Tap-Testing Barrel Cutters

Categories: MillMax Tips Tapping Different Cutters

With barrel, conical or tapered endmills, we can accurately predict stable speeds. Try to measure to up 1X the tool's major diameter from the tool tip to get off the angle as much as you can. Keep the accelerometer as flat and parallel as you can , perpendicular to the hammer hammer tip.

We do not have force models on these cutters, so the width and depth of cut limits may not be usable. They are typically lightly cutting anyway. Start with the full depth of cut of the application and reduce the width of cut until green stable zones are exposed. Those are the good speeds. Take a conservative first test cut, recording the audio with VP-Harmonizer. Continue to increase the depth and/or width of cut until VP-Harmonizer detects chatter, then revert to the last stable depth..