Raptor has a voracious appetite

END USER: RJ Enterprises, (310) 327-8127, www.rjenterprise.net
SOLUTION PROVIDER: Kyocera Precision Tools Inc., (800) 823-7284, www.kyoceraprecisiontools.com
CHALLENGE: Reduce cycle time when roughing a fuel sensor made of 304 stainless.
SOLUTION: Switching from a ½”-dia., 4-flute solid-carbide endmill to a ⁵⁄₈“-dia., indexable-insert endmill.

Steady production of parts for a long-term contract can motivate a job shop to push its cutting tools hard to meet customer delivery requirements. RJ Enterprises found itself in that situation when roughing a 304 stainless steel fuel sensor and was willing to sacrifice tool life to achieve productivity needs.

Owner Vartan Akrabian explained that the Gardena, Calif., shop was applying a ½”-dia. (12.7mm), 4-flute solid-carbide endmill at a cutting speed of 350 sfm (106.7 m/min.), a feed of 15 ipm (381 mm/min.) and a DOC of 0.050″ (1.27mm) but was achieving an unacceptable cycle time of about six parts per hour.

Tool life was six parts per endmill, he added, and the tools experienced chipping and premature failure.

The yearly quantity for the fuel sensor project is about 2,400 parts, and the job is scheduled to run for 5 years, Akrabian said.

RJ Enterprises requested assistance from Hendersonville, N.C.-headquartered Kyocera Precision Tools Inc. The toolmaker recommended its ⁵⁄₈“-dia. (15.875mm), 3-flute MFH-Mini Raptor endmill tooled with its PR1535 inserts. The PVD-coated, double-sided inserts have four cutting edges.

“If it worked out, we would buy it, and, if not, we would return it without paying for it,” Akrabian said.

Kyocera Precision Tools reportedly provides a guaranteed test-tool program to all of its customers.