Amazon 1/8 inch Bit alright?

[WoodMarvels.com]

I was wondering if anybody here has tried this drill bit

Freud 04-100 1/8-Inch Diameter by 3/8-Inch Double Flute Straight Bit (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000225VO/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=legendarylife-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0000225VO)

on their ShopBot? I need to order about a dozen of them and want to see how well they performed for others as the price is great!

For some context, I only cut 6mm plywood (cheapest I can find for prototyping) and it's always a straight cut on my ShopBot Desktop.

Thanks!
Jon

[knight_toolworks]

for what your cutting I would use a downcut bit. then hold down would not be much of an issue.

[WoodMarvels.com]

It took Bill Young a while to set-up my machine to work with this one bit so I'll stick to what works... I'm using mm instead of inches so I got a hybrid system going which he programmed and tested for. I've since become proficient in screws for hold-down and it works well.

Jon

[bleeth]

Freuds tend to dull pretty quick in CNC application since the quality of the carbide is not the same as a decent carbide bit (which does cost more). Since you are programmed for a 1/8" bit even though you are designing and cutting in metric it doesn't really matter what 1/8" bit you use. I would take Steve's advice on downcutter and spend more per bit but use a whole lot less of them by getting them from somebody like Centurian. Here's a good choice for your work:
18DS2.52RES14
You won't need nearly as many bits to get the same amount of cutting and you can resharpen them.

[jerry_stanek]

I use Whiteside sc02 bits and they work very well. It is the same style as the bit you show.

[knight_toolworks]

It took Bill Young a while to set-up my machine to work with this one bit so I'll stick to what works... I'm using mm instead of inches so I got a hybrid system going which he programmed and tested for. I've since become proficient in screws for hold-down and it works well.

Jon
I am talking a 1/8" bit nothing would change in your cutting. but parts would stay put much better. Plus the material would cut cleaner.

[CNYDWW]

I've used up an untold amount of the bosh and freud bits you've shown. They work great for the price in thin mdf or tempered hardboard but any cheap plywood will suffer from my experience.

Regards
Randy

[WoodMarvels.com]

As you can see from my live cutting videos:

http://www.youtube.com/user/i3ds (scroll down a bit on the right hand side - they are sped-up 8x)

Sometimes the cut would be very rough but other times extremely smooth - on the same sheet! I've since slowed-down the cutting in PartWorks (feed) and it helped reduce bit breakage but yeah... my current bit is getting dull as things are always rough now. The current bit has cut through roughly 50 x 6mm sheets 400mm x 500mm (two passes @ 3.5mm).

I'll give the downspiral a try next time but order a few of these amazon ones and let you guys know how it goes.

Jon

[srwtlc]

I've been getting up and down cut 0.125" and 0.0625" end mills from this guy on Ebay. They have lasted quite well and the price is good.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-8-1250-CARBIDE-2-FLUTE-ENDMILLS-SOFT-PLASTIC-/380308572666?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item588c2849fa

[WoodMarvels.com]

Price isn't good... it's amazing! How has the plastic bit affected cutting though?

Jon

[srwtlc]

I haven't noticed any difference between them and ones that I've gotten from Centurion or Onsrud (other than price).

I generally us them for small pockets in hardwoods and veneered MDF, cutting through 1/8" baltic birch, 1/8" dye sub material, and for outlining and drilling screw holes for engraved plates on plaques etc.

Cutting through with a downcut can pack the chips into the cut which can cause extra heat, but also aids with hold down.

These are end mills and therefore have a cutting edge on the tip (much like Centurion's FEM bits. They do a nice job of yielding a clean bottoms for pockets. I have a box of 50 similar 0.125" upcuts that I bought from forum member Ken Zey several years ago and I still have 48 left. I don't use them everyday, but they seem to last well.