Vent: Old timer told me to use cutting fluid on my end mills, I thought he was full of it

Ran a 10-part job on aluminum without any lube and now I'm sitting here with three chipped flutes and a $150 replacement bill, has anyone else gotten burned ignoring basic advice like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

valh3227d ago

Grabbed a half inch carbide end mill I'd had for years and ran it dry through some 6061 a few months back, same damn thing. Chipped three flutes on the first pass and the rest went to hell within two parts. Now I keep a little squeeze bottle of A9 by the machine and hit the tool every few inches, night and day difference in tool life and finish. The old timers might talk in riddles sometimes but when they say use coolant they mean it, especially on aluminum that loves to weld itself to the cutting edge. Your wallet is the best teacher I guess.

wyatt5227d ago

That A9 stuff actually made a difference on the second pass or did it still chip the first time without? I'm wondering if I should pre-lube the whole cut or just hit it when it starts squealing.