An enduser in Northern Alabama who machines 316L Stainless Steel saves hours of cycle time by utilizing the new series 380CB (with chip-breaker) from M.A. Ford®. M.A. Ford distributor, Ford Tool and Carbide Co., Inc., were instrumental in presenting this difficult application to us. The job involved a ¾” diameter 380CB 9-flute endmill with a 2 ¼” length of cut (LOC), utilizing 2” LOC with a high-efficiency milling path. The enduser ran 2500 RPM at 100 inches per minute (IPM) which was an increase of over 50 IPM with the 5-flute tool previously used. The 380CB tool ran approximately 7,020,000 linear inches of material versus 426,000 linear inches and half the depth of cut with the 5-flute tool. This tool was the primary workhorse for the stock removal before the 5/8” diameter tool began its tool paths.
The customer was also running a 5/8” diameter tool for heavy roughing utilizing high-efficiency milling tool paths. The current tool was a competitor’s 5-flute tool that only produced 16 parts and resulted in troublesome chip control. The linear inches machined with the competitor’s 5-flute tool was 528,000 linear inches. Using the M.A. Ford® 380CB series 5/8” diameter 9-flute tool, the enduser increased material removed to 2,325,000 linear inches. The enduser was able to increase his RPM to 3,500 from 2,600 RPM and increase the feed rate from 78 IPM to 140 IPM. The cycle time reduction was about 1 hour for this tool.
A 380CB series ½” diameter tool is being utilized in an internal finishing operation with some tight corners and is running 3600 RPM and 65 IPM. This tool has been running for over 2 months so the data is yet to be determined and will be difficult to calculate as it has run so many parts.
What is remarkable about this entire project is that the enduser is machining an 80-pound block of 316L material down to a 22-pound part. During this process, the enduser not only was able to save 150 minutes of cycle time per part but was able to reduce the chip size dramatically. The enduser would fill a 55-gallon drum after only 3 parts and can now make 7 parts before the same 55-gallon drum is filled.
For more information on the 380CB Series, contact your local M.A. Ford® representative.
