80% finishing problems - need advice

[AreWeNotMen?]

That broken drill bit has to come out. Cannot finish with it in there. You need an xy table

Did that, "...I did notice that yesterday before seeing it noticed here, removed it", and finished it Sunday

[AreWeNotMen?]

And kcstott - thanks for all you help - truly appreciated!

[bohoki]

i snapped a 3 flute hss in like 5 minutes

my dull and chipped to hell 4 flute that milled like a couple others finished the job

check ebay for 8mm endmill they are like $5 from china and work great

if you are using a drill press you want max speed and a narrow endmill 8mm is good its a balance between your ability to feed nice and slow and its ability to not cut too much

[Ryan in SD]

Its not going to be easy learning to machine just by reading forums. Any machinist close to him for help?

Scott has good suggestions.

I dont understand how you are lateral milling on a drill press though...

Also some of those black or dark coatings usually work bad in aluminum. Sometimes you get coatings where aluminum will stick. ESPECIALLY without coolant or cutting fluids which also could cause breakage. That said, that drill bit definitely did it in.

[kcstott]

how you latterly mill with a drill press is called having a lot of desire and no other way to get it done.

it it the best way?? NO

Will it get the job done successfully enough to function properly?? Sure with attention to detail.

Think wood router. low depth of cut and set up a fence and just push.

the problems happen when you try to take to much at once and the lack of rigidity rears it's ugly head. His finished pocket looks pretty good for a drill press.

[tekno]

we need pictures.. I love seeing things being made