Tools for Makers of Fine Jewelry
Ever since we started making tools for cuemakers and luthiers, jewelers have been using some of our smaller end-mills and engraving tools to carve butter board and blue and green jeweler's wax. In response to the persistent demand for longer flute lengths on the smaller diameter mills, we have redesigned some of our existing tools and developed a few new ones. These high-aspect ratio micro-bits are part of our new DeepReach family of mold and sign making tools.
What are depth rings?
What are depth rings and what tools can have them?
Depth setting rings are plastic collars that are securely pressed onto the 1/8 in. shank of a drill bit, end-mill, router bit, or similar rotary cutter. There is no charge to add the rings, but the user is cautioned to make sure that their equipment is compatible with their use.
Most PreciseBits 1/8 in. shank bits are available with or without depth setting rings. Bits that can't have rings are:
- End-mills smaller than 0.005" (0.127mm)
- Shanks longer than 1.50" OAL
- Cutting depths or necks longer than 0.50"
- SRD kerf cutters (MM5D8)
How do they work and why would I want them?
The shank side of the ring (top side in the picture to the right) is accurately positioned (d ±0.004 in.) relative to the tip of the tool. If the shank-side of the ring is pressed against the collet when the tool is loaded, the tip of the bit will be a known distance (d) from the face of the collet. Knowing this distance, the programmer can plunge the tool, confident that the depth of cut will be as expected and will remain the same no matter how many times the tool is changed. If all of the tools in the programmer's magazine have been fitted with depth setting rings, an automatic tool changer can load and unload tools with the tip of each one the same distance from the face of the collet.
This is especially helpful with micro-tools where "touching-off" on some reference surface to calibrate the tool height can damage or break the tip of the tool. Rings also find widespread use in inlay pocket cutting where relatively large diameter cutters are used to "hog out" basic shapes, followed by much smaller diameter finishing bits that clean up the edges, sharpen the corners and add fine detail to the finished part.
LPKF and T-Tech
The most common value for d is 0.800 in. (industry standard). However, with the advent of mechanically etching printed circuit boards in the mid 1970s, a new standard was implemented for the special purpose tools developed for this application.
Today, only machines made by LPKF and T-Tech adhere to this special standard. Systems from AccurateCNC, MITS, Sun and EverPrecision are compatible with the original industry standard depth of 0.800 in.
DeepReach High-Aspect-Ratio End-Mills (HAREM) have been tuned for deep cutting of butterboard and blue & green jeweler's wax. Designed to accommodate high chip loads, all cutters in this family exhibit superior swarfe removal and low tip deflection.
Our 2-flute stub end-mills were designed specifically for cutting non-ferrous metals like copper, silver and gold. The 4-flute tools are made for cutting brass, steel, sterling silver and stainless steel. They are characterized by low aspect ratio flute geometries insuring low deflection and long bit life at relatively high feed-rates. The precise radial relief reduces burr formation and chattering resulting in smoother, more uniform cutting.
The flutes of our ball-nose end-mills wrap around the tips of the tools with the identical geometry on the sides and across the ball. This insures that the cutting properties (speed, feeds, smoothness, chip load) are the same at all points along the cut.
PreciseBit thin-web (0.005", 0.127mm) "V" tip cutters combine fine line machining with the extra rigidity needed for high feed rates. Applications include scoring, marking, scrimshaw, and engraving.
Like all of our cutters, PreciseBIT solid carbide drills are made using the finest grade Mitsubishi carbide. Sizes ranging from 0.008 in. (0.2mm) to 0.250 in. (6.35mm) are available from stock. Diameters down to 0.001 in. (25 micron) are available upon request.
Over the years, we have found that certain materials place extraordinary demands on tool geometry. This is especially true of shell, ivory, ebony and the rosewood family of hardwoods. Their moisture content, oiliness, density and abrasiveness require that flute-shape, flute-volume, and helix angle be precisely tuned to achieve accurate cutting and acceptable tool life.
The only 2-flute member of the UltraBit family, these 0.0313" (0.8mm) bits have been tuned for cutting antler, fossil ivory, horn and tusk. The flute capacity has been increased to accommodate a wide range of moisture/oil content. The diameter is ground to within +/-0.0005" (0.0127mm) insuring zero-glue-line inlay cutting. The best all-around 1/32" cutter that we make, this bit has become the general-purpose tool of choice for many cuemakers and luthiers for cutting rosewoods and other "gummy" materials.
The 0.0313" (0.8mm) shell cutter features a 3-flute design with a light chip-breaker finish-grind that effectively, and accurately cuts away both natural and laminated shell. A member of the UltraBit family, the shell cutter diameter is ground to within +/-0.0005" (0.0127mm) insuring zero-glue-line inlay cutting and minimum material wastage.
Tempered Gold phenolic backing material is the perfect fixturing substrate for mounting delicate materials to be machined for inlay components. With a high degree of chemical resistance and excellent adhesion to common glues and adhesives (including hide glue and cyanoacrylates), Gold phenolic is compatible with the mounting requirements of virtually every material used by luthiers, jewelers, and pool cuemakers. The composition of the phenolic also acts to cool the tip of the drills and end-mills, extending tool life and eliminating thermal breakdown of the fixturing adhesive.
Designed by a corrosion chemist to:
· dissolve varnish and gummy deposits in the spindle bore
· loosen rust
· inhibit corrosion
in spindle bores and on collets and toolholders.