[jerseyTom]

Another opinion question.. anyone have much experience with these? They worth using? Many are billed as not being as susceptible to chatter as fixed-helix milling cutters. Has that generally been people's experience?

Do they really allow ramping up the speeds where a tool would otherwise chatter badly?

[justin@micorind]

I use several variable helix endmills on a daily basis such as the Hanita varimill, Guhring series 3113 and 3114, also the YG vpower series and my experience is that i wouldn't use anything else if i didn't have to

[judleroy]

I use the fullerton tool harmonicut tools and love them. I try not to use anthing else in steel. They leave an very good surface finsh. I had one run out of a part and through my steel vice jaws at about 75ipm and 1/2 inch deep. It ate almost all the way through my vice jaws on both sides in a circle and did'nt hurt the tool a bit.(oops...)
Judleroy

[leggazoid]

These mills work very well in 316 stainless. I could not believe the feed, speed and DOC the salesman suggested. It was a nice surprise when it worked like a charm.
I noticed the patent numbers are the same across different companies, must be some cross licensing going on.

[aaron p]

Anyone use the Guhring RF50 firex coated variable endmills?

[justin@micorind]

I use the RF50 Guhring endmills everyday. I mostly use the 3113,and 4114 series endmills and the only difference between them is the LOC. I have found in machining 1018,4140,4130,and 4340 that the guhring endmills work much better than a SGS z-carb, Hanita varimill, YG vpower, and gorilla mills but for 17-4 stainless the z-carb, varimill, and YG endmills do better

[aaron p]

Whats yalls thoughts on these? They are USA ground and half the price of a Name Brand Hanita. I know its ebay, but believe it or not, ive gotten ALOT of good stuff off ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/1-2-TiALN-VARIAB...item33501e12e2

[Packers]

You get what you pay for, and that's true for pretty much everything!

[78nova]

I have been cutting 15-5 Stainless at 34-38 RC using the Hanita variable flute end mills and they work very well. I tried out an OSG corn cob style variable flute end mill and it cut OK but I then was able to get a few .750" & 1.0" corn cob end mills from Hanita. These tools cut really good and the tool life is much better. I was using a regular Hanita Varible flute end mill, .750"
diameter with a .030 R, TF4V0519007B, and I switched it out to their corn cob stlye cutter, TM4M0R25018A, with a .050 R. The corn cob one is used to rough out and then I finish with the .030 R tool where I need this radius. The corn cob style cutter is lasting 4 times longer while also running faster. We put most all of our carbide end mills in shrinkers. I just switched out using a rough cut 3.0" insert cutter and a 3.0" finish 90 degrees insert cutter with a 1.0" Hanita end mill to cut two steps. I run the end mill at 1750 RPM @ 15 ipm with a .250 depth of cut and I run it dry. We were having to rotate the insert tools every 2 or 3 parts. The end mill has cut over 15 parts and is still running.

[justin@micorind]

Over the last 2 weeks i've been test a new Seco endmill part# JS554. These endmills don't go on sale till Aprill1 and they seem to be a great endmill. Im using these on 35-40rc 4130 as a finish tool .010 depth, .010 wide cut. I was using a Hanita varimill getting 12 parts per tool $51 each, then a YG1 getting 20 parts at$34 each, then i switched to the Seco endmill which is $81 and i got 100 parts out of it. So the Seco cost more but cut my part cost down by .89 cents

[tiehen]

I would have to say that a variable pitch tool will undoubtedly out preform a tool that has an equal flute spacing. Its all in the design and anytime you can break up the harmonic signature that a tool makes while cutting, it will reduce the possibility of chatter. Of course, just as important is the tool path that you are asking the tool to take - a tool is only as good as the path it has been given. I would suggest Helical Solutions SC Endmills. We have a large selection of 3,4,5,7,8,10,12,14 fluted endmills to take care of your needs at great pricing to satisfy your budget.
Some application examples are....
304 SS with 5 flute variable pitch tool (1/2"x1/2"x1"x3") @ 1144 sfm / 110 ipm / .500 adoc / .063 rdoc
17-4ph with a 5 flute variable pitch tool (1/2"x1/2"x1"x3") @ 780 sfm / 80ipm / .500 adoc / .063 rdoc
Titanium with 5 flute variable pitch tool (1/2"x1/2"x1"x3") @ 400 sfm / 126 ipm / 1.0 adoc / .035 rdoc

Check us out at www.1helical.com