tools, materials & knowledge for model makers
lathe tools, drills, grinders, knives, end mills, slot drills
As much as I’ve upgraded the Genmitsu 3018-pro it has struggled to machine or engrave brass, therefore I thought I would try sprung d-bit engraving. This sounds a bit counterintuitive with a CNC machine, but this is a tiny CNC lacking in power. I thought that a small amount of compliance in the Z-axis would … Read more
Several people have commented on the radius arm for my ball turner and asked what the engraving bits are. I call them “D” bits as they are a half-round in cross-section. They are also called “V” bits based on the profile. You can buy them in lots of different angles and coatings. I tend to … Read more
I bought this radius end mill from Arc Euro Trade. The shank is 12mm diameter, the radius is 3mm. Which when I purchased this as a one-off I thought would be the most useful size. Why do you need this when you can create the same with a file and some patience? Well, this allows … Read more
Special lathe tools for brass are actually quite reasonable to make. You can machine the tool from a piece of square mild steel and then case harden the cutting end. This means it’s quite easy to make intricate designs as mild steel can easily be machined on the milling machine. The lathe tool machined from … Read more
I know this will change as it has in the past, but as of now this is My Top 10 Milling Cutters. Well, let’s get this correct, I only machine as a hobby and so don’t even have 10 makes of cutter. However I will list my experiences and explain. 1. Milling Cutters Store In … Read more
I saw the Milling Cutters Store 3 Flute Slot Drill on Instagram and as I was in need of some new 6mm slot drills I ordered some. Previously I’ve been buying Rennie tools 2 flute carbide cutters. They work really well, but it was time to try something new. The cutters arrive in the normal … Read more
I’ve been using milling machines for my hobby of model making for over 40 years, but CNC is new to me and CNC cutting bits are new. The primary first task for the CNC engraver is to machine the brass smokebox door on my miniature traction engine. The CNC engraver in question is a Sain … Read more
Diamond plates for sharpening tools, putting a final edge on a knife or lapping a surface to ensure flatness. You get diamond pads with a plastic backing and a grid of holes or the diamond pads that are on a steel plate. I find that the best diamond pads are those on a steel plate. … Read more
A review of the Swann-Morton scalpel. We all have a selection of different knives from the robust Stanley that is great for cutting tough material such as carpet to the small model making knives with blades that have never been changed their whole life. One knife that is a must is the scalpel and so … Read more
Reduce any Overhangs is all about increasing the stiffness of the workpiece, the machine and the tool. An overhang equals flexibility. One key parameter with regards to any tools is to reduce the overhang and so reduce the chance of chatter or even worse parts and tools breaking. The image shows a simple change in … Read more