Reply To: New Mill

[david pierce]

Tom,
The 4 flute will cut aluminum but as a rule of thumb 4 flute cutters are used for steel and 2 flute cutters are used for aluminum. With a 2 flute cutter on aluminum when the feeds and speeds are correct, a stream of chips will fly out of the cutter about 3 to 4 feet in length. The 4 flute cutter will cut aluminum but not as quickly. The good news is you are the owner of your shop and do not have to worry about the shop owner comming down from the office and screaming at you for working too slow; been there done that. I am pretty sure Bob went through the same abusive type of apprenticeship that I did. A lot of this will be learned through trial and error. Jump in and cut some metal.
david