Rant: Tired of people babying their machines on aluminum

I work at a shop in Detroit where guys run speeds so slow on 6061 it takes forever. Last month I tried cranking my spindle up to 15k RPM with a 3-flute carbide end mill, full depth of cut. Chatter went away and cycle time dropped by a third. Maybe these guys need to trust their inserts more than their gut feelings, you know? Has anyone else had luck pushing past those 'safe' numbers on aluminum?

3 comments

3 Comments

beth_baker691mo ago

Tbh 15k RPM on a 3-flute in 6061? That sounds absolutely terrifying honestly.

stone.thomas1mo ago

@beth_baker69 its not terrifying when chip thinning drops the load 40% on high helix tools.

pat_murray161mo ago

Cranked my machine to 14k RPM with a 3-flute on 6061 and it WORKED. Just made sure my chip load was right and had good coolant coverage, no chatter at all. Sometimes you gotta push past what feels safe to find the real sweet spot.