Before we start milling away our stock we first need to get down to the required depth.

This is not a problem with external features when we can plunge outside.

When machining closed pockets, however, we need to find a way to get down to the machining depth first.

As usual there are several ways to get the job done. The plunging methods listed here are not ordered by their preference.

For various machining operations on different materials some may be more preferable than others.

Straight Plunging into a larger Pre-Drilled hole

This is one the best ones in my opinion.
Very few machining modes can compete in effectiveness with drilling and this method will get you the best combined tool life on most materials and (in case of many deep pockets) the least machining time, even when tool change time is factored in.

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We have finally reached version 1.00!

Here is a list of new and improved features:

What's New

• Material Drop-Down list now shows 'X' on the row when the current Library Tool has Custom Surface Speed and Chipload settings.
• Load Tool dialog box now has Tool Type Icon. The same column shows a readable Operation Type Icon for finishing, roughing, etc.
• Drilling Tool Types now allow user to enter a custom Pecking value
• Milling Tool Types now have Editable Plunge RPM and Plunge Feedrate
• Milling Tool Types' updated Circle/Ramp Dialog now allows to specify whether ramp settings apply to Plunge feedrate of Milling feedrate

What's Improved

• Custom Speeds and Feeds tab on Edit Tool Dialog was improved with new buttons to reset custom Surface Speed and Chipload settings
  Glitch with certain diameters in metric mode being missed is fixed
• Load Tool/Cut Dialog box' Search was improved
• Load Tool/Cut Dialog box now features much improved tool and cut list with better readability and usability
• Ballnose Tools have been improved to better show changing effective diameter for different depths of cut.

Now, because a picture is worth a thousand words, here are some screenshots as well.

Updated and Improved Load Tool/Cut Dialog:

Note new Tool Type and Cut type Icons in the third column.Read More 

Hello guys.

There have not been any updates for quite a while now.

But it is so for a reason.

See i am in the mids of implementing some long awaited features.

So far Boring bars and taps are in the works. I am also planning to include plunging feedrates and revise some other tooling definitions.

If you have something small you wish to see implemented in the next release let me know.

Quite often in order to start cutting in x-y direction you need to first plunge into the material.

Here is a compliled list of recommendations for different kinds of plunging that works in most if not all cases.

Plunge with center cutting endmill:

• Regular Chipload/Number of flutes , half the cutting speed. (for 3 flute endmill divide normal chipload by 3)

Ramp:

• Ramp Radius (For Helical ramping): .90-.95 of cutter radius

• Ramp Angle: Indexed/non center cutting endmills: 1-2.5 degree; Center cutting endmills- Up to 45 deg

Ramp chipload ajustment for 4 flute Center cutting endmills:

• 0-2.5deg=100% of normal feedrate
• 2.5-5deg=75% of normal feedrate
• 5-15deg=50% of normal feedrate
• 15-30deg=25% of normal feedrate
• 30-45deg=5% of normal feedrate

Dont forget to reduce cutting speed for ramping above 5deg by half!