Harold and Susan Vordos wrote:
"Jon Elson" wrote in message
...
snip---

Pretty much all standard milling

cutters are set up for some positive rake. So, there shouldn't be any
concern
for rigidity and power when making the decision between the cutting
tool materials.


You've apparently never encountered a large insert shell mill. Negative
rake, and can move metal, even chrome moly, at a rate that boggles the mind.
Requires one hell of a lot of HP, however. I recall watching a vertical
Milwaukee grunting like crazy swinging a large one. Mill had 10 hp at the
spindle.

I know about these, and I know they are totally inappropriate for most
home shop sized machines. With my smaller machines, I just don't even
THINK about negative rake. They can plow lots of material, but you need
lots of HP, and a very rigid setup. I was just trying to keep things
simple for the guy.

Jon