I acquired the (shop made) cutter bundled with some other indexable carbide tool holders at auction. Is this kink of a tool a ball nose end mill or is it intended to be used as a boring bar? Usually when I have seen these, the length to diameter is 10 (or more) to 1. The one pictured has a 0.75 dia insert in it. And what might this type of a cutter excel at?

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ball nose carbide cutter - boring bar or ball nose endmill?
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Old mart has it. Indexable ball nose. We've got a bunch like that at work. I don't used them much anymore, but still come in hand once in a while.
Originally posted by aribert View PostAnd what might this type of a cutter excel at?Last edited by Dan Dubeau; 03-13-2021, 06:24 PM.
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If it's shop made it could be a ball nose for a mill, but it could also be used on a lathe as a form cutter to cut a radius profile. With that size bar and radius I would suspect it would be used on a rather large, heavy lathe. (I can hear that tool chattering all the way from my house).
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As others have said, Yes it is an indexable ball nose cutter.
Used a Dapra 1/2" one for a number of years for CNC cutting of molds. You need to (should) use adaptive programming for chip thinning based upon the angle of cut. This adjust the feed rates for the angle you are cutting. I would highly recommend using this in CNC mill otherwise you will be snapping inserts edges. They do great work if programmed right and chatter can be controlled with programming. We used older inserts for general roughing then a new insert for the finishing cuts at a much faster feed. Cuts are always balanced for desired scallop height and finish look. There are many different videos of how to use there on YouTube.
Larger inserts are easier to come by than smaller ones. Grade of insert has a lot to do with performance if you are looking.
I would guess you possibly have a Dapra or Ingersol brand but match the insert first not the body. The insert shape will give you more clues as to brand because the many of these are highly proprietary.
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Originally posted by mc_n_g View PostAs others have said, Yes it is an indexable ball nose cutter.
Used a Dapra 1/2" one for a number of years for CNC cutting of molds. You need to (should) use adaptive programming for chip thinning based upon the angle of cut......
Metro Detroit
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We've got a few Dapra bodies, but had way more Millstar ones as I liked them better (more solid register in the holder IMO.
My reference to chatter is because we always had to hang them out a mile long for the stuff we were doing. I've changed the way we cut those style of jobs now and can choke up on the cutters now at the expense of a few more setups. Which, IMO is worth it.
I prefer using these now. That's a 1/2" solid carbide (stiff) holder, with indexable full profile ball inserts. You flip them pocket to pocket to get the full radius. They cut much quieter, and leave a better finish IMO. Slightly more money ($eco) but worth it in the long run.
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Well I guess I was right about the Dapra. Dan is correct about the seating of the inserts. The Dapra (and sister Walter I think) is a flat bottom insert. If the prongs get messed up some the insert can end up loose and cause vibration and shorten the carbide. The insert he shows has an 'arrowhead' type seat where the insert locks in and is doubly secured by the screw. The second type he shows has the flipable insert which is nice but I never had the luxury of using those.
It also depends upon how the body is made. Some of the bodies are carbide into a steel body which makes the body more rigid and less prone to vibration.
That is a butt load of bodies and inserts in that auction. I see 1/2 ball mill inserts and also backdraft inserts. Turns the ball mill into a light capable end mill for clean up or finishing cuts with a radius. It is a nice option to have. I would think you should easily pair up bodies to inserts and sell them as pairs/sets. It is worth half a gamble to see what all is in there.
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On second look that first box is all types of bodies. 1/2 " and up. The other box is inserts only.
They were normally offering a free body with a purchase of a 10 pack of inserts.
A 10 pack may run you $200 to $350 easily.
There may be bodies that have never been used unless someone crashed them.
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Originally posted by mc_n_g View PostTurns the ball mill into a light capable end mill for clean up or finishing cuts with a radius. It is a nice option to have. I would think you should easily pair up bodies
to inserts and sell them as pairs/sets
Why here?> JR
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Man, I miss the days of companies offering free bodies with 2 packs of inserts.... We used to get it with Mitsubishi AJX feed mills, then Seco started doing it, and we moved everything to them. I think the gravy train is over now. Somewhere I think I've still got a 3/4" AJX body. I wonder if the Tormach would like running that lol.
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Originally posted by JRouche View Post
What are you talking about? It makes no sense. Buy, sell here or elsewhere? Why are you doing it??
Why here?> JR
I did not say anything about selling them here.
Read up on backdraft inserts in ball nose endmill bodies. https://www.dapra.com/CatSearch/128/...ided-ball-nose
In the second picture there are backdraft inserts which I noticed. Added functionality to the ball nose body.
Why comment like this JR? No need to get snippy
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