Today I had a hot job that needed to get done but we didn't
have the correct size (3" x 2.5" aluminum) stock on hand, so
I had to use what was available (3.5" x 3.5") and saw cut as
much off as possible and finish it with a face mill.

Problem is that the shop only has a 1.5" dia. face mill so I
had to make twice the number of passes to finish the job
and while this wasn't really a big deal, it was an added
annoyance.

The other problem is that getting the boss to buy any tooling
is like pulling teeth, so I figured I'd buy my own larger dia.
face mill (with the boss springing for the inserts) but I don't
want to spend an arm and a leg on one ($50 would be cool).

So does anybody know where I can get an El-Cheepo 3"
dia. R8 shank face mill / indexable end mill?

By the way, what's the preferred term for this tool? I've
always called 'em "face mills" but I see the same tool being
labeled as an "indexable end mill" by some vendors. This
is the type of tool I'm talking about;

http://www.otmtools.com/standards/facemills.htm

http://www.penntoolco.com/catalog/pr...ategoryID=4860

And ya, I know a fly cutter would have had a large enough
dia. to have cleaned up the surface of the part in one pass
but I wouldn't have been able to take off as much material
in one pass with it and.... I just hate those things.

The other problem is that getting the boss to buy any tooling
is like pulling teeth, so I figured I'd buy my own larger dia.
face mill (with the boss springing for the inserts) but I don't
want to spend an arm and a leg on one ($50 would be cool).


Do you suppose the boss won't buy the proper tooling because he knows that
you will?

If you finish a job twice as fast with the proper tooling, who gets to keep
the extra money earned?

Do the best job you can with the tooling you're given. If the boss won't
spring for the proper equipment, that's his problem.


BTW, I'm not a disgruntled employee, I'm a shop owner.


Oh, one more thing.... I'm sorry I don't actually know the answer to your
question.

On 26 Jan 2006 15:55:04 -0800, "Hari Seldon"
wrote:

Today I had a hot job that needed to get done but we didn't
have the correct size (3" x 2.5" aluminum) stock on hand, so
I had to use what was available (3.5" x 3.5") and saw cut as
much off as possible and finish it with a face mill.

Problem is that the shop only has a 1.5" dia. face mill so I
had to make twice the number of passes to finish the job
and while this wasn't really a big deal, it was an added
annoyance.

The other problem is that getting the boss to buy any tooling
is like pulling teeth, so I figured I'd buy my own larger dia.
face mill (with the boss springing for the inserts) but I don't
want to spend an arm and a leg on one ($50 would be cool).

So does anybody know where I can get an El-Cheepo 3"
dia. R8 shank face mill / indexable end mill?

By the way, what's the preferred term for this tool? I've
always called 'em "face mills" but I see the same tool being
labeled as an "indexable end mill" by some vendors. This
is the type of tool I'm talking about;

http://www.otmtools.com/standards/facemills.htm

http://www.penntoolco.com/catalog/pr...ategoryID=4860

And ya, I know a fly cutter would have had a large enough
dia. to have cleaned up the surface of the part in one pass
but I wouldn't have been able to take off as much material
in one pass with it and.... I just hate those things.

Ain't gonna happen for less that about two hundred plus, new. And
make sure to check if that includes an R-8 shank.

Or follow Ebay for "face mill", like this one, which uses a very
common type insert.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Criterion-3-inch-face-mill-R8-shank-SNMG-inserts_W0QQitemZ7584773459QQcategoryZ12578QQrdZ1Q QcmdZViewItem

Dave Lyon wrote:
The other problem is that getting the boss to buy any tooling
is like pulling teeth, so I figured I'd buy my own larger dia.
face mill (with the boss springing for the inserts) but I don't
want to spend an arm and a leg on one ($50 would be cool).



Do you suppose the boss won't buy the proper tooling because he knows that
you will?

If you finish a job twice as fast with the proper tooling, who gets to keep
the extra money earned?

Do the best job you can with the tooling you're given. If the boss won't
spring for the proper equipment, that's his problem.


BTW, I'm not a disgruntled employee, I'm a shop owner.

As the well documented flycutter coward amongst usg, I'm surprise that
it has not been suggested. Flycutters can be inexpensive, and would
probably do a fine job. Dave makes a good point: consider making the
boss pay for it. See Enco for inexpensive import flycutters and square
tool bits.

BTW, don't take my word for anything re flycutters: I've never used one,
though that will change next week.

Bill

Dave Lyon wrote
Hari Seldon wrote

The other problem is that getting the boss to buy any tooling
is like pulling teeth, so I figured I'd buy my own larger dia.
face mill (with the boss springing for the inserts) but I don't
want to spend an arm and a leg on one ($50 would be cool).

Do you suppose the boss won't buy the proper tooling because
he knows that you will?

To put this in perspective, the company I work for is a fairly
young company and only has around 30 employees in total,
with the machine shop dept. having all of 4 guys.

I suspect two things are responsible for the penny-pinching
when it comes to tooling and such; the boss (plant manager)
is a white collar management type of guy and while he's cool
to work for, he's not a former machinist and thus kinda freaks
out when he sees the prices of needed stuff;

"You mean $2.50 only buys us _one_ of these tiny little
face mill inserts?"

The other thing is that the "old timer" in the machine shop
brought a lot of gear with him when they formed the dept.
around 10 years ago (instead of sending the work outside)
and so the company didn't have to buy much of the stuff it
normally would have.

If you finish a job twice as fast with the proper tooling, who
gets to keep the extra money earned?

There's no I in team....

I don't have a problem buying my own tooling if the price
is reasonable and it's something I'll have for many years
(like a face mill) and can take with me if I move on to a
different employer. But I ain't buying "consumables" like
inserts, end mills, drills and such.

And it's been my experience that since smaller family owned
type companies have more interaction between management
and the employees, they actually appreciate an employee that
does a good job and this is factored in when one needs some
time off or something and when it comes time to share the
wealth or kick someone to the curb.

With big companies on the other hand, you're just a number
and whether you do a good job or not (unless you're a total
screw-up) nobody notices and even if they do notice, it won't
get you anything.

Do the best job you can with the tooling you're given. If the
boss won't spring for the proper equipment, that's his problem.

Yes, but I'm still the one who has to get the job done and I'm
the one who is _directly_ affected by the lack of proper tooling
(or at least tooling that makes the job go smoother).

Bill Schwab wrote

As the well documented flycutter coward amongst usg,
I'm surprise that it has not been suggested. Flycutters can
be inexpensive, and would probably do a fine job.

One of the other guys in the dept. has a fly cutter and I
do use it occasionally but I prefer taking more material
off with fewer passes.

It's a personal experiance thing, the last place I worked
for had a bunch of differant size face mills so we never
needed to use a fly cutter. I just don't like them.

Brian Lawson wrote:
Hari Seldon wrote

So does anybody know where I can get an El-Cheepo
3" dia. R8 shank face mill / indexable end mill?

Ain't gonna happen for less that about two hundred plus,
new. And make sure to check if that includes an R-8 shank.

The Penn Tool link I provided shows a 3" R8 face mill
for $140 which while still too rich for my blood, isn't that
expensive.

Or follow Ebay for "face mill", like this one, which uses
a very common type insert.

Good idea, why didn't I think of that?

Hari Seldon wrote in message
oups.com...
Bill Schwab wrote

As the well documented flycutter coward amongst usg,
I'm surprise that it has not been suggested. Flycutters can
be inexpensive, and would probably do a fine job.

One of the other guys in the dept. has a fly cutter and I
do use it occasionally but I prefer taking more material
off with fewer passes.

It's a personal experiance thing, the last place I worked
for had a bunch of differant size face mills so we never
needed to use a fly cutter. I just don't like them.

You want to get in touch with your E's. Experience. Different. Not all words
are spelled the way you mispronounce them.

Dave Baker wrote
Hari Seldon wrote

It's a personal experiance thing,

You want to get in touch with your E's. Experience. Different.
Not all words are spelled the way you mispronounce them.

You actually took time out of your day to reply with a spelling
flame?