Milling Bits

Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 4:14 pm • Post subject: Milling Bits

Hello all,

I have a nice shiny milling machine and am looking for a source of small bits that can cut a small trench out of wood (around 1mm wide and at the same depth). I am having trouble a) working out what sort of bit shape is appropriate B) what it would be called c) where to get some from

At that size it would presumably need to be efficient at horizontal cutting as otherwise it would bend to much to be efficient.

I am intending to use the mill to cut the slots for steps in a ladder.

Any advice would be welcome!

Cheers,

Joss

Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 4:55 pm • Post subject:

There are some very fine milling bits available from Proxxon that would do what you describe.

Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 5:40 pm • Post subject:

For that kind of narrow slot a "Slitting Saw" blade would work well. These are really metal cutting tools but can be used for wood. You would need to get one that has fairly coarse teeth to prevent clogging.

These saws have no "set" to the teeth and will cut exactly to their nominal width, you can get diameters from about 2cm to 20cm. I would suggest that yoy start with a blade around 5-8 cm. For wood they can be run relativly quickly.

They would work best in hard woods like box or pear. Any wood likely to splinter may not be so easy to groove.

In the uk you can get them from Chronos, Arc Euro Trade and others (usual disclaimer)

Hope this helps.

Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 6:56 pm • Post subject:

Joss,
Miniature end mills may do the job but you would have to take several shallow cuts to reach the depth of your bitts without breaking the bit & as you can see from this site a 1mm.dia. bit has only 3mm.depth of cut.

http://www.harveytool.com/products/product_detail.php?product_id=72000&category_id=2&product_family=Miniature+Square+End+Mills

If you are not going to install pulleys, how about scooping out the wood with a mini chisel ground to 1mm. width? One more option: make the bitts laminated construction.

Keith.

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 1:09 am • Post subject:

Hi again Joss,

Mate, I have found a mob in Sydney that make some very fine, top notch solid carbide cutters. They range from 2 to four fluke, bull-nosed or straight, and down to .5mm. They are not the cheapest but not the dearest around Smile

By the time you pay postage etc from the US, I think these are worth consideration at least.

The tooling company is online and call themselves DEK. I found it best to call them and then send an email with exactly what you want.

try: http://www.carbideendmillsplus.com.au/

cheers

Pat

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:55 am • Post subject:

Thanks for the responses all. Much appreciated.

Joss.