How to avoid using burrs incorrectly?

Has your burr ever discoloured or has its shank broken? Or do sparks occur during milling?

Rough running, strong vibrations, and parts breaking off the burr

Impacts on the tools and tool chatter to premature wear and can cause parts of the cut area to break. It is therefore essential to avoid impact loads when using the tool. Make sure that the surface contact angle/insertion depth is no more than 1/3 of the circumference of the burr. Otherwise, the burr will not operate smoothly and could result in parts breaking off.

Another typical error is not applying a high enough rotational speed when using burrs, e.g. with an electric screwdriver or power drill. Remember: rotational speeds that are suitable for drilling are much too low for milling. This is because when the speed is too low, the tool doesn’t run smoothly. You’ll hear and feel the burr begin to vibrate or even strike the material, which will cause it to wear away more quickly or become damaged. We recommend using the rotational speeds possible within the recommended rotational speed and cutting speed ranges.

Sparks fly during milling

If you experience flying sparks when using a burr, this is a sign of a specific error during application. One thing that can cause sparks is when the burr is pressed too hard against the workpiece. The solution is to reduce the contact pressure. Another cause of flying sparks is when the rotational speed is too high. You should also make sure that the surface contact angle is no more than 1/3 of the circumference of the burr.

If you have adjusted all the parameters in line with our recommendations for use but the sparks are still occurring, you should check the burr for signs of wear. If you do indeed find signs of wear, use a new burr.

The burr becomes clogged

Several things can cause a burr to become clogged during application. Remember, the general rule is that, the softer the material you are working on, the rougher the cut of the burr has to be. So the thing you should do is check whether you are using the right cut for the material. If you are already using the right cut, we recommend using tools with a coating or using grinding oil.

The burr becomes discolored or the cut area breaks off

If the cut area breaks away from the shank or the part between the cut area and the shank becomes heavily discolored, you should adjust the rotational speed, contact pressure, and surface contact angle. Observe the recommended rotational speeds and reduce the contact pressure and surface contact angle.

The shank breaks

If the shank of the burr has broken, this can be a sign that the clamping system is damaged. Check whether the clamping system you are using is damaged, and if it is, replace it. You should also make sure that the drives you are using are rigid and as powerful as possible, as this will help prevent vibrations

Signs of wear

If, despite using the right milling technology and rotational speed, the burr still doesn't run smoothly, vibrates a lot, or generates more and more sparks, these are signs that the burr is worn. In this case, you should stop using this burr and use a new one instead. Do not use burrs beyond the end of their service life.