subject: Save Money By Reusing Your End Mill [print this page] Sharpener is that equipment, which is used to re-sharp dull edge of a cutting tool or used to re-sharp the cutting-edge of a tool its examples are drill sharpener, end mill sharpener and many more type of sharpening machines are available in the market. There are a lot of question's and you must know their answer before using end mill sharpener otherwise you may be in trouble during operation. The questions are like
- How far behind the cutting-edge the guide finger should be set.?
- Is it OK to tilt end mill during sharpening, or should the grinding wheel be tilted instead.?
- What are the different way to measure the relief angle?
- What pressure should I use with the air spindle?
Usually it is good to set the finger to line up with the corner of the wheel, which will be cutting, and as close to the edge of the cutter without getting it into the wheel. There are different ways to set relief angle like keep the flutes and the guide finger on centreline with the cutter, and raise the wheel as necessary for the relief angles, another way is set the cutter and the wheel on the same centreline, and the guide finger is rotated down for the relief angles And for sharpening carbide cutter we should use diamond, but for other like HSS we should use CBN do not use diamond. These are the few thing for which we should take care.
End mills are those cutting tools without which no one mining operation can be performed, but as you are performing mining operation then chances of becoming dull for end mill increases so every time buying a new end mill tool can affect our costing of operation so end mill sharpener can reduce our cost. During resharpening there are various factors about which you should take care like shape of tool should be according to your requirement, number of flutes or teeth on your end mill should be according to your requirement for the operation, helix angle every tool is helical, but though its angle will decide how fast and good your work will be because different helix angle is required for different purpose like finishing cutter always has a higher helix angle for a better finishing result.
Coating over tool plays a very important role in performance and life of a tool like a PCD coated tools life is 100 times longer then an uncoated tool. Shank is the middle cylindrical portion of an end mill it can be made according to your requirement, but generally it is of round shape only. During resharpening I suggest you that cut the used portion of your tool and re-sharp it from the new end because it has crucial base.
