Rant: My boss said to try a 3/8 ball nose on that 6061 part and it chattered like crazy

We had a deep pocket to finish, about an inch and a half down. I set the feed at 40 inches per minute and the spindle to 8000 rpm, thinking it would be smooth. The second it went in, the noise was awful and the finish looked terrible. I learned you really need that stubby tool for depth, not just any end mill you grab. Has anyone found a good stepover for a short ball nose in aluminum to keep it quiet?

3 comments

3 Comments

sageadams16d ago

Yeah, that's the worst sound. Been there. Try a 15% stepover next time, it usually chills out.

piperm387d ago

Scrapped a whole aluminum plate last month from that exact sound. 15% stepover saved my next project.

jordan_webb16d ago

Ugh, that sound is the worst. I've definitely scrapped a part or two from the same thing. Sage's stepover tip is solid.