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The Shop => Tools => Topic started by: Bourne Bill on March 02, 2009, 01:45:07 PM

Title: end mill sharpening
Post by: Bourne Bill on March 02, 2009, 01:45:07 PM
what do you guys use for sharpening endmills? I ve been lQQking at the one enco has that takes the 5 c collets, and using it on my milling machine with a cup stone.. are they worth pursuing?
Title: Re: end mill sharpening
Post by: Bernd on March 02, 2009, 03:33:55 PM
I don't sharpen end mills I just buy a new one. For the amount I use them I figure buying new ones is cheaper.

My opinion only though.
Title: Re: end mill sharpening
Post by: sbwhart on March 02, 2009, 03:55:40 PM
Hi Bill

I've been pondering how to re-sharpen end milld have you any photos/links of the enco solution.

Cheers

Stew
Title: Re: end mill sharpening
Post by: Bourne Bill on March 02, 2009, 04:13:16 PM
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMPAGE=500&PMITEM=287-6840
Title: Re: end mill sharpening
Post by: sbwhart on March 02, 2009, 05:17:26 PM
Hi Bill

Thats a very interesting bit of kit I've never seen any thing like that before, it looks like it's intended for use with a surface grinder, I wouldn't like to say how good it would be using it with a mill, I guess getting the wheel running at a good speed would be an issue ?.

Keep us posted if you decide to try it as to how effective it is.

I've been toying with the idea for quite some time of converting an off hand or some people call them bench grinders into a cutter grinder with a cup wheel, using one of those cross tables people use to convert drilling machines into a miller. I've not taken the idea very far except for working things out in my head, at the moment I have no great incentive to do it, but in time that will change.

Good luck
 :wave:
Stew
Title: Re: end mill sharpening
Post by: SPiN Racing on March 03, 2009, 01:04:30 AM
I have the Sears Craftsman utility sharpening tool.
50 Dollars US, and it has a green stone, and a resivoir.. so I simply pour distilled water on it till the stone is staying wet, then adjust the rest, and then gently work the tool.
The wheel was NOT TRUE when I got it, but it moves so slowly, that its not really an issue for me... and a buggered tool bit that you need to remove a lot more material from is nice to help get the wheel more true by keeping it in the high spots with more consistant placement. A little interrupted cutting took the high spots right down. Once down I simply helt the carbide to the wheel at what I felt was the right angle for that tool and let it slowly grind the shape.
It makes a very nice smooth crisp edge.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00921174000P? (http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00921174000P?)
Title: Re: end mill sharpening
Post by: Bernd on March 03, 2009, 09:58:03 AM
SPiN,

It's a bit difficult if not impossible to do endmills free hand. You need to hold the tolerences that are in the thousands from one cutting edge to the next.

End mills are usally sharpened on a cutter grinder. I'll see if I can find some pics to post of one.

Bernd
Title: Re: end mill sharpening
Post by: ja2on on March 03, 2009, 01:48:43 PM
This may or  may not be of use but in the book MILLING A COMPLETE COURSE
there is a section in the back for making a grinding rest with plans and instructions for use
and how to modify your bench grinder for cup wheels.
according to the text you can grind the end and the side cutting faces
I bought my copy from here http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/356418/-/Product.html?searchstring=milling+a+complete+course&searchsource=0
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c176/j450n_/DSC03343.jpg)
Title: Re: end mill sharpening
Post by: Bernd on March 03, 2009, 09:19:48 PM
Nice one Jason.

That'll do the job for a home machinist. :thumbup:

Bernd
Title: Re: end mill sharpening
Post by: SPiN Racing on March 04, 2009, 06:56:53 AM
<<<<<<Blonde


I saw end mill... Read end mill... ANd was thinking of Carbide Turning tools for the lathe.


 :doh: :doh: :doh: :doh:
Title: Re: end mill sharpening
Post by: Bourne Bill on March 04, 2009, 10:01:25 AM
Jason, does that book have detailed plans to build that jig?
Title: Re: end mill sharpening
Post by: sbwhart on March 04, 2009, 12:32:22 PM
Bill

Another good book by the same guy that wrote Jasons book:- Harold Hall, is Tool and Cutter Sharpening, its part of the Workshop Practice Series No 38 ISBN 978-185486-241-9 it expands on the use of the jig in Jasons link.

Cheers

Stew
Title: Re: end mill sharpening
Post by: ja2on on March 04, 2009, 01:42:46 PM
Jason, does that book have detailed plans to build that jig?

Yes it does it also has pictures guiding you through the process
here is the index showing the projects covered

(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c176/j450n_/index.jpg)

EDIT : I have quite a nice pile of books from the workshop practice series now
sbwhart I ordered Tool and Cutter Sharpening at the weekend but I guess the postman is still reading it

(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c176/j450n_/books.jpg)


 
Title: Re: end mill sharpening
Post by: ja2on on March 05, 2009, 05:13:42 PM
It seems the postman has finished reading my book now  :D

Bill "Tool and Cutter Sharpening" as recommended by Stew also has a simpler grinding rest design and plans if it is any help

(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c176/j450n_/rest.jpg)
Title: Re: end mill sharpening
Post by: Bourne Bill on March 08, 2009, 01:34:04 PM
thanks for youir help Jason, I will lQQk into ordering a few of these books.
Title: Re: end mill sharpening
Post by: Maninshed on March 30, 2009, 05:20:01 PM
Er this is my first post on this site, so hi guys.
I purchased ones of those Chinese universal cutter grinders, which when I got it was the usual kit of parts that you have to sort out when you buy their stuff. After 12 months of messing about I now have a machine that will grind end mills / slot drills (haven't sorted the bit that grinds the O/D yet), lathe tools, Dee bits, slitting saws, I gave up trying to figure out how to use the drill grinding attachment, and made a gadget (adapted Dereck Brown's devise from the ME) to 4 or 6 facet grind drills, so it's quite usful now. So it's back to another kit of parts a mini lathe, now there's another story, had to bore and sleeve the head stock bearing seats on this, as the bearings were squashed oval. :bang: If enough people complain I'll see if I can figure out how to stick some photo's in.

Martyn (Sutton Coldfield UK).
Title: Re: end mill sharpening
Post by: Twinsquirrel on March 30, 2009, 05:25:07 PM
welcome aboard!

I'm complaining  :worthless: sounds like a useful tool

David
Title: Re: end mill sharpening
Post by: websterz on March 30, 2009, 05:39:23 PM
Me too!  :worthless: Let's 'ave a peek.... :thumbup:
Title: Re: end mill sharpening
Post by: Darren on March 30, 2009, 05:42:22 PM
And me  :worthless:

Sounds like an interesting machine  :dremel:
Title: Re: end mill sharpening
Post by: sbwhart on March 31, 2009, 05:04:30 AM
Hi Martin

You may find this thread usful in posting pics

http://madmodder.net/index.php?topic=607.0

Good Luck

Stew
Title: Re: end mill sharpening
Post by: Maninshed on March 31, 2009, 08:39:31 AM
Okay team I'll have a go, give me a bit of time to figure things out photo wise :doh:

Martyn. (Sutton Coldfield UK).
Title: Re: end mill sharpening
Post by: Darren on June 23, 2009, 07:29:25 PM
Bump.....

have you managed to sort out any pic's for us?
Title: Re: end mill sharpening
Post by: Maninshed on June 24, 2009, 08:41:23 AM
Er sorry no seemed abit to rocket science for my none computerized brain :(
Title: Re: end mill sharpening
Post by: Darren on June 24, 2009, 05:48:33 PM
That's a shame,

Could you email some to me, I'll host them for you and put them on this thread?