I am considering purchasing a used 4x4 5 pro, currently with an er11-65, but I’m curious if it would be able to cut 2” thick walnut completely through, vertically (not in one pass). I fear the small collet only allowing for a 1/4” shank may be pushing it beyond its limitations. I’d love to hear whether it’s feasible or not, and if so, what end mill achieves that depth.
Thank you in advance!
This bit will get there. I am sure there are a lot more.
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The ER-11 collet in a 65mm VFD will take up to an 8mm collet/tool shank.
While we have a line of tooling using an 8mm shank:
none of them have a cutting length much greater than 1", so you’ll need a specialty third-party “Long-reach” tool.
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I have used that bit for 1.75” cuts, have not tried 2”
The shoulder is machined to allow a 2" cut
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I use 1/4 shank and flute, do final contour with tabs. The issue is more about cutter length, even step downs with ramping and a maximum roughing that is not to deep. I cut hardwoods with a maximum of 1.5 mm for roughing. The cutter can get bogged down if you push it too hard. This may sound conservative, but I’m running it at 10,000 RPMs and at 3 mm roughing, it does not work well.
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Jim, thank you for the intel. So far, yours sounds like the best option. Your response tipped me over the edge, and I purchased the pro 5 4x4. Looking forward to some trial runs.
Thank you.
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You were already there, just needed one more excuse .
I hope I get a sales percentage or something 
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You nailed it on the head there, but you’re gonna have to talk to the seller on the percentage deal… Thanks again, and thanks to everyone that’s chipped in their thoughts. I was told this was a great community, and it’s already lived up to the hype.
I’m running my roughing bit between 18K to 22K on my ER11-65mm spindle. This is with the 1/4” and 8mm shank. My spindle does not bog down. I use the default feeds and increase based on the sound of the spindle loading up. This is in hard woods with 1/4” or 8mm DOC and 1/4” and 8mm stepover. This is a roughing bit, not a standard 2/3 flute finishing bit that comes with the machine.
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Hey Tim-
Thanks for the insight. I have yet to try out a roughing bit, but desperately need to get one asap. You mentioned you run yours at a 1/4” or 8mm step over. I assume relative to either size bit, but are you saying you take out a full diameters worth of wood per pass? Obviously fresh to the subject, but enjoy learning this awesome machine and its capability.
Yes, the roughing bit will cut the full diameter of the bit. I do this in a pocket operation though in which the bit ramps the first plunge and starts the pocket in the center. After the first 1/4’x1/4” cut, one side of the bit is in free air and this allows the cutter to really get rid of the full chip load in the sweepy.
Start with the standard 1/4” bit feeds/speeds, determine the load on the spindle and go from there. Each wood species is different.
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