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Tool Organisation


Up to 99 tools can be listed in the WELmill Tool Data Table.

Tool Types
Some basic Tool Types are listed in the Tool Data Table: ball end, bull nose, drill, end mill, reamer, router cutter, slot drill. You may add your own tool type names to the table.

Tool Numbering System
Tools must be numbered. It is helpful if the tool number is the same as the tool diameter. However, with so many Tool Types, a more developed allocation of tool numbers is necessary, for example:

Slot drills - tool numbers 1 to 10 (a 6mm slot drill would be tool number 6);
Ball end - tool numbers 11 to 20 (a 5mm ball end cutter would be tool number 15);
Router cutters - tool numbers 21 to 30 (an 8mm router cutter would be tool number 28);
and so on.

This numbering pattern assumes no tool diameter bigger than 10mm. You will need to revise this suggestion to handle larger diameters. The important thing is to be organised and have a system!

Tool Diameters
Tool diameter measurements must be entered in the Tool Data Table in millimetres. Imperial cutters can be used on the mill but their equivalent metric dimensions must be entered, eg for ¼ inch diameter enter 6.35mm. Tool diameters can have up to three decimal places, eg 5.951mm

Tool Diameter for Pointed Cutters
Some engraving tools have a sharp point. As the diameter at the point is zero, zero is the figure entered in the Tool Data Table as the diameter for the cutter. Take great care to protect the pointed tip: it may be quite fragile.

Tool Inventory
The facility to list up to 99 tools may seem excessive when the mill has perhaps only six tool holders. However, it is useful to have a full inventory of your tooling in the Tool Data Table. But, you must be sure that that the offset measurement for a tool is still valid before any machining is done. WELmill does warn you to check this as you prepare for machining. Any time a tool in a tool holder is changed, its offset must be measured again.

Tool-holder Collets
The collets which are used with the tool holders are ER25 type and are available from engineering tooling suppliers at prices starting from around £12 each. A collet has a diameter range of 1mm: thus a 7-6 collet can securely hold tool shanks in the range 7mm down to 6mm. For example, this collet can hold an imperial cutter with a shank diameter of ¼ inch, ie 6.35mm.

Keep tool holders, collets and tool shanks clean.

Tool Projection from Tool Holders
Ensure that a tool projects sufficiently far from its tool holder so that the tool holder does not foul the billet of material when making a deep cut. At the same time ensure that as much shank as possible is held by the collet.

Tool Flute Length
Some tools have a shank with a larger diameter than the cutting portion: for example, a 3mm diameter slot drill may have a 6mm diameter shank. When making a steep or vertical-sided cut take care that the depth of the cut is not so great that the tool shank fouls the top of the billet. Know the length of the tool's flutes as well as its diameter. Long-reach cutters are available from engineering tool suppliers.

Accuracy of Machining
Cutters for Metals
Cutters for Wood, MDF and Plastics
Defining Tools in AlphaCAM
Measuring Offsets
Speeds and Feeds for High Speed Steel (HSS) Tools
Speeds and Feeds for Tipped Tools (not HSS)