If you are running into issues such as poor tool life, poor surface finish and chipping the cutting edge when putting slots in 316 stainless steel, you may need to relook at your tooling.
We would recommend a a 5/8” diameter cobalt endmill with a shorter length of cut, boosting running parameters by approx. 10%.
Let us know how we can help you find the right tooling for your job.
Agree on the Cobalt. Definitely use TiCN or TiAlN coatings on them as well to extend tool life.
Whenever you are working a machining application a good step in the early going is to understand what it is you will be machining. What is it? What condition is it in (hardened or annealed)? Like most stainless steels 316 needs to be “sheared”. As a general statement sharper geometries with harder more wear resistant grades or coatings are ideal. 316 is prone to work hardening and built up edge so getting your operating parameters right is key. Coolant is generally recommended if your application allows for it. Do your homework and you should be just fine cutting 316 with modern technologies.
It is good to understand the material and all it can offer during CNC machining. Stainless steel 316 has good machinability, and it can get enhanced by using a few of the tips:
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I think the poor quality of tool life can be avoided, if they meet quality standards.
I have learnt a lot about quality standards from the site https://www.qmii.com/. You can also check it out to know more about quality standards and register for their curses.