When you need to accurately perform a longitudinal groove or other recess on any part, as a rule, a milling machine is used. Such equipment is in any locksmith or carpentry workshop. Regardless of the material being processed, whether it is wood or metal, the principle of operation remains unchanged: the rotating cutting edge and the workpiece being machined come into contact, and when moving relative to each other, the material is excavated to the desired depth with the required profile configuration.
A manual router, unlike a stationary machine, takes up little space, it is relatively inexpensive, and the benefit from it can be considerable. The device of this tool, in general, is simple, it consists of a “head”, that is, a unit in which there is an electric motor with a control circuit and a spindle on the shaft, and that part that provides the direction of the thread, that is, milling. At the same time, choosing a manual router, it should be remembered that for the successful use of the device, it is the quality of the guide and fixing unit that is of paramount importance. It is desirable to give preference to the tool with the maximum number of cast parts of both the platform and the parallel or turret stop. As for the "head", its quality is directly dependent on the mechanical part.
The engine has a direct drive, it is high-speed, the shaft rotation speed is usually 30 thousand rpm. It can be controlled by an electronic circuit that provides smooth acceleration and stabilization of revolutions in case of an increase in load. These additional functions protect the manual router from overheating, and the mains from overload at peak currents during transients.
The quality of the work depends on the uniformity of movement of the cutting tool relative to the workpiece, so the base should be smooth. Another factor affecting the successful completion of the task is the absence of distortions and backlash, therefore the stiffness of the holding unit is so important, especially since it has depth adjustment.
The collet clamp on which the milling cutter for a manual milling cutter is mounted includes the collet itself, which transfers the drive shaft force to the cutting tool, the insert and the clamping nut.
The insert should be emphasized, the choice of cutters depends on its inner diameter. She dresses directly on the shank of the drive shaft.
Now about that, for the sake of which all this design was created. A set of milling cutters for a manual milling cutter is usually included, but it may turn out that it is not enough. In order to make the right choice, it should be remembered that they are prefabricated, in which the configuration of the profile can vary depending on which blades are mounted on the blank base.
In addition, cutters are divided into high-speed and carbide, and the latter are more durable, but also more expensive.
The type of work performed also affects the choice of cutter. It can be edged (for edging), curved (for forming decorative edges), tongue-and-groove (for creating tongue-groove joints).
In skilled hands, a hand mill can successfully replace a number of carpentry tools.