Chester face mill inserts

[Steven CorstonParticipant @stevencorston14096]

Hello All,

Does anyone know the identification of the inserts used in the Chester face milling cutter?

**LINK**

Many thanks

Steve

[Steven CorstonParticipant @stevencorston14096]

[BazParticipant @baz89810]

Have you asked Chester after all they sell the cutter they should know the type of inserts it will take.

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

They are triangular type and if you have some worn ones, they could be measured. The size of the triangle, rads clearance angle and thickness are needed. The triangle size is what it would be if the corners were sharp with no rads.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Look again they are square

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

I don't know the specific ones but some inserts have part of their identities etched on them in teeny-weeny letters. Might be worth examining one or two with a magnifying glass.

[DC31kParticipant @dc31k]

There is a useful guide to decoding inserts here:

https://www.cutwel.co.uk/blog/learn-the-turning-insert-iso-code.html

You need the first seven fields of the code.

Given that they are square, with no hole, that reduces the possible codes considerably.

Any codes you cannot positively identify, guess at a letter and type the result into Google. If there is no-one supplying inserts with that code, cross that possiblity off the list.

Just from observation, the first letter of the code is S.

Measure as best you can the second one.

In practice, the third one will be M.

The next easiest to identify is the fourth field: it will be F, N or R.

Fields five and six from measurement.

Field seven, try 02, 04 and 08.

Edited By DC31k on 25/07/2023 07:12:40

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

If you can find the code for the inserts, there will be several possible UK sources, as well those to be found on the web.

Even the dimensions will help to identify.

Arc Euro, J B Cutting Tools, RDG, Chronos immediately spring to mind, plus probably our other usual machine tool importers

Howard

[Anonymous]

The insert type doesn't seem to be mentioned on the appropriate Chester product page. That's a red flag and means I'd avoid the cutter like the plague. The inserts are probably not standard and/or not common. So you have to buy them from Chester.

Andrew

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

Square they are, but very old design, that will be the reason that Chester no longer list them. I agree that the Cutwel insert identification page is well worth using and once a reasonable code is found, then ebay would be the first place I would look. The rads may vary, and a close comparison between the existing inserts and the seats will give a good idea whether slight variations will fit. Sometimes it is easier to give up on the old tooling and get something up to date and easily available.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Chester do list them, they are in the OP's original link.

There are several of the hobby suppliers who don't give the codes for the inserts, in many cases it is so people go back to them for inserts rather than sourcing from elsewhere

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

Pity the code is Chester's stock code and nothing like an insert code. So if they are discontinued it will not help.

[Anonymous]

Posted by JasonB on 25/07/2023 20:18:51:

Chester do list them, they are in the OP's original link.

It's a stock code, not an ISO insert type. Which is why i said the insert type wasn't mentioned. Fine if one wants to order from Chester, useless if one wants to order from elsewhere.

Andrew

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I know it is their stock code, that is why I said "There are several of the hobby suppliers who don't give the codes for the inserts, in many cases it is so people go back to them for inserts rather than sourcing from elsewhere"

[DC31kParticipant @dc31k]

This one, labelled Clarke, looks identical:

https://www.clarketooling.co.uk/product/clarke-2-mill-cutter/

clarketooling is one of Chronos' many aliases.

https://www.chronos.ltd.uk/product/milling-cutter-2-2/

Clarke stuff is available from Machine Mart.

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/2in-mill-cutter-2/ (Note clearance price compared to other suppliers full price).

Machine Mart's spares email or phone might be a possibility for a lead.

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, if you actually go onto Chester Machine Tools web site, you will find they are out of stock of both the MT2 and MT3 complete tools, and the tips are not listed in the option at all

Chester Machine Tools

It's just the same on their Hobby store site.

I got one of them when I bought my Chester Champion milling machine, and I found the tips soon lost their edge. I've found the body of it, but I remember I'd taken off both the tips and the piece that holds them in, and I can't remember where I've put them. I'd got the idea of fitting triangular ones in their place, but it didn't look very feasible, and it's just been sat in my garage for ages.

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 25/07/2023 21:15:30

[FulmenParticipant @fulmen]

I assume you have this mill and are looking for replacements?

This guide should help:

https://littlemachineshop.com/info/insert_charts.php

1. First letter is shape (S for square)
2. Relief angle, you need to measure that (or choose another one more to your liking).
3. Tolerances, should be irrelevant for our needs. Pick the cheapest one.
4. Mounting, looks to be an N (no hole or breaker)
5. Size, again something you need to measure (I'm guessing 12 or 15)
6. Thickness, same (04 0r 06?)
7. Nose radius, same (or pick your own, perhaps 04 for fine cuts and 08 for rougher work?)

[Steven CorstonParticipant @stevencorston14096]

Many thanks for all the replies. Looks like it needs a mixture of research and guess work.

Steve

[colin vercoeParticipant @colinvercoe57719]

I think they are an iso insert SPKN is the geometry which is an older style of insert so similar to Sandvik SPKN 1204 ED R or L

SPKN =geometry

12 = size of the square

04 = thickness this can vary 03, 04, 05

ED = makers designation for the ground facets ( I think)

R or L = right or left hand

then add the ISO grade of carbide you require eg K20, P40, P20, etc

if you cant get the correct thickness you can always shim between the clamp screw and the insert, you can also use any square insert that will fit in the pocket of the cutter including turning inserts which are much cheaper than ground facet milling inserts hope this helps

Colin

[Steven CorstonParticipant @stevencorston14096]

Many thanks Colin.

[JuddyParticipant @juddy]

Possibly something like this: SEKN1203AFTN-M14,

SEKN1203AFTN-M14 T25M | Secotools.com

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Posted by colin vercoe on 25/07/2023 22:30:43:

I think they are an iso insert SPKN is the geometry which is an older style of insert so similar to Sandvik SPKN 1204 ED R or L

SPKN =geometry

12 = size of the square

04 = thickness this can vary 03, 04, 05

ED = makers designation for the ground facets ( I think)

R or L = right or left hand

then add the ISO grade of carbide you require eg K20, P40, P20, etc

if you cant get the correct thickness you can always shim between the clamp screw and the insert, you can also use any square insert that will fit in the pocket of the cutter including turning inserts which are much cheaper than ground facet milling inserts hope this helps

Colin

Turning inserts are cheaper because 90% of them are unable to take intermittant cuts, they are cheaper but they chip won't last.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Have you never turned any square or hex material Dave? I don't find it a problem with cabide and have also used a turning tool in a flycutter with no problem.

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Posted by JasonB on 27/07/2023 06:51:16:

Have you never turned any square or hex material Dave? I don't find it a problem with cabide and have also used a turning tool in a flycutter with no problem.

Nope, but I have used them unknowingly for milling, you get the below effect on En3 after a couple of slots. Insert supplied with the holder both alledged to be Seco.

I have since used a proper milling insert in the same cutter to widen a lantern tool post which still looks like new.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Like Dave Halford, I find that brazed carbides seem to chip very easily (More easily than inserted carbide tips, and are very difficult to hold to sharpen with a diamond wheel ) so avoid them wherever possible.

Howard

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