Miniature End Mills

[coolgoose]

Guys!

What are miniature end mills? How are they different from regular end mills? ??? Are these useful in model building?

I have recently got my hands on the book "Steam and Stirling Engine You Can Build 2 by William C.Fitt" and thinking of building the steam engine described in "Steam engine for Novice by David Croft" as my first project. The author mentioned about using end mills in diameters of 1/8, 1/4, 5/16, & 3/8.

I am wondering if these would be of any help: http://cgi.ebay.com/Carbide-End-Mil...553?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item230bd4c7f1

 

[stevehuckss396]

What are miniature end mills? How are they different from regular end mills? ??? Are these useful in model building?

Unless you have a specific need for one they may not do you any good. Generally you want to use the largest cutter you can. You wouldn't want to remove 1/8 inch of material off a 4 inch square block with a 1/16 endmill. I use endmills down to .020 for things but not very often. If you see yourself making real small parts, get them when you see a good deal.

 

[Metal Butcher]

Hi Coolgoose, "Miniature" is just a word used to describe very small end mills. According to the E-Bay seller that's up to 1/8". The ones he is offering are either used or re-pointed cutters that are mainly used for high speed cutting on printed circuit boards. They normally have a 1/8" shank and come with a color coded collet collar. These cutters are almost always sold in large batches, grab bag style to entice buyers. They are not the bargain they appear to be.

I don't think these are of much use in model engine building. Small diameter carbide end mills break very easily. And I wouldn't recommenced them unless you have a fair amount of machining experience, a very high speed spindle attachment, and an absolute need for them.

Small diameter (1/32" to 3/16") high speed steel (HSS) end mill with a 3/16" shank are the ones I use mostly. As Steve said, buy them when you have a real need for a specific size, and build up your collection of sizes as you advance in the hobby.

You could start with buying the 1/8" to 3/8" sizes that you mentioned, plus a 1/2" one.Those sizes are commonly used in model engine building, and it sounds like you will need them if you don't allready have them, and if you plan on building an engine from the book you mentioned.

-MB

 

[coolgoose]

Thanks guys for the advice! I am glad asked you guys before bought them in impulse. My machining experience is zero ..hoping to learn along with my first project

 

[stevehuckss396]

Thanks guys for the advice! I am glad asked you guys before bought them in impulse. My machining experience is zero ..hoping to learn along with my first project

What size milling machine do you have?

 

[coolgoose]

I don't have a milling machine with me. I have recently purchased a 7X14 mini lathe. The project I am working on requires a milling attachment to make some parts and hence considering of buy some end mills and a milling attachment.

 

[stevehuckss396]

I don't have a milling machine with me. I have recently purchased a 7X14 mini lathe. The project I am working on requires a milling attachment to make some parts and hence considering of buy some end mills and a milling attachment.

Based on the size of your machine I was going to suggest some sizes to get. For example I have a 7/8 endmill that I purchased from the reduced rack. I use it to do the heavy hogging when trying to get a large block to size. With the size of your machine maybe get a 3/8 endmill as a work horse and then get the smaller stuff when you need it.

BTW the 7/8 is a us made HSS bit. I personally don't buy cheap cutters. Instead of buying a set of cheap cutters, buy 2 or 3 good quality cutters and you wont be sorry. I am the same way with drill bits.

 

[shred]

"Miniature" is code for "Your machine can't spin it fast enough" and "breaks when a bug sneezes"

I use some of the tiny ones occasionally (bought a batch of different sizes at HF long ago), but it's not a common thing.

 

[Mainer]

It depends on what you want to make, but unless you are addicted to making steam engines that fit in a thimble or something, your need for anything that small will be occasional.

I find I do use very small end mills (down to 1/16") once in a while, but like MB and Steve, I'd encourage you to buy a good-quality 3/16" shank HSS end mill of whatever size you need when you need it. Or when you happen to encounter a deal too good to pass up...just make sure it's really a deal.

 

[coolgoose]

A good-quality 3/16" shank HSS end mill are what I am going to buy

Thanks for all the advice guys!