I have a lot of repeat jobs where I cut slots in aluminum bars. Slots are typically .156" wide & .125" deep. I profile the slot with a .125" end mill in .025" passes. It works fine but it's slow. I'd like to speed it up. See below - I wonder if I could use a bit like this & cut from the side? Slot cutters exist - here's one: https://www.amazon.com/Yonico-14914q-8-Inch-16-Inch-Bearing/dp/B07KGJWCVW Does anybody have any experience or opinion of using something like this in aluminum & in a Dewalt router on a WorkBee? Safe, effective, etc?
I actually have that router bit, but I bought it to cut threads into round wooden "boxes" using Estlcam's thread cutting tool paths. I wonder if I dare go try and cut a slot in aluminum with it? Hmmmm...
I did the table saw once - I don't really have the room for it, but I shoehorned it in, fixtured some stuff up, built a shroud to collect chips & went at it. It was a total mess - aluminum everywhere, and the slots ended up being inconsistent in depth so I had to mill them anyway. So yeah, a table saw could work but it's not an option right now.
