Machining Torlon 4301 in a swiss. Never used it before, how does it cut?
Hello,
Im going to be making a square part from Torlon 4301. I will have 3/8 round stock and have to face it, mill it to a .250 square, add a .100 deep step at the front and back and mill a 30* angle on 3 of the sides.
First, Ive never machined plastic in a swiss machine before. anything I should know? since its a square part the only turning I will be doing is facing and cutoff so most of my questions regard milling. what have you used for good feed and speed?
also, the part is only .700 long but when I mill the last 2 sides the stock will be unsupported on the backside. Think i should decrease feeds for those 2 sides?
for my endmill I was either going to use:
a 2 or 3 flute .375 dia EM that would be .465 from the bushing face (2 flute AlTiN coated or uncoated, 3 flute ZrN coated, Aluminum geom EM)
or
a 2 or 4 flute .250 dia EM that would be .075 from the bushing face. (both uncoated or AlTiN)
Id rather use a .375 because I would be able to cut the .250 flat in 1 pass versus 2 but Im worried that the extra .400 stick out on my large tool station might allow a fair amount of flex/chatter. Do i have unfounded fears or a possible problem?
Any help is appreciated
CNC Product Manager / Training Consultant