opinions on face milling cutter

[Mutt]

What's y'all's thoughts on this face milling cutter head? I will be using it to cleanly face aluminum castings. I like the round inserts as you can rotate them many times, versus 2, 3 or 4 times only with rectangle/triangle/square inserts.My concerns is will this cutter do a super nice finish on my Bridgeport mill or is there something even better

https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-face-mil...CKT1204-Round-inserts-506-R200-4/183516469796

 

[benmychree]

I'd think that a high shear facemill with square inserts would be much better for aluminum, if you want a nice finish.

 

[Mutt]

can ya explain why ya think this?

 

[benmychree]

A round insert cutter just beats the metal off, a high shear cutter cuts it off cleanly and with much less power used. Like comparing a sharp knife and a sledge hammer.

 

[Mutt]

So if that's the case, why would anyone make and sell cutters like this one?Is it for roughing only? Steel only?

 

[benmychree]

So if that's the case, why would anyone make and sell cutters like this one?Is it for roughing only? Steel only?

That would be my guess; it would probably work well on a rough torch burnt surface.

 

[benmychree]

When I had my business, I bought a couple of R8 shank face mills that used positive rake triangular inserts; they worked well on the Induma (Italian) BP type mill that I had, milling assorted metals, Later I found a nice high shear 6" face mill that we used on a horizontal boring mill and a #2 Cincinnati mill, it was a pleasure to use compared to the negative rake face mills that we used before, but they have their place too, for such as rough and hard metals.

 

[Mutt]

so can you post a picture of a face mill like you are talking about? I need a real nice finish on this aluminum

 

[Mutt]

Would this be the correct face mill I need?

 

[benmychree]

The face mill is at the shop that I sold some years ago, it takes a square insert with a flat "wiper" at each corner, as can be seen, the insert sits a a considerable angle, allowing it to cut freely.