Nitronic 60

[Jeff]

How does this stuff cut compared to 304ss?
We will be cutting it in the annealed condition as far as I know.

[Jeff]

None of you bastids have ran this crap? 
Supposedly it cuts like Invar 36, which I have no experience with either.

[JParis]

Supposedly it cuts like Invar 36

Tough stuff...heat resistant....Invar/Kovar not inconel but a general low SFM

[gcode]

None of you bastids have ran this crap? 
Supposedly it cuts like Invar 36, which I have no experience with either.

A lifetime ago I drilled and tapped thousands of 10-32 holes in this stuff manually on a Supermax
(Bridgeport knee mill clone)
Hand sharpened drills and OSG VA7 taps with black sulfur oil and a Tapmatic tapping head
Good Times !!!

That experience has zero bearing on modern machining with CNC equipment.
I have limited experience turning it on VTL's and doing light milling work.
It is tough stuff, definitely in the Cantcutium metals group.
It's not as bad as Inconel or Hastelloy but considerably worse than 304 or 321 duplex stainless steel.
There are different grades of it too.
If you're running a heat treated/anneled version, you're in for a bad day.

[Jeff]

Id you're running a heat treated/anneled version, you're in for a bad day.

Oh joy,
Pretty sure we ordered annealed.
Aside from Annealed or heat treated, what other version is there?

[gcode]

There are also high strength versions and forgings

[Tim Johnson]

I've run the annealed before but it was around 1987ish. The material was Ø4" or Ø5" and around 1/2" thick. The facing and turning work was super stringy but I don't remember any wrapping issues. My notes are showing 190 sfm and .007 ipr but I don't have a tool radius written down. I'm thinking (guessing) .0312 corner radius with that feed. I don't remember issues with face drilling but I do remember tapping only a couple threads deep and finish tapping by hand. The taps are a lot better now than they were back then.

[CNCAppsJames]

I had to turn and knurl some around 1994. It didn't like to be cut, and it ESPECIALLY didn't like to be knurled. Closer to 309 than 304 IIRC. 

[Shazam/TPP]

have milled in the past PIA

Good Luck We're all counting on you!!

[Jeff]

Small update,
The turning went really well, no issues at all. Used standard Sandvik inserts. I think they ran it at 200sfpm. medium depth of cut and moderate feed. I don't know the specifics.
Drilled a 1/2" hole with a tsc carbide drill no issue either.
Now it's waiting at the mill. Hopefully this $280 Emuge 7/8-14 tap does the job lol.

[gcode]

Now it's waiting at the mill. Hopefully this $280 Emuge 7/8-14 tap does the job lol.

I'd thread mill that.

[Jeff]

I'd thread mill that.

I wish I could. It's up against a wall and about 4 inches from the top of the part.

[JakeL]

I wish I could. It's up against a wall and about 4 inches from the top of the part.

This tool might work - Carmex SR0375M11C - http://www.carmexusa.com/default.aspx?page=item%20detail&itemcode=SR0375M11C

6" OAL - 3/8 shank - single tooth insert on the end

Not sure how many parts you got, but you could chase the thread mill with a hand tap if it doesn't cut to size.

[Tim Johnson]

I had to turn and knurl some around 1994. It didn't like to be cut, and it ESPECIALLY didn't like to be knurled. Closer to 309 than 304 IIRC.

309 sucks. We make 309sst assembled rods that picks up and removes small ceramic cups of molten metal from a furnace to be analyzed. The material has a longer life for that task.

[Jeff]

The parts cut beautifully, and that $280 tap was smooth as butter.