Tooling Specs - How to find?

I have a few CNC bits I have purchased that other than the size and type, I don’t know much about. What is the best strategy for entering these items in your tooling library? Even some of the larger brands I have bought, don’t include a ton of information - at least as much as the specifications allow.

Just wondering what the best thing to do is. I am using very thin tools for guitar fretboard work that include fret slots and inlay.

Thanks in advance!

Scott

If you are not able to find the original bit specs you can use a set of calipers to find the overall length, diameter, cutting length and see how many flutes it has. You can use these measurements to either find a bit with the same measurements and get the feeds and speeds for that and enter them with your bit. I have done this same thing with some bits that were given to me. You can go to Amana, Freud or any other mfg that shows recommended feeds and speeds.

Anthony

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I use whiteside and other brands of up/down cut bits. I usually just copy an existing tool and modify it as necessary. When starting use the C3D parameters and use the CM +/- function to adjust the F&S. When you find a good spot then modify your custom tool database for the parameters that work.

Beware that many bits from the OEM with recommended F&S are fantastically high for a hobby level CNC. Many times they are for industrial CNC machines. Freud tools give very high parameters for their bits. Just be careful if you find the OEM F&S because likely not for hobby machines.

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I appreciate both of your replies! I kind of figured this out on my own, and figured I would use similar bits to get the information in there - so I will continue to do that. I REALLY appreciate the info about Freud’s bits!! That is really good to know.

All of this stuff is pretty common sense, but sometimes sense isn’t common in my world!!

Cheers

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