Shoutout to the guy who told me to try climb milling instead of conventional

I've been running a Haas VF-2 for about 2 years now and always just did conventional milling on rough cuts because that's how I was taught. Had an old timer named Dave stop by my machine last Tuesday and ask why I was making it harder on myself. He showed me climb milling on a 4140 steel part I was fighting with and the surface finish was way better. Like half the chatter and the tool lasted through the whole run without that squealing noise. I'm kicking myself for not trying this sooner. Anyone else stick with old habits too long before someone corrected you?

3 comments

3 Comments

fiona98515d agoMost Upvoted

Dave over at the shop where I used to work had to pull me aside too... I was running a job in 1018 steel, just doing rough passes conventional like you, and he asked if I wanted to wreck the insert in 10 minutes flat. Switched to climb milling and the chip load evened right out, no more of that nasty chatter shaking the whole machine. That squealing noise you mentioned? Yeah, gone completely once I changed direction. It's funny how the old timers just know these little tricks that nobody thinks to write down in the manual...

milesbailey15d agoTop Commenter

Respectfully @fiona985, climb milling isn't always the answer on older machines with backlash issues.

emery_white15d ago

Go talk to the old guy that sharpens your end mills. He will tell you the same thing but also show you how to read the wear pattern on the insert after one pass. That's the real trick, you can see the difference in the tiny chips coming off before the noise even starts. I keep a little flashlight on my bench just for checking chip color and shape on the first cut, tells you more than any manual ever will. Once you learn to read the work instead of just listening to the machine, you stop chasing settings and start making parts.