Can we talk about hitting 10,000 parts on one tool without changing it

I finally ran 10,000 aluminum parts on a single end mill at my shop in Columbus, and everyone here thinks I'm lying or reckless. But that tool was still cutting clean, so why would I swap it out just because someone says it's 'due'?

3 comments

3 Comments

uma_webb282mo agoMost Upvoted

People are way too quick to replace stuff that still works, just because everyone else does lol.

casey3932mo ago

@parkerh38 is out here proving 8,000 parts on a single end mill while people swap bits after cutting a piece of cardboard. It's like watching your buddy drive a 1998 Toyota with 300k miles while your neighbor trades in their lease every two years because the floor mats are slightly dirty. But hey, maybe the guys replacing tooling every shift just enjoy that fresh-smell high you get from a brand new end mill.

parkerh382mo ago

Good for you. If the finish is still there and the tool isn't screaming, keep running it. I've had a 3/8 end mill last through 8,000 parts before it finally gave up, and it saved me a lot of money and downtime.