Face Mill

This equipment is safety category 6: Other equipment with no limits.

This equipment is Noise Category 3: Can be used at all hours. No limits.

Intro

We now have a big face mill. The face mill in question is a 100mm diameter, with 6 carbide insert cutters.

Until a better home can be found, it is currently in the bottom of the blue cabinet. When putting it away, please make sure it goes back in it's black plastic case with the peice of foam in the bottom to protect the inserts. Make sure the tool for undoing the screws that hold the inserts in, is kept with the face mill.

How to install it in the Mill

The mill should have 6 cutters installed. There's 4 more spares in the draw below the lathe with all the other carbide inserts. Before use make sure the screws holding all the inserts are tight, and that the inserts are properly seated. Make sure the big black bolt in the bottom of the face mill is tight. This holds the face mill assembly to the iso40 tool holder.

Feeds and speeds

About 500 RPM seems to be the right speed for cutting steel. Running it at 720 results in sparks. Pretty, but not ideal. Stick to 500rpm. Depth of cut should be greater than the radious of the inserts installed.

Replacement inserts

The inserts currently installed are a set from [1]. If surface finish is important, or you're machining something other than steel (brass, aluminium, stainless etc...) consider buying your own. The inserts are double ended, so you can swap the inserts end on end to get more life out of them. If you are buying your own, the inserts to go for are APMT1604.