The Home Machinist!

I've seen that pattern before. The good news is that, in my case, it wasn't any problem with the spindle. The bad news, is I don't recall how I fixed it. I am a beginner myself, so although I can't be specific, I can tell you I managed to make it go away. My recollection was it had something to doe ...

Ok, time for an education (mine, I mean). I started to square up some stock on the milling machine today and started thinking about whether there was a better proceed. I started with a block of aluminum which was saw cut on all 6 sides. I set a couple of parallels in the vise, set my stock up on the...

Thought I would share an experience I had this week. I am by no means an expert in machining. Although I've had my Grizzly G4003 lathe for almost 15 years, I am still very much a newbie. For instance, I have only threaded on my machine one time before this week. Earlier this spring, while readying t...

Thanks all for the thoughtful replies. I found it helpful.

After responding to Harold, I started thinking about this. I took some photos of the end mill. There is some evidence of contact behind the cutting surface (the relief?) and some evidence of chipping and cratering of the edge. Didn’t notice before because my eyes are not what they once were.

Harold You got me. I'm not sure what you mean be "making contact at the primary relief". (Newbie, remember? :D ) I think you mean that then entrance to the ID of the collet there should be a relief? and the EM is contacting there? OR are you referring to the relief on the flute of the EM? ...

I did check the end mill by setting it on a V-block and rotating it under a test indicator. No discernible out of roundness of the EM. I also checked it for size. I am a relative newbie to the hobby, although i got my lathe nearly 20 years ago, and the milling machine nearly 15 years ago. Can't say ...

Too soft? I’m still trying to figure that one out. Maybe. I can see if it was too hard it wouldn’t flex enough... There are witness marks in the collet and on the OD of the cutter, but not vertical. There is evidence the tool has spun a little, but not much. I also notice that this cutter in this pa...

Given what I’m seeing, that has the ring of truth to it. Can’t get to it from outside. Need to figure out how to get to it.

Took the setup down and cleaned an measured everything. No debris, tools are the size marked. Found a small dent in the end mill. Looks like it came that way as it appears to have TiN coating in it. Found no burrs in the collet or spindle. Lubricated the draw bar and the threaded end of the collet. ...

Don;t think i have any metric tools. At least they are all marked in imperial units. I will check though, just to be sure. I also checked for chips in the slots. Everything looks clean. I am cutting with the side of the mill. The cut is about .050" into the side of the cutter and .525 along the...

Hi folks. Been a while since i posted. I could use some advice. I have a Grizzly G3617 milling machine that's giving me some problems, and i'm not sure if it's operator error, or a problem with the machine. I'm trying to mill a part with a 4 flute 5/8" diameter end mill mounted in an R8 collet....