Clips using stainless steel

[scarfmeister]

Is anyone cutting their clips from 303 or 304 stainless? I'm looking for the proper endmill ....carbide?.. and speeds and feeds to use with 1/8 " endmill and .020" stock. I've done ok with mild steel but stainless is tough stuff. Before I buy an expensive carbide endmill, can anyone help with comments. Thanks, Tom

 

[Paul in OKC]

Carbide will work better, but it can be done with HSS. What kind of machine are you using?

 

[scarfmeister]

Carbide will work better, but it can be done with HSS. What kind of machine are you using?

Thanks for the reply Paul,
I'm using a Taig CNC mill and have had success cutting clips with mild steel but wanted something with more spring to it and saw a YouTube video where a Walmart as ruler was used as the stock. I can get 4 clips out of a short piece of the "ruler".
No business here, just gifts for the kids. Tom

 

[Drewby108]

Stainless steel is about half the rpm of mild steel, carbide or HSS. Use sharp tools and keep it lubricated.

 

[rherrell]

Use the Niagara link to get your numbers... https://www.niagaracutter.com/speedfeed

Use the feed rate calculator to get your speeds and feeds... https://www.the-carbide-end-mill-store.com/61.html

 

[scarfmeister]

Stainless steel is about half the rpm of mild steel, carbide or HSS. Use sharp tools and keep it lubricated.

Yes, I also use this method...go slow with lots of pressure and water for lubrication for 'drilling' but wasn't so sure about endmills. Thanks.

 

[scarfmeister]

Use the Niagara link to get your numbers... https://www.niagaracutter.com/speedfeed

Use the feed rate calculator to get your speeds and feeds... https://www.the-carbide-end-mill-store.com/61.html

Rick,
Thanks a million, I checked out both links and was happy to see they cover 1/8" endmill sizes, especially the calculator.
Also, I had forgotten about Niagara. I will now visit their home page and check their carbide endmill prices.

Thanks everyone for taking your time to comment. Tom

 

[Paul in OKC]

Thanks for the reply Paul,
I'm using a Taig CNC mill and have had success cutting clips with mild steel but wanted something with more spring to it and saw a YouTube video where a Walmart as ruler was used as the stock. I can get 4 clips out of a short piece of the "ruler".
No business here, just gifts for the kids. Tom

I have looked the Taig off and on for years, wishing . The calculators are good, but are generally set up for full size machines. It probably suggested a blazing rpm for the 1/8 endmill. With yours, I would think 1000 to 1250 rpm and about 5 to 7 inches a minute should be a good starting point. Using the scales is a good idea, but I believe they are tempered, which will either help or make it harder to cut. Good luck and show the results!

 

[scarfmeister]

Here is some feedback on my experiments with cutting (milling) clips using Stainless Steel.
Using Rick Herrell's link above, I ordered some carbide endmills from The Carbide End Mill Store. They were a good help
with advice. I had great success milling the clips. For anyone interested, here are my 'speeds & feeds using Carbide Create software
and a carbide 1/8" 4-flute endmill and .020" stainless steel stock and Taig CNC mill;
For the hole (pocket).......

Stepover: 0.004"
Dept per pass: 0.20"
Plunge Rate: 3.0"/min
Feed Rate: 6.0"/min
RPM: 1050 ( slowest speed setting on the Taig)

For the contour........
Stepover: 0.004"
Depth per pass: 0.020"
Plunge Rate: 2.0"/min
Feed Rate: 4.0"/min
RPM: 1050

I'm attaching pictures of some of my experiments including the jig for bending the clips.
I hope this info can be of some use for other experimenters.
Blessings....Tom