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Smith MegaDiamond Inc. and Star Cutter Company compared the performance of various end mills in carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). The tools tested included a coated carbide end mill, a diamond-coated end mill, a conventional PCD end mill with straight flutes, and a “veined” PCD end mll featuring a vein of PCD within a helical slot in a carbide tool body.
The table below summarizes the test parameters. Shown here is the video of a 10-degree helical diamond-coated tool. Jeff Michael, engineering manager for Star Cutter, comments, “Again, the sound is pretty good with this cutter, but uncut fibers appear immediately. This is because a tool’s coating tends to give it a more rounded cutting edge, making it more difficulty to cut the fibers cleanly off.”
To see the next video in this testing, click here.
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Tool Type |
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Ø .500 in. |
Solid Carbide |
CVD Diamond |
PCD |
Veined PCD |
|
Flute angle |
30° helical |
10° helical |
7° skew |
30° helical |
|
Spindle speed (rpm) |
3,000 |
4,600 |
12,000 |
18,000 |
|
Chip load (in./tooth) |
0.0035 |
0.0035 |
0.001 |
0.0065 |
|
Machine advance (in./min.) |
42 |
64 |
36 |
470 |
|
Radial depth (in.) |
.050 |
.050 |
.050 |
.050 |
Cutting speeds and feed rates were recommended parameters from each tool’s manufacturer.
