If you regularly use a milling machine, you know how important Chamfer End Mills are for finishing your workpieces. Unless you need edges that meet at hard right angles, the edge break from chamfering results in a fine feel and finish for your piece. The chamfer cutter is one of the most common tools in the machinist’s toolbox and your chamfering mills can serve several important functions.
It almost goes without saying, but one of the most common uses for a chamfer mill is to chamfer an edge. Chamfering is the process of creating a sloped edge to connect two surfaces, often two surfaces that initially met at a right angle. This process not only makes the piece more pleasant to look at and handle, but it can also strengthen the edge. While this is definitely the primary function of your chamfer mill, they can be used for a few more important tasks.
A chamfer cutter can also create a bevel. While beveling and chamfering often get used interchangeably, they are two different actions. A chamfer uses a slope to connect two surfaces, while a bevel angles an entire formerly squared off side of the piece. Your chamfer mill is designed to create a chamfer, but it can also be used to produce a bevel. Depending on the size of the edge you intend to bevel, you may have to use a larger portion of the cutting surface or perform several passes to complete the bevel.
After you have finished milling your workpiece, you will usually have a few burrs left on your edges. Burrs are raised edges or small portions of metal that remain attached to the edge of your piece because the cutter was not able to fully remove them during machining. Your chamfer end mills can be used to quickly and efficiently remove these burs, avoiding the hassle of manual deburring. The deburring process only requires a small portion of the chamfer mill’s cutting edge, so it can be done quickly by adjusting your settings for an extremely light cut.
Edges are not the only thing your chamfer mills can be used on. These end mills are short and rigid with a small pointed cutting surface. These traits are exactly what you look for in a spot drill. Drilling holes in milling operations is a trickier task than the layman might assume. Drill bits are too long to be trusted, especially when you need to drill into a hard surface. Spot drilling is used to create a small dimple in the piece to help guide the drill bit. This will help to avoid the drill bit “walking” off its mark and ruining the piece. This same operation can be used to countersink the hole after it has been drilled.
The key to making your chamfer end mills last is to make sure that you are buying solid carbide end mills for your shop. Unlike steel, rigid carbide maintains its hardness and cutting edge even after heavy use. Carbide tools are also extremely rigid, which makes it unlikely for them to oscillate at high speeds and miss their mark.
If you are looking for high-quality solid carbide chamfer end mills, you need to check out Online Carbide today. Online Carbide is an American manufacturer of carbide cutting tools sold at manufacturer direct pricing. If you are looking for new tools that will provide clean cuts and long tool life, you will love their end mills and drill bits. If you have any questions about their inventory, you can reach the Online Carbide team at 630-238-1424 or sales@onlinecarbide.com.
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