aluminium silicone question

[DanP]

Has anyone milled aluminium silicone? I'd like to hear from someone with hands on experience.

I've read about it and how it destroys the cutting edge, I need some tips. The usual grade is 20% silicone, we have to use 40%.

We are looking at diamond coating tools, high feed per tooth, deep depth of cut and keeping an eye on the load meter.


DanP

[Just Me]

It's been a while since I've milled
that,if I recall it was brutal on the
tool cutting edge. I used a thicker
than average mixture in my coolant.
The one thing in particular I found was the need to aim the coolant nozzle directly at the cutting point,
if the coolant wasn't directly on the cutting point,with a good flushing
action I found the tool would gaul up the flutes,and made me very irritated.

[StarDust]

Post by DanP
Has anyone milled aluminium silicone? I'd like to hear from someone with hands on experience.
I've read about it and how it destroys the cutting edge, I need some tips. The usual grade is 20% silicone, we have to use 40%.
We are looking at diamond coating tools, high feed per tooth, deep depth of cut and keeping an eye on the load meter.
DanP

Diamond chips easy. I used carbide, high grade, long time ago, lot of coolant. I was machining it on CNC lathe back than.
I think, 23% silicon or more, don't remember.
These were microwave cavities, needed very stable material out in space.