Dovetail cutters & Titanium - Insert plan

[Erin Burke]

I've been thinking of trying some dovetailed inserts on one of my balisong projects, and was wondering if y'all had any recommendations on how best to do it. I'm thinking of using a dovetail cutter on my benchtop mill. Preliminarily, I'm planning on using a 60-degree dovetail cutter... I don't need anything really big, so I think that I'll go with a 3/8" cutter width (the smallest I could find). Is it worth it to invest in a cobalt cutter over regular HSS for cutting the dovetails in titanium? I figure I'll cut the majority of the insert recess using a standard end mill, then cut the dovetail ends with a 3/8" dovetail cutter running about 400-rpm. Does anybody see where this approach may be flawed... or maybe recommend a better way to go about it? Thanks in advance.
Erin

 

[Fellhoelter]

Sounds like a good plan, cobalt is worth the $$$, more forgiving on feeds and speeds.

Feed is important here, get in there and cut.
If you dwell, or rub, cutters die a quick death.

You actually want a decent chipload per tooth.

 

[Erin Burke]

Thanks Brian. I figured cobalt would be a good choice - it is all I use for drilling Ti anymore - but figured I'd ask anyway. I'll make sure to keep the feed speed up to avoid dwell. I've been impressed, for the most part, with the milling & drilling info available on TIMNET... especially the speed/feed tables. But it's always good to hear the voice of experience. Thanks again.

Sounds like a good plan, cobalt is worth the $$$, more forgiving on feeds and speeds.

Feed is important here, get in there and cut.
If you dwell, or rub, cutters die a quick death.

You actually want a decent chipload per tooth.

 

[Fellhoelter]

In this day and age, HSS is all but obsolete.

Cobalt is far superior. I only by HSS drills in the larger sizes, and if I'll drill Ti with it, I spring for a cobalt.