Author Topic: HSS-AL??  (Read 10500 times)

Offline FLG

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HSS-AL??
« on: August 25, 2012, 11:52:33 PM »
Hi to all

I was looking for some end mills for steel (cheap), and find that a lot of bits name their material as HSS-AL

this mean that the bits are HSS for cutting aluminium?, or they are HSS with some type of coating or something?

will they work for steel??

Saludos

Offline swilliams

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Re: HSS-AL??
« Reply #1 on: August 26, 2012, 01:34:21 AM »
They are HSS alloyed with a little bit of aluminium, typically of Chinese origin. Yes they will cut steel no problems.

I find the ones I have to be very good. You may come across M2-AL HSS, this stuff is excellent, and might be thought of as a substitute for cobalt HSS.

Anyway I and many others use these cheap endmills for almost everything

Steve

Offline swilliams

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Re: HSS-AL??
« Reply #2 on: August 26, 2012, 01:41:35 AM »
P.S.  I've found some of the Chinese 2 flute HSS slot drills to be pretty useless, due to being too flimsy. I don't buy them anymore. Never had any trouble with the 4 flute endmills.

Steve

Offline arnoldb

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Re: HSS-AL??
« Reply #3 on: August 26, 2012, 12:32:27 PM »
I have to agree with Steve - the HSS-AL bits work just fine in brass,aluminium and mild steel.  They do have a harder time doing silver steel and stainless steel; cutting fluid helps here.

Regards, Arnold
Building an engine takes Patience, Planning, Preparation and Machining.
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