"DoN. Nichols" wrote in message
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In article ,
Harold & Susan Vordos wrote:

"DoN. Nichols" wrote in message
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snip-

With all the mention of keyseat cutters in horizontal mills, I
don't see (yet) any mention of plain milling cutters for keyseats.
They
work very nicely for the task, if you can accept the longer radius at

[ ... ]

Not only nicely, but fast. Ever run something like a #3 K&T mill running
a
side cutter in steel? Almost a frightening experience.

My experience has been limited to my Nichols horizontal mill, a
#40 NMTB taper in the spindle, and a choice of lever feed (rack and
pinion) or leadscrew feed. For a lot of things on that machine,
including cutting keyways, I prefer the lever feed option. It lets me
apply feed until the machine sounds unhappy, and then back off -- except
that so far, I have not had the nerve to push it hard enough for it to
sound unhappy. It just keeps cutting. :-)

Enjoy,
DoN.


That's sort of what you do with a K&T, only it's by increasing the power
feed. You simply turn a handle while it's cutting, and it increases with
each half revolution. I've taken cuts in chrome moly with large side
cutters advancing at 10"/min. It's nothing short of amazing to watch the
chips accumulate, all the while the machine isn't even grunting. I'm sure
you can imagine the difference when a K&T may weigh three tons as opposed to
your hand mill, which sounds like it's doing one hell of a bang up job!

Harold