Cutting bits for routers / spindles
 

Can someone help me to find the downloadable price list for Onsrud products.

Fabrica:
I believe that you need to deal with a retailer for pricing on Unsrud. They probably don't publish a general price list do to the constant changes in machine part costs. Do you have a local source in your area?

BTW: Your photos on your build are GREAT! thanks for keeping us up on your progress.

Regards, Bob C.

Bob, Thanks For your compliments. I live outside U.S.A. I saw their prices being listed at some site. I Have forgoten as to where I saw it.

Fabrica ; Have seen this place for your Onsrud products?

Name:
Address: LMT FETTE INDIA-FID
OLD NO 14 NEW NO 29
II MAIN RD
GANDHINAGAR ADYAR
CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU
INDIA
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
(+91) 44 244 05136
(+91) 44 244 05205
[email protected]

No Greg, You have got me wrong. I need to buy it from U.S.A. I am talking about online pricing.

I thought you were in India and needed a source there. Try here: https://www.onsrud.com/xlink/oclkSearchProdCrit

Thanks Greg, I will try the link. By reading a thread in another forum I learnt that for Onsrud prices are around 50% more in Europe when compared to U.S.A. You could then imagine the markup the dealers would keep in the asian region. Due to this Is am trying to get down at least the basic cutter range from U.S.A itself.

Hi All,

Can any one help me in buying encoders from USDIGITAL. I enquired with the company but they do not accept payment by paypal. More over I dont have acount with Fedex or DHL. I want some one get the encoders from USDIGITAL for me and send the same to me via US Post. I will pay through paypal. This is very urgent as I am going to start building "The Beast MechMate" I have all sources to complete this within one month time.

Manjeet

Manjeet, You could make payment through Bank to Bank telegraphic transfer (T/T) or through a credit card payment.

If Onsrud pricing is not available online. What is the next best Brand that I couold think of which has online pricing.

https://www.onsrud.com/xlink/oclkSearchProdCrit I lets you put in the information for the desired router bit and then comes back with suggestions and prices.

Yes It's interesting. Greg, I intend to try MDF cabinet making singn work as the basi areas which I would try to concentrate initially.

Could you suggest to mea few router bits That I would require initially.

Fabrica, for cutting MDF, a lot of us use the standard metal-cutting milling cutters that you are using for your rails. They must be of solid carbide though - do not waste your time with HSS (High Speed Steel) cutters. Only solid carbide. Do not cut metal with them first, because then they are too blunt for wood. From new, use only with wood.

What is this big talk about upcuts downcuts, round edges and straight cuts

Greg, How does Whiteside bits compare in quality and price to Onsrud bits (Solid Carbide).

Also how to get a price list of Whiteside products.

I could remember you mentioning in a earlier thread that you use normal end mills for wood cutting. Are they HSS, Carbide tipped or carbide.

A quick answer to your question; solid carbide only.

Carbide-tipped uses a carbide that can be "welded", this is a different (softer) grade of carbide to that used for solid carbide tools.

Gerald, Can I cut letters from brass plates having thickness of 1.2 mm. If so what would be the best cutting tool to use. Can I also engrave on SS.

We have never (intentionally) cut anything other than wood or plastic. (Sometimes we cut into the cast iron clamps by mistake). I don't have the experience to answer your question. But there will be no harm in you doing some experimenting and becoming the expert on this subject. http://www.mechmate.com/Forum/clipart/happy.gif

Does anyone resell their blunt cutters?

I have about 400 blunt cutters that are still good enough to cut metal. Valued at $8000 new!!

Sean,

When I was taking machining classes at night at the local vocational-technical college, we had lots of stuff that was donated by local factories. I'm assuming the factories took a tax deduction. I don't know how the tax system in South Africa works but here in the states, it could make it worth considering. Certainly better than throwing them away.

Yeah i want to approach the technicons sometime. I have tried to resharpen them, sell it resellers of second hand cutters and even qot quotes for scrap metal. the best price i was offered was $10 for the lot. Crazy!!!

Cutters
 

Gerald ¿What is the name for that big round bit? I bet you can do very interesting carves.

Hugo, the name for that bit could be anything . . . . . bullnose, ballnose, ball cutter, spherical tip, bowl cutter, etc., etc. . . . . and in your country will be some completely different name again.... Search some catalogues from suppliers near to you. Must warn you that you need a lot of power to drive it.

Welcome Russel! To learn the welding side, it would be better if you started from the static table at the bottom and work your way upwards till you do the z-slide last. The welds of the static table are low-stressed and leave lots of room for (trial and) error. Not that the Z-slide is particularly tricky, but it is right in your face and the mistakes will be seen for a long time! :)

Guys, I think the cut speeds in the video were maybe 50mm/s [120 ipm]. The folk with geared motors are saying they are sometimes running 5 times faster! (We sometimes go 3 times faster.) What you see in the video should be easy to achieve with any cheap direct-driven stepper motor.......no belts, gearboxes or even backlash :)

Gerald,

Do you think a 3.5 hp router would drive that ball nose bit ok?

When the bit is sharp, it is easy to drive - but it doesn't stay sharp long . . . . .

Gerald,

How often do you need to change or sharpen your cutters? In cutting time that is? Are you able to sharpen them at all? Just curious, I know I saw Seans post about all the scrap cutters he had lying around. I know mdf is really hard on cutters. :( Hope this isnt off topic.

I don't think that Sean is having any cutters re-sharpened. The last time we tested local sharpening companies, the results were poor.

Some MDF is hard on cutters - those old glue-filled types. Fortunately some better grades are available, and they are better on your lungs too. The Trupan product from Chile is good, it comes in different densities.

Gerald,

How does Sean know when to change the bits? Does he track the number of meters cut, does he go by time (change every day), or does he wait until the cutter is knocking chunks out of the MDF? I'm not quite ready to mess with the software but I was wondering if Mach 3 tracked it. Do you know off hand?

Nothing in time or software - purely based on appearance of finished cut, sound and/or finger tip on cutting edge.

On big repetitive jobs the operators may to told to change bits after x boards.

Bit information
 

Where can I find information on bits as to when to to use up cut/ down cut, # flutes, spindle/IPM etc, etc. I know there has to be a lot to the science of the right cutting tool to use.
Also why don't spindle makers offer a quick change such as
http://legacywoodworking.com/products.cfm?product=40 ?
I have one on my PC and it makes bit changing very simple and fast. All it takes is a T handle wrench.

All the answers that Gerald D has provided are correct. Sean

Tool bits and speed data
 

MM forum.
I have purchase all my tooling bits from http://www.hartlauer-bits.com/ for years and they have 1) super customer service and help on the phone and 2) this really cool bit/speed/feed rate pdf with all their bits listed on it.
I have attached the pdf or you can visit the website to D/L your own copy. I have it enlarged to 24 x 36" on the wall above my old CNC Multicam machine which I am replacing with a MechMate. Attachment 457

Sean

Hello everyone.
Sorry it took me so long to respond the open questions. Gerald is correct...I just visually look at the cut and "listen " to the machine. Experience will begin to tell you when it's time to change a bit. The first sign in MDF is usually a discoloration in the cut - a kin to burning. Local sharpening services have really poor success with the bits. Also, the local sharpening service (I have tried 9 different vendors) not one of them sends the bits back to the OEM tolerances. a 13mm bit comes back at 12.7 or 12.9....a big deal when you building "tab a slot b" parts.
I found it was cheaper just to purchase alot of the same bits in qty and get a discount.

Have a great day.
Sean

If you find a good sharpening company, you can get the bits ground to a smaller dia, so your 13mm you could get all of them ground to 12.7000mm to let you have a known and repetitive size.

Dave

Dave,
Sad to say, but I did try that with 2 of the locals. To my dismay, they often said..it depends on the daily setup of the machine....I can't guarantee a known value for each bit..."I just get it sharp" again. Tablesaw blades - no problem, Routerbits...not so easy.
Plus, the cost of new bit vs. sharpened was only about 2 bucks. I know it sounds like a lot, but for ease of use...and bit life is longer. Just easier.

Heck, for every bit change it takes about 10 minutes with zero, coffee and pp break. For what I am paying for labor - 2 bucks for longer cut life pays for itself in about 6 minutes! :)

Sean

I hear that !

I am lucky that I have found a couple guys who will grind the tools you need, to the specs you want.

Unfortunately, they usually want 100 pieces to get a good price.

Dave

Source for Router Bits
 

It is early for me but I have time on my hands and would like to do some research on bits.

I would like to know what source you are using for your bits. Which bits are better for different materials. Such as Plywood, MDF, wood etc.

Thanks

Sailfl,
Here are a couple of suppliers. Each has literature and documentation.

www.amanatool.com
www.onsrud.com

DonRoss

Nils, your new thread is now joined with this one.