[nodott]

I need a flycutter that can do 4 inches in diameter and still give the same results that Tormach's flycutter produces.

Last year I bought a Flexbar flycutter from MSC but unfortunately it did not produce the best results.

Has anyone used anything else out there that works well with the 1100?

[Steve Seebold]

What material are you cutting? There are several cutters out there but I don’t know of any that are Tormach compatible.

[nodott]

What material are you cutting? There are several cutters out there but I don’t know of any that are Tormach compatible.

Its 6061-T6.

I saw that someone else on this forum had asked the same question last year but it looked like there were no good results other than building your own.

[IMT]

Before the superfly came out I used an R8 fly cutter and a lathe tool with triangular inserts. Went to the superfly when I got the PDB.

[ianagos]

Try a large facemill with only one aluminum specific insert maybe?

[popspipes]

I use a 2.5" face mill here, works fine just have to go slow feed and reduce rpm to suit.

[MetalShavings]

Try a large facemill with only one aluminum specific insert maybe?

This is basically what I've done. I do own a couple of fly-cutters but I could never get them to give me good surface finishes no matter what feeds and speed I used. I don't know if this was because the shanks on these cutting tools weren't truly straight or what but I finally got tired of messing with them and tried my R8 2" face mill with only one carbide insert in place. It took some feeds and speeds tweaking but I finally got it to give me good surface finishes on aluminum. I later found out with more experimentation that It would work just as good with all the inserts in place; for both aluminum and 1018 steel.

I don't even bother with fly cutters now.

MetalShavings

[sidstover]

For aluminum I like tool steel ground with a positive rake. I always get excellent finishes. With tool steel it’s easy to get a 63 finish on aluminum.

[MichaelHenry]

Maybe you could retrofit the Suburban Tool flycutter to TTS, or just make your own version.

https://www.subtool.com/st/fcs_fly_cutter_sets.html

[kstrauss]

Some time ago Peter Neill posted on a thread (http://www.cnczone.com/forums/tormac...c-tormach.html) regarding a Solidworks model for the Tormach Superfly. Perhaps use his work to make your own with a longer and heavier shank? Let us know how it works if you go this route!

[mountaindew]

Maybe you could retrofit the Suburban Tool flycutter to TTS, or just make your own version.

https://www.subtool.com/st/fcs_fly_cutter_sets.html

Those people make some nice stuff!
I like the looks of their collet master and the mini master and a few other fine tools they make.

[kstrauss]

Indeed, lovely stuff! Did you notice the prices?

[MichaelHenry]

Those people make some nice stuff!
I like the looks of their collet master and the mini master and a few other fine tools they make.

Agreed, if you can ignore the price, as kstrauss notes.

Suburban Tool has a YouTube channel that used to have regular new uploads, but they've been quiet for quite a while now. Some of those videos were pretty interesting.

[nodott]

I use a 2.5" face mill here, works fine just have to go slow feed and reduce rpm to suit.

Which brand/model of face mill are you using?

[nodott]

This is basically what I've done. I do own a couple of fly-cutters but I could never get them to give me good surface finishes no matter what feeds and speed I used. I don't know if this was because the shanks on these cutting tools weren't truly straight or what but I finally got tired of messing with them and tried my R8 2" face mill with only one carbide insert in place. It took some feeds and speeds tweaking but I finally got it to give me good surface finishes on aluminum. I later found out with more experimentation that It would work just as good with all the inserts in place; for both aluminum and 1018 steel.

I don't even bother with fly cutters now.

MetalShavings

I have not seen any larger face mills that you can use with Tormach tool holders. I only know of and own the Tormach 1.5: FM. Can you please send some links to the larger facemills that be used with TTS.

[nodott]

Maybe you could retrofit the Suburban Tool flycutter to TTS, or just make your own version.

https://www.subtool.com/st/fcs_fly_cutter_sets.html

I would love to use theirs but making a tool holder is something that I cannot do as I dont have any lathes. I would have to contract that part out.

[popspipes]

It is a Shars version, definitely nothing fancy, about 75 bucks when I bought it a few years back.

I have had several fly cutters over the years, what I didnt like about them is they arent balanced and only one cutter or insert.

[RCaffin]

I make my own from silver steel and broken carbide cutter shanks, in R8 or ER collets.
Mind you, for a 4" swing, you should consider balancing the thing! Seriously. And do NOT spin very fast.

Cheers
Roger

[RCaffin]

You also need a holder for the 'rod'. a shank you can hold and a head large enough for the rod. A lathe would be nice but you can fake it with a mill.

Could not edit previous posting. Odd.

Cheers
Roger

[mountaindew]

Indeed, lovely stuff! Did you notice the prices?

. I recently spent $1k+ on some very nice drawing tools that arrived on a usb thumb drive. So heavy, precision, shiny metal things have great appeal to me. The right and good tool can make a huge difference in the outcome of your project. Not hard for me to see what I fight because of poor quality design or precision and what I enjoy because of good quality or precision the results improves more over time of use.