[mikeph]

which is better a belt driven or a gear driven vertical milling machine?

The local dealer here says that we are able to cut faster and deeper with belt driven machine. but my mentor says otherwise?

[underthetire]

Both are old school. Integral spindles are the way to go, unless all you do is low speed stuff. For low end torque gear is better, but personally I would only go gear if it was a 50taper machine cutting cast iron or hard materials it's whole life. Belt drive is really only low end machines now days, IMO.

[mikeph]

ill be cutting 1030 to 1050 and p20 metal. do you happpen to have a endmill carbide speed and feed chart? right now i dont know how to use it properly and efficient so i could cut fast and prolong the tool life.

currently i use around 3000 to 8000 rpm and feedrate about 1000 to 2500. depth around .02 to .2 mm only. and the tip would still break. I read about it online that cutting to little and fast will only produce rubbing of the tool and heating the carbide will only break it.