A New Range of Inserted Tip Milling Cutters

Jason Ballamy looks at some new cutters from Arc Euro Trade

I was recently sent some samples from the new range of indexable shell mills from ARC Euro Trade for evaluation. The range consists of five different diameter cutters, the smallest 25mm ones have an integral shank to suit the popular spindle sizes of MT2, MT3, R8 and ISO 30 and on the typical bench top hobby machines would be suited​ to both facing and side cutting Fig 1.

The remaining four heads of 40, 50, 63 and 80mm diameters which I would expect to mostly get used as face mills but the 90degree inserts will also allow them to be used for side cutting or facing up to an edge. Fig 2. These shell mills will require a suitable sized arbor to fit the central hole which are again available in the same range of spindle fitments and additionally ISO40. The smaller size heads can be held with just the supplied cap head screw, but the larger ones are best used with a thick 5mm washer which can easily be made to suit. If your arbor comes with a washer head screw or separate washer that may need altering depending on the diameter/shell mill combination. Fig 3.

​

All cutters take the commonly available APMT 1604 and APKT 1604 style of inserts which are available individually or at a more attractive price in boxes of 10, there are two usable corners on each insert. As fig 4 shows the APMT are suitable for steels and cast iron while the bright ground APKT ones are ideal for aluminum and other nonferrous metals much like the familiar **GT lathe inserts. Both these inserts allow for milling up to a right-angled edge and will leave a small fillet due to their 0.8mm tip radius.

Cutters in action