barrel fluting cutters

[gamma]

Can anyone direct me to somewhere I can purchase cutters for barrel fluting in a vertical machine.

 

[sjk]

Use a radius end mill,Ball Mill) if you have access to any. They work much better than a flat ended face mill because there is no corner stresses involved and they're cheap. Personally I prefer a radiused saw on a horizontal.
Let's raise some static!
The only thing the flutes will do is act as a heat dissipator, and hinder the barrel vibratory mass when set up to a barrel whip condition. The greater the mass, the less vibration to dampen this whipping condition and the longer interval to heat up. This is simple metallurgy 101.
If you still decide to flute, go slow and keep the heat down. LOL

 

[butchlambert]

Dave Kiff of PTG sells them and you can use them in either a horizontal or vertically with the right holder.
Butch

 

[gamma]

Ive been in touch with Dave Kiff but he dosent do anything that has indexable inserts,maybe theres no such tool out there but the manufacturers surely have a great tooling method.Id like to see how they do it and the type of tooling involved.Any replies would be great.

 

[WhelenMan]

Just a question because I've not done it but wouldn't a round faced side mill be better and more efficient? I suspect that's what the factories use.

 

[Preacher]

Use the right sized ball mill and be done with it.......

 

[butchlambert]

Why does it have to have replaceable inserts? You might have a hard time finding the right size and type round inserts. Ball endmills have a short life compared to Dave Kiff's carbide tipped fluting cutters.
Butch

 

[wal]

gamma

I would suggest using a slot end mill with radial bottom.
Go slow to reduce stress/heat in steel use plenty of coolant.

wal

 

[DaveTooley]

I use A.B. Tools, Inc carbide tipped key seat cutters with a full radius. WWW.abtoolsinc.com I can do about 15 barrels and then I have them sharpened. In 15 years I've never had a problem with the cutters or a resharpen job or a fluting job for that matter. They'll make any shape you want, chamfer, single or double radius. I use the 1 3/4" 10 tooth cutters.

Dave

 

[gamma]

Thanks Dave,excellent reply,the very reply I needed.Brilliant website.