Tooling

This page is just a quick overview of some recommended cutters for the OMIO, for a comprehensive tooling guide at the bottom of the page.

Tool Basics

Prefer single flute end mills
- Efficient Chip Evacuation: Single flute end mills have larger chip spaces compared to multiple flute end mills. This design aids in efficient chip evacuation, reducing the chances of chip clogging and improving overall cutting performance.
- Lower Cutting Forces: With only one cutting edge, single flute end mills exert lower cutting forces on the material being machined. This characteristic is particularly advantageous when working with softer materials or when using lower-powered CNC routers.
- Higher Feed Rates: The reduced cutting forces allow for higher feed rates during machining. This can lead to faster material removal and shorter machining times, increasing productivity.
- Better Surface Finish: Single flute end mills can often produce smoother surface finishes due to their lower cutting forces and improved chip evacuation. This is especially important for projects that require a high level of precision and aesthetics.
- Suitable for Thin Materials: Single flute end mills are less prone to causing vibrations, making them suitable for machining thin materials without the risk of chatter or surface imperfections.
- Optimal Spindle RPM: Single flute end mills enable you to target the upper RPM range of high-speed spindles, allowing for increased torque, ensuring stable cutting performance, and reducing the risk of tool chatter during machining. Conversely, with multi-flute cutters, you must reduce the spindle RPM to achieve the same surface cutting speeds.
Prefer smaller cutting diameter end mills
- Reduced Cutting Forces: Smaller cutting diameter end mills exert lower cutting forces on the material being machined. This characteristic is essential when working with less rigid desktop machines and lower-powered spindles with limited torque capabilities.
- Higher Feed Rates: Smaller end mills with lower cutting forces can often accommodate higher feed rates during machining. This can lead to faster material removal and shorter machining times, boosting productivity even with a lower-powered spindle.
Prefer Carbide tooling
- Heat Resistance: Carbide tooling can withstand the elevated temperatures generated during high-speed machining. The resistance to heat buildup helps prevent tool wear and prolongs tool life compared to HSS tooling.
- Improved Tool Life: The hardness and wear resistance of carbide result in extended tool life, reducing the need for frequent tool changes and increasing overall productivity.
- Higher Cutting Speeds: Carbide tools allow for higher cutting speeds at elevated RPMs, enabling faster material removal rates and shorter machining times.
- Enhanced Performance on Hard Materials: When working with hard materials or tough alloys, carbide tooling maintains its cutting edge and performance better than HSS, ensuring efficient machining.
- Consistent Cutting Performance: Carbide tools maintain their cutting performance and accuracy even during continuous high-speed operations, providing more consistent results.

Common Options for FRC

3.175mm (1/8in or 0.125in) Diameter
4mm Diameter
5mm Diameter
6mm Diameter

Comprehensive Tooling Guide

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Last updated 1 year ago

Tool Basics

Prefer single flute end mills

Efficient Chip Evacuation: Single flute end mills have larger chip spaces compared to multiple flute end mills. This design aids in efficient chip evacuation, reducing the chances of chip clogging and improving overall cutting performance.
Lower Cutting Forces: With only one cutting edge, single flute end mills exert lower cutting forces on the material being machined. This characteristic is particularly advantageous when working with softer materials or when using lower-powered CNC routers.
Higher Feed Rates: The reduced cutting forces allow for higher feed rates during machining. This can lead to faster material removal and shorter machining times, increasing productivity.
Better Surface Finish: Single flute end mills can often produce smoother surface finishes due to their lower cutting forces and improved chip evacuation. This is especially important for projects that require a high level of precision and aesthetics.
Suitable for Thin Materials: Single flute end mills are less prone to causing vibrations, making them suitable for machining thin materials without the risk of chatter or surface imperfections.
Optimal Spindle RPM: Single flute end mills enable you to target the upper RPM range of high-speed spindles, allowing for increased torque, ensuring stable cutting performance, and reducing the risk of tool chatter during machining. Conversely, with multi-flute cutters, you must reduce the spindle RPM to achieve the same surface cutting speeds.

Prefer smaller cutting diameter end mills

Reduced Cutting Forces: Smaller cutting diameter end mills exert lower cutting forces on the material being machined. This characteristic is essential when working with less rigid desktop machines and lower-powered spindles with limited torque capabilities.
Higher Feed Rates: Smaller end mills with lower cutting forces can often accommodate higher feed rates during machining. This can lead to faster material removal and shorter machining times, boosting productivity even with a lower-powered spindle.

Prefer Carbide tooling

Heat Resistance: Carbide tooling can withstand the elevated temperatures generated during high-speed machining. The resistance to heat buildup helps prevent tool wear and prolongs tool life compared to HSS tooling.
Improved Tool Life: The hardness and wear resistance of carbide result in extended tool life, reducing the need for frequent tool changes and increasing overall productivity.
Higher Cutting Speeds: Carbide tools allow for higher cutting speeds at elevated RPMs, enabling faster material removal rates and shorter machining times.
Enhanced Performance on Hard Materials: When working with hard materials or tough alloys, carbide tooling maintains its cutting edge and performance better than HSS, ensuring efficient machining.
Consistent Cutting Performance: Carbide tools maintain their cutting performance and accuracy even during continuous high-speed operations, providing more consistent results.