Face mill tip alignment

[John Rudd]

I bought a big mill back in March this year..(Chester Eagle 30..worth every damn penny in my book...)

It came with a 4( substitute your own description here....) tipped? face mill..( there were 4 cutting tools like pieces of HSS square steel)

Having used it today for the first time, I was very impressed on the surface finish on a piece of 2*2 inch EN1a sq bar....( as opposed to using a fly cutter...

How does one normally align the cutting tips as there are 4 of the blighters..?

[spuddevans]

Would it be possible to mount it in the mill, lower the mill-head until it is close to a known flat piece of stock on the mill table. Then loosen each of the 4 tool-bits and let them drop to make contact with the flat stock, then tighten them all again.

Assuming that your mill is in tram and the stock is flat (maybe flycut it prior to starting?) that should get all the tips very close to spot on


Tim

[John Rudd]

Tim,

Thanks for the reply.......

I'll certainly give that a go and we'll see what the outcome is....

[Stilldrillin]

John.
Mount your dti pointing upward to the cutter tips, with only a "couple" of thou indicated at the cutting point/ edge.

The cutter can then be hand rotated in reverse direction, indicating each tip, without knocking the dti aside.......

I used this method regularly, when working for a living. 

David D

[John Rudd]

David,

That sounds like a better idea, thus removing the error introduced by 'eyeing up' the height ( my eyesight isnt particularly brilliant... )

I best dust off the dti then........

[daz]

I just recently bought the exact same model and have been quite impressed with it so far, apart from the free cutter that is   I could not get all the tips square for some reason??? Quite possibly my fault and lack of knowledge. I ended up buying a new cutter with only 3 tips and straight out of the box it has worked perfectly.
The machine itself has performed brilliantly so far, and seems good well made for the money. The only problem I have with it is the fact that the stand I bought with it is far too low, I wish I had read the dimensions of it beforehand as it sits far too low and I find myself having to bend over all the time to operate the table, but thats not the machines fault.
What have been your experiences with it so far???

daz

[John Rudd]

daz,

I've found the mill to be quite an experience..I 'cut my teeth' on one of the X2 mini mill clones so that has set the benchmark....

So far I've not been disappointed, X & Y travel is very smooth and accurate...

The biggest gripe I have is the fact that when raising or lowering the head and datum is lost....

[daz]

I have found that too, but too be honest I usually raise or lower the head and then check with dti before carrying out any work, unless of course it is something that doesnt need to be too accurate. Its perfect for what I need it for and not too many pennies

daz

[loply]

Excuse my ignorance but why would you need to align the tips? Are you talking about indexable carbide type face mill, don't the tips align by themselves?

[Stilldrillin]

Excuse my ignorance but why would you need to align the tips? Are you talking about indexable carbide type face mill, don't the tips align by themselves?

I understand, this cutter has 4 lathe type tools, in slots. A design going back long before throwaway tips........

The Sandvic cutters I used, had cartridge inserts holding the tips. Giving a little "give" during a crash.......... 

Occasionally, they had to be re aligned.
Especially, after the night shift had been on the m/c.....       (Always blame the other shift)......   

David D

[John Rudd]

Excuse my ignorance but why would you need to align the tips? Are you talking about indexable carbide type face mill, don't the tips align by themselves?

No, as David eludes to; the face mill has four tips akin to a lathe turning tool and held in place in four slots with cap head screws..

Given the surface finish I got with it, I couldnt really justify buying a face mill with carbide tips....

[velocette]

Hi this is my solution to setting up a facing cutter for an X2 mill

Turn a stepped disk to bolt on to the cutter head. (You will need to measure your cutter head to suit fit)
 
Remove locking bolt and bolt stepped disk to cutter head

Set cutting tips to touch stepped disk remove disk and replace locking bolt

See Pictures

Eric

[Stilldrillin]

Great idea Eric! 

The only drawback I see, with clamping against a fixed stop..... Carbide cutting edges spelch very easily, when pushed against an "immovable object". 

David D

[John Rudd]

Nice idea Eric, Thanks for sharing

[Fergus OMore]

The old way is to stick cigarette papers on the mill table and lower until the cutter JUST moves each.

You are then within -half a thous. Traditional tool making tool, a packet of 'papers'

[Sic Semper Tyrannis]

Phone book pages work well for this too.  Now you have a second use for the phone book.  The first being a booster seat for the kids.