Face Mill R8

Eyecon said:

Do I wait for the R8 in 3 months or go for the MT3?

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I'd wait for the R8. I have an MT3 in my big Mill Drill. It does the job. Still LOTS of tooling options out there. I have an R8 in my knee mill. I like it better! You can't really depend on the index pin in it to stop rotation. That should be done by achieving the correct torque. Lots of R8s out there with broken pins. Torque it correctly and it won't happen - knock on wood......

I think the big difference is that R8 is a near self releasing taper vs MT3 - way less thumping. Much easier on the spindle and much easier on the machinist. Mine certainly is....

Supposedly R8 is also more precise. Or so they say. I don't believe it. Perhaps it's just that as you move up the food chain there is more R8 than MT3.

Edit - the pins on most R8 spindles is usually easy to replace so don't let that scare you. Better to have it than not.

I'd wait for the R8. I have an MT3 in my big Mill Drill. It does the job. Still LOTS of tooling options out there. I have an R8 in my knee mill. I like it better! You can't really depend on the index pin in it to stop rotation. That should be done by achieving the correct torque. Lots of R8s out there with broken pins. Torque it correctly and it won't happen - knock on wood......I think the big difference is that R8 is a near self releasing taper vs MT3 - way less thumping. Much easier on the spindle and much easier on the machinist. Mine certainly is....Supposedly R8 is also more precise. Or so they say. I don't believe it. Perhaps it's just that as you move up the food chain there is more R8 than MT3.Edit - the pins on most R8 spindles is usually easy to replace so don't let that scare you. Better to have it than not.

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