changes are when operating these machines. This is because the tools used in milling operations are often designed to serve very specific purposes. Tools that can serve several functions are unique and extremely useful because they can help users cut down on their tool changes. Drill mills are one type of milling cutter that can perform a handful of different functions using the same tool.
As their name suggests, a drill mill is a tool that shares characteristics of both end mills and drill bits. The flutes are designed with sharpened edges like end mills, allowing them to perform side milling operations. The unique thing about these tools are their sharp points. These points, reminiscent of the tip of a drill bit, are responsible for the bulk of these tools’ versatility.
The ability to perform drilling operations is one of the most important aspects of using drill mills. The pointed tips on these tools make it possible to drill down into a workpiece. You can use these cutters to drill small holes that are the size of the tool itself. The tip can also be used for spot drilling, as long as the point angle is equal to or greater than the point angle of your longer twist bit.
The pointed tip on these tools can also be used for a number of finishing applications. This includes being used to chamfer or bevel edges. Just like a chamfer cutter, the tip on these tools is also great for deburring the edges on your workpiece. You can also use the tip to perform fine detail work such as custom engraving.
In addition to drilling, these tools are also designed to perform milling cuts. The point tip means they are perfect for cutting V shaped notches, though they can also be used to perform other milling tasks. The fact that they can drill through material and then being side milling makes these tools perfect for quick and easy removal of material, especially if there is sacrificial material beneath your workpiece. All of these different operations can make these tools invaluable for milling machine operators.
If you are looking to find some high quality drill mills for your shop, then you need to check out the solid carbide cutting tools available at Online Carbide. Unlike steel tools, carbide tools are made with a composite material of ceramic carbide powder and a bonding metal like cobalt. The ceramic content gives these tools incredible edge retention and heat resistance. Online Carbide is an American manufacturer that grinds their own milling cutters from high quality micro-grain carbide tool stock. Their tools are available at manufacturer direct prices when you visit www.onlinecarbide.com. If you have any questions about their tools, or you are interested in getting custom cutters made for your shop, reach out to a member of the Online Carbide team by sending an email to sales@onlinecarbide.com.
Posted February 9, 2021 03:11
December 1, 2020 01:50
When it comes to manufacturing custom components with a milling machine, using the right cutting tools for the job is essential. Most end mills are specifically designed to perform a certain task. This means that completing a custom component that requires making several different types of cuts using a variety of tools. If you are looking to cut down on product times, tool changes are a good place to start. Tools like chamfer mills can be surprisingly versatile for those who know how to use them.
The most obvious use for these tools is chamfering, hence the title. The process of chamfering involves removing material from a corner where two planes meet to create a third plane that breaks the edge. This process is often confused with beveling, a similar technique that involves removing material to chamfer the angle of a corner completely. A chamfer cutter can perform both of these tasks. The size of the bevel or chamfer may require multiple passes depending on the size of your tool’s angled cutting edge.
Chamfer mills can also be used to to deburr a workpiece. CNC machining is fast and accurate, but sadly it is not always perfect. Same raised metal burrs are a common side effect of high speed machining and these small bits of metal can create sharp surfaces that can interfere with how components fit together and cut anyone who handles the finished product. By tracing along the edges of a workpiece with a chamfer tool, you can quickly and easily remove any small burrs much faster than attempting to spot and remove them manually.
These tools can also be used to spot drill locations for holes. Drilling accurate holes with a milling machine is often a multiple step process and spotting is the process of creating a small dimple in the workpiece with a short and stable tool. This dimple makes it easier to mark locations for drilling deeper holes that will help avoid longer drill bits “walking” off their mark and potentially ruining your workpiece. During the finishing process, chamfer tools can also be used to countersink holes so bolts can sit flush with the surface after installation.
In addition to performing these tasks, you can use your chamfer cutter to perform fine detail work. The sharp point and short length of these little milling cutters makes them a great choice for engraving and adding other small details.
If you are looking for high quality chamfer mills for your shop, you can find some great options at Online Carbide. As an American manufacturer of solid carbide end mills and drill bits, they consistently manufacture reliable and accurate tools that are available at manufacturer direct prices. You can see their full catalog when you visit www.onlinecarbide.com. If you have any questions about their chamfer cutters or any of their other tools, feel free to reach out to a member of the Online Carbide team by sending and email to sales@onlinecarbide.com.
Posted December 1, 2020 01:50
November 30, 2020 00:48
When it comes to drilling holes, the process can be simple or complex depending on the level of accuracy that is required. If you are just doing something simple like drilling a pilot hole into wood, you can usually just go for it and produce results that are clean and accurate. If you are using a milling machine to place a hole in a piece of steel or other hard material, you will need to use a few tools to get the job done right. Spot drills and carbide twist bits are the best way to make sure that your holes are drilled exactly where you need them everytime.
Drill Bit Issues
Your average drill bit is a long tool with a pretty large cutting surface. Sadly tool length tends to have a negative impact on the accuracy of that tool. Virtually all materials have some level of flexibility, including metal. This means that when rotating at high speeds, your drill bits will begin to flex. You might not be able to see this phenomenon with the naked eye, but the tip of your drill bit will wobble slightly around its central axis. This leads to drill bits deflecting off of hard surfaces and “walking” off their mark, potentially damaging your bit and your workpiece.
Spotting
One way to significantly increase the accuracy of your drill bits is to spot the hole before drilling it. The process of spotting involves using a much shorter and more accurate tool to create a dimple in your workpiece that your drill bit can fit into cleanly. Spot drills are short tools ending in a sharp pleated point and are only designed to penetrate the workpiece for the length of the cutting point. Carbide spot drills are extremely rigid, making them one of the best options when accuracy is important.
Final Drilling
As long as you have properly spotted the hole, you should be able to drill it nice and easily. The most important thing to consider is the drill point angles of your spot drill and your final twist carbide drill bit. As long as the spot drill has a wider angle, the twist bit should be able to reach the base of the spot drill’s depression without contacting one of the edges first. This will help ensure that the final hole is clean and centered.
If you are looking for spot drills and carbide drill bits for your shop, you need to try the solid carbide tools from Online Carbide. The team at Online Carbide are dedicated to producing high quality end mills and drill bits from solid micrograin tungsten carbide. All of their tools are made to precise tolerances using extremely accurate computer guided grinding machines, meaning their end mills and drills are designed with sharp and accurate edges from day one. If you have any questions about their products or you are interested in ordering custom cutting tools for your shop, feel free to reach out to a member of the Online Carbide team by sending an email to sales@onlinecarbide.com.
Posted November 30, 2020 00:48
November 24, 2020 01:24
A chamfer end mill is not exactly the most impressive looking cutting tool, but looks can be deceiving. Chamfer cutters are one of the most versatile milling cutters found in most shops. These tools are typically just a shank with a pointed and fluted tip, though there are some more elaborately designed chamfer tools on the market. Some tools may have flutes moving beyond the tip of the tool, special cutting edges to work with a variety of materials, or other design features based on the company producing the tool. Whether you are new to milling or you are looking to find the best chamfer tools, understanding what these tools are designed for is essential.
Obviously these tools are designed to produce a chamfered edge. Chamfering involves removing a portion of a corner on a workpiece in order to create a new plane to replace that corner. This helps to soften sharp edges or removes material to create a smoother transition between edges while reducing the weight of a finished piece.
The process of chamfering is often confused with beveling. While chamfering adds a third plane to transition between two other planes, beveling is the process of removing material to change the angles at which two planes meet. Any edges that have been machined to no longer be square is considered beveled. These two terms can be used interchangeably, typically in favor of describing both beveled and chamfered edges as “beveled”. A chamfer tool can be used to chamfer or bevel an edge, though the process of beveling may require several passes depending on the size of the tool’s cutting surface.
These two functions are the basics of using a chamfer end mill, but they only scratch the surface of these tools’ versatility. Chamfering is typically performed towards the end of the machining process in order to clean up the freshly machined edges. To this end, a chamfer mill can also be used to deburr a workpiece by tracing all of the cutting edges in order to cut and remove any small burrs that were turned up by the machining process.
You can also use your chamfer mills to spot drill locations for holes if you do not have a spot drilling tool handy. The short length and small cutting surface on these tools make them rigid and accurate, two traits that are perfect for spotting applications. The accuracy of these tools also makes them a great option for engraving and other detail work that requires a small fine point.
If you are looking for high quality chamfer end mills for your shop, Online Carbide has the tools for you. As an American manufacturer of end mills and drill bits, the team at Online Carbide are dedicated to producing high performance tools made from solid carbide. If you have any questions about their tools, feel free to reach out to a member of the Online Carbide team by sending an email to sales@onlinecarbide.com.
Posted November 24, 2020 01:24
November 23, 2020 05:52
Carbide end mill sets are typically a range of similar end mills that can be purchased together in order to provide users with all the sizes that they will need. While this might seem like a great idea in practice, you can probably take a look at your own end mill sets and find a few that you have barely used. This is one of the most common issues with buying end mills in bulk, you might end up paying less per tool but you’re also going to end up paying for tools that you will not need.
Another big issue with buying these sets is the fact that they often have a construction quality that matches their price point. There are obviously sets being offered from quality American manufacturers, but many will consist of cheap tools from overseas. These tools are often constructed from lower grade carbide, meaning that they will dull and fail faster than high quality tools. In the event of unexpected tool failure, overseas manufacturers can be difficult to reach during your regular business hours, leading to production delays.
Order your end mills from American manufacturers will help ensure that you are only receiving quality products. One amazing American manufacturer of end mills and drill bits is Online Carbide. They manufacture all of their tools using high performance micro grain tungsten carbide stock. Their tools are precision ground using the same 5 axis computer controlled grinding machines as other top of the line manufactures.
What helps to set Online Carbide apart from the big brands is their prices. Instead of dealing with hardware stores and other middlemen, Online Carbide sells direct to their customers. This means that you can expect to save big on tools that are designed to offer incredible cutting power. It also means that it’s easy to select the end mills that you need and assemble your own carbide end mill set.
Online Carbide’s inventory includes standard end mills with square and ball nose designs as well as a wide range of more specialized milling cutters and drill bits. Currently you can find single pitch thread mills, full form thread mills, variable helix end mills, end mills for aluminum, six flute end mills, chamfer mills, drill mills, center drills, spot drills, stub length drill bits, and jobber length drill bits. In addition to their standard tools. Many of their tools feature protective coatings like TiAlN and ZrN. With so many options, it is easy to find exactly which tools you need and put together the perfect set at a great price.
To start building your own carbide end mill set, visit the Online Carbide store at www.onlinecarbide.com. If you have any questions about the products they offer or you are interested in having custom tools fabricated for your shop, their team is always happy to help. Just send an email to sales@onlinecarbide.com and one of their experts will get back to you as soon as possible.
Posted November 23, 2020 05:52
November 13, 2020 02:29
Buying a carbide end mill set is a great way to save money on high quality cutting tools, but there will always be a few pieces in the set that will get used over and over while others remain in their case. If you have noticed that your favorite end mills are starting to wear down, it might be time to find a replacement. Finding a replacement for one of your tools can be a tricky process and it’s important to keep a few things in mind.
When you bought your carbide end mill set, you were probably trying to find a wide range of tools in order to handle several machining tasks. The first tools that wear out from these kinds of sets tend to be the tools that have been most useful in your milling operations. That means that when replacing them, it's important to invest in high quality options. Investing in great tools now will ensure that your new cutter will have a longer tool life so that you can get more jobs done before having to worry about another replacement.
Solid carbide construction is one of the best options when it comes to end mills and drill bits. This is because carbide has several advantages when compared to tools made from steel alloys. These tools can hold their cutting edge remarkably well and they offer superior heat resistance. This is all the result of the fact that carbide tool stock is a combination of a metal binding agent along with ceramic tungsten carbide.
The ceramic carbide content of these tools is what gives them their incredible cutting power. Not only is carbide more rigid and dense than steel, but it does not suffer from the effects of heat tempering. This means that your tools can run faster and stay sharp for longer. Sadly not all carbide is created equal. If you want the best tools, it is important to make sure that you are ordering from a manufacturer that makes their tools from high quality micrograin carbide tool stock.
One of the best ways to find quality tools is to purchase them from a manufacturer that you can trust. It’s common practice to buy cheap carbide end mill sets from overseas to save money. Sadly these cheap tools tend to fail quickly and customer service can be difficult to reach, especially during your normal business hours.
If you are looking to find some quality replacement tools for your carbide end mill set, Online Carbide is a good place to find them. They are an American tool manufacturer specializing in drill bits and end mills. All of their tools are made using quality micro grain tungsten carbide stock and are made using the same precise computer guided grinding tools as industry leaders to ensure that they only produce sharp and accurate cutting tools.If you have any questions about any of the products that they offer, you can contact a member of the Online Carbide team by sending an email to sales@onlinecarbide.com.
Posted November 13, 2020 02:29
November 9, 2020 04:29
Milling machines are powerful manufacturing tools, especially when it comes to machining custom components. One of the few downsides to these machines is the fact that they require specialized cutters in order to operate efficiently. The more tool changes that an operator has to make, the more drawn out the machining process can be. This means that it is important to use certain tools like chamfer end mills as efficiently as possible in order to limit your tool changes and increase the efficiency of your shop's manufacturing process.
What is a Chamfer Tool
Chamfer mills are relatively simple cutting tools. They typically feature a straight shank with a pointed tip that will typically have a few cutting edge flutes. The tips on these unique end mills usually range from 60 degrees to 90 degrees, with the angle affecting the type of angled cuts that the tool can perform. In order to ensure the most accurate results, the best chamfer tools will be constructed from rigid carbide tool stock.
Chamfering and Beveling
As their name would imply, your chamfer end mills are mostly going to be used to chamfer edges. The process of chamfering helps to “break” an edge. Sharp square edges can be unpleasant to handle, so a chamfer tool creates a sloped plane between two sides of a workpiece’s edge in order to soften the edge and create a clean transition.
The process of chamfering and beveling are often confused. While a chamfer aims to soften an edge by creating a new plane, a bevel changes the angle of one of those sides. If a chamfer is expanded until it reaches the terminal point of an edge, it would become a bevel. As long as your chamfer tool’s angle matches the desired angle of a bevel, you can typically complete the process in a few passes.
Finishing and Deburring
In addition to altering the transitions between edges, chamfer end mills can also be used to help finish your workpiece. While high speed milling is fast and accurate, the process is not always perfect. Usually there will be some burrs along the edges of your workpiece. These small burrs can be easy to miss, especially when trying to remove them manually. Because burrs can easily cut or jab anyone who handles the finished piece or interfere with the installation of parts, their removal is essential. The pointed tip of a chamfer mill can be used to trace along all of your pieces’ edges in order to remove these burrs quickly and efficiently.
If you are looking for some reliable chamfer end mills for your shop, you need to check out the options available at Online Carbide. As an American manufacturer of high quality solid carbide end mills, the team at Online Carbide are dedicated to making great tools that are available at manufacturer direct prices. To see their entire inventory of end mills and drill bits, visit their online store at www.onlinecarbide.com.
Posted November 9, 2020 04:29
November 7, 2020 05:49
Drilling can be difficult, especially when accuracy is crucial. Drill bits are designed to cut through a wide range of materials, but they have a tendency to walk off their mark, potentially damaging a workpiece. One way to get more accurate results when drilling holes with a milling machine is to use stub drills. These shorter bits are more rigid, and therefore more accurate, than longer twist bits.
The most common drill bit size is the jobber length drill bit. This style of drill bit is what most laymen imagine when a drill bit is mentioned. One of the difficulties that come with using these bits is the fact that their length makes them susceptible to oscillating, even if those oscillations are not apparent to the naked eye.
Image a drill bit made of rubber or a similarly flexible material. At low speeds the bit might have been able to spin along its axis, but at higher speeds it would begin to flare out away from that axis. Even though it is difficult to see, the same thing is occurring on a much smaller scale when your drill bits reach high speeds. One of the best ways to combat this effect is to use stub length drill bits.
Stub drills are shorter than other bit styles, which in turn make them more accurate. There is less drill bit, so it has less room to oscillate. While these drill bits are obviously more accurate, they are limited when it comes to the depth they can drill. When drilling deeper holes, long twist bits can be used in combination with a spot drill in order to achieve the same levels of accuracy that stub drill bits can provide.
The best stub drills will be machined from solid carbide. Carbide drills have several advantages over tools made from high speed steel and other tool materials. This is because of the fact that carbide is both more rigid and wear resistant than steel alloys. The rigidity of tool carbide will increase the stability of the bit by minimizing its ability to oscillate at high speeds. The ceramic material used in the construction of carbide tools is also more stable at high temperatures, meaning that the edge on your carbide drill bits will not lose their tempering when they are being used for high speed drilling.
If you are looking to order some new stub drills for your shop, you need to check out the tools available from Online Carbide. As an American manufacturer of high quality carbide tools, they produce end mills and drill bits that are designed to hold their sharp edges even when being used for high speed machining. If you have any questions about their tools, or you are interested in placing a custom order for your shop, feel free to reach out to a member of the Online Carbide tema by sending an email to sales@onlinecarbide.com.
Posted November 7, 2020 05:49