SIDE MILLING - hard steel

[NickMihelich]

CONSTANT LOAD - tool path with small (.010) retracts.

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[StevePikaart]

Nick,

How do you keep the cutter from retracting? I am using constant load cutting and it works good but we loose some productivity because the cutter retracts between each step over. Any advice?

[NickMihelich]

You can download that file and look at where my retract plane is set. You must be very carful about gouge checking this is more of a 50/50 solution it only works correctly half the time

[DogariuSebastia]

You use this for facing the pocket? You cand use FACES ONLY I think. Or pocketing with STEP DEPTH > HEIGHT of the pocket.

[NickMihelich]

I use this type of sequence to perform a high speed side milling in hardend tool steel. The micro retracts really save on tool ware. It is a kind of poor mans volumill... if you will. Unfortunatly there seems to be no gouge checking when this type of retract(below the work part) is used.

[SteveLucas]

Nick,

I have been using your roughing sequence since you posted it a while ago. It works great I think!! But like you say you really need to gouge check and watch the retracts.But it's a great time saver for roughing open pockets when you can start outside the work.

[DogariuSebastia]

Nick, what's the HRC of your steel?

[NickMihelich]

around 54-55 Rockwell. I will usually run 250-350 surface feet with .005" chip load per tooth usually at a full daim depth of cut.