Debate: climb milling vs conventional on a worn out machine?

I've been running a 1995 Fadal for the last 6 months and I tried climb milling a 6061 aluminum plate last week. Conventional gives me a decent finish but my tool life is around 80 parts before I start seeing chatter. Climb milling got me 110 parts but the finish looked rough for the first 20 passes until the tool broke in. I'm wondering if the machine's spindle bearings are too loose for climb milling or if I just need to adjust my speeds. What's your take on which method works better on older, looser machines? Has anyone else seen a similar trade off between tool life and surface finish?

2 comments

2 Comments

charles44229d ago

80 parts vs 110 and that early finish sounds backwards to me.

elliot_johnson3126d ago

Man that reminds me of my buddy's old Bridgeport that only ran smooth if you swore at it first.