Using a Fly Cutter to face aluminium.

[Chris123Participant @chris123]

Hi, does anyone use a fly cutter to face aluminium?

What shape should I make to the HSS tool bit?

Any other advice?!

 

Thanks,

Edited By Chris123 on 15/08/2013 18:25:44

[Chris123Participant @chris123]

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Yep, I just round the corner over and give it 5-10deg or rake.

[Thor 🇳🇴Participant @thor]

Hi Chris,

Flycutting was discussed on this forum earlier. The toolbit need a bit more rake than for steel, and smooth surfaces. Have a look here, or here.

Thor

Edited By Thor on 15/08/2013 18:44:04

[magpieParticipant @magpie]

Hi Chris. I use a lathe profile tool in the fly cutter for all my fly cutting now. No more sharpening, just turn the insert round a little when it shows wear. Brass, ally, steel, cuts them all just fine. There are two more photos on the subject in my photos.

Cheers Derek.

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

I use a basic HSS toolbit and get a mirror finish. Flycutting ally is one of the nicest maching operations.

Neil

[Danny M2ZParticipant @dannym2z]

Posted by Chris123 on 15/08/2013 18:24:13:

> Hi, does anyone use a fly cutter to face aluminium?

> What shape should I make to the HSS tool bit?

> Any other advice?

G'day Chris.

If using a HSS tool, sharpen it as a LH lathe tool. I find that kero (paraffin) as a cutting lube can improve the final finish.

Regards from the land of the kangaroo

* Danny M *

[Chris123Participant @chris123]

Thanks for your replys!

i will have a look at the links later.

I think I have an old LH lathe tool in an old size so I'll try that first tonight.

Thanks.

[_Paul_Participant @_paul_]

I use this for alloy cylinder heads

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Chris

I have used a left handed carbide tipped cutter in a home made holder for some fly cutting, I used an old MT2 drill taper & machined a holder to suit the cutter. It has cut Brass, Ally, & MS without too much effort.. but only with light d.o.c. on. I now use a 4 tipped indexible insert for any fly cutting that I need to do & it has cut all materials quite effectively.

Cheers

George.

[Engine BuilderParticipant @enginebuilder]

Here's the one I use, it can be used in lathe or mill. As the sweep is large you get a nice finish and unless the work is large, you don't get the second cut so a nice finish is acheived.

[Chris123Participant @chris123]

Thanks for all the advice. I tried a piece of HSS with a radius on the end. I pretty much got a polished finish first time. The picture is below, it's HE30 / 6082 T6.  1000rpm, 50mm diameter cut, table speed between 12-252mm/minute (didn't really make much difference). 

I tried various different methods, even with the head tilted 0.5 degree so that it only cut once, I'm not 100% but I think when the leading side of the fly cutter was cutting it was a better finish and with the trailing side cutting it was a much worse finish.

Using a traditional shape lathe tool gave a nice machined finish, similar to a computer disc.

 

However I think the best advice I read was to use the lathe instead!

 

I found a face cutter at a car boot sale this morning for £5 so will probably use that in future!

 

Thanks,

 

Edited By Chris123 on 18/08/2013 12:56:19

Edited By Chris123 on 18/08/2013 13:04:32

Edited By Chris123 on 18/08/2013 13:17:50

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