Took advice from a tool rep. Cost me a $200 endmill.

This guy from the tooling supplier came by last month and swore I should try a 4 flute variable helix for aluminum. Said it would cut cycle time by 20%. Ran it on a 6061 job for a local fabrication shop and it chattered so bad I snapped a $200 3/4" endmill in under 30 parts. My old 3 flute polished geometry never gave me that trouble. Anyone else had a rep steer them wrong on tooling choices?

2 comments

2 Comments

troy_ross1mo ago

Jaw dropped reading that. $200 down the drain. 30 parts. That's brutal. Variable helix in aluminum? That rep didn't know what he was talking about. Stick with the 3 flute polished. Those variable helix tools are for tough materials like stainless, not soft 6061.

juliawalker1mo ago

Troy, that's rough. Really feel for you losing $200 on bad advice.