Decided it was time to get back to machining something. This is cast aluminum (scrap from work), and I must say it is not as nice to machine as 6061.
Ed must be appalled at the state of my little mill!
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More pics to come as this project takes shape.
I keep a shop vac plugged in and sitting right next to the mill. The lathe? Not so much..
I managed to snap off a 1/2" carbide end mill last night. Started to chatter, and as I backed off, it let go. General consensus of the toolroom guys is that it was probably cracked from looking at the broken end. I dropped it the day before, so that may have been what caused that. I knew I was pushing it (DoC too large), but I was in a hurry to finish. I should know better.
Put a small gouge in the part, so I'll have to figure out a way to hide that.
Either way, that put an end to machining for the night.
That sucks. Not a pleasant way to end the evening.
Ed
Shop vac to the rescue!