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PSA: I was running a 3/8 end mill way too fast for years
I was working on a batch of 6061 parts yesterday and kept getting a bad finish, like a weird chatter pattern. My lead, who's been at our Phoenix shop for 15 years, walked by and just said 'your spindle sounds angry.' I checked my settings and realized I had been running that tool at 3500 rpm for every aluminum job, never adjusting. Dropped it to 2800 and the cut was smooth and quiet. Anyone else have a 'default setting' they stuck with way too long?
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angelacooper15d ago
Honestly, it's never just one setting. I mean, I've done the same thing. You get a cut that works once and just lock it in. But chatter like that, idk, for me it's almost always about the feed. If the rpm is too high and the feed is too slow, the tool just rubs instead of cuts. Maybe try bumping up your feed rate a bit at that 3500 and see if it cleans up. The tool could be a little dull too, that'll make it sing no matter what speed you run.
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kim.dylan15d ago
Wait, isn't that backwards? I always thought you ran aluminum fast and steel slow. My go-to for a 3/8 in 6061 is actually 4000 rpm with a light feed. Maybe it was your feed rate or the tool itself that was the real problem.
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