Cutter Master Demo

Host  Tom Davis

May 7^th 2005

(Return to Home Page)

The meeting was held at Tom Davis' shop in South Tempe.

We started off with a Tour Tom Davis' small shop.  Tom then demonstrated his machinery lift.  We all trouped in to the TV and watched the first part of the CutterMaster video about sharpening end mills.  While we got some good information from the video, we all agreed the production quality was really bad!  The next step was to head out to the shop and try the machine out for real.

(Bill VanOrden)

We start off with a box full of victims, er, dull end mills.

(Neil Butterfield)

Tom points out the collet in the end of the air bearing ram that will hold the end mill

(Neil Butterfield)

Tom sets the guide pin position so the sides of the end mill flutes can be sharpened.

(Neil Butterfield)

Tom is pointing out the end mill to cutter wheel alignment

(Bill VanOrden)

Another shot of the alignment pin

(Neil Butterfield)

Tom grinding the side flutes of the end mill.  Watching carefully (L - R) are Doug Endrud, Neil Peters, Doug Ramerth, Owen Jeffers, Bob Sanders and Gene Lucas' glasses.

(Neil Butterfield)

Doug Ramerth takes a turn with the grinder, while (L to R) Jerry Carter, Tom Davis and Neil Peters look on.

(Neil Butterfield)

Doug Ramerth discusses the results of the grinding process with tom Davis

(Bill VanOrden)

Here we see the end mill being drawn across the cutting wheel.  The tubular ram rides on a air gap provided with compressed air.  If disturbed the ram will glide back and forth until it comes to rest. The movement of the bearing is incredibly smooth and the lightest touch is all it takes to move it.  The end mill is aligned to the cutter wheel by resting the flutes on the guide pin.  As the air bearing ram is pulled the guide pin rotates the end mill to keep the flute aligned with the cutter wheel.

  (Bill VanOrden)

 Jerry Carter and Doug Ramerth are shown grinding an end mill.

(Bill VanOrden)

Close up of the end flutes of the end mill being cut, note the low amount of sparking showing a light even cut.

(Bill VanOrden)

Jerry Hine (facing left) brought a couple of very large drawings of a Pratt & Whitney R4360 radial engine.  Are those doughnuts in that red box??  

(Neil Butterfield)

Here's the usual gang doing the usual thing at the end of a meeting, socializing and discussing various projects and machines.  

There were some freebies exchanged after the meeting.

Photos by Bill VanOrden and Neil Butterfield as noted.

Updated 5/8/05