Why does nobody talk about how long chip conveyor jams take to clear?

Last Thursday I had a simple job running 304 stainless and the chip conveyor jammed up on me. I thought it would be a 20 minute deal to dig it out. Three and a half hours later I was still pulling tangled birdnests of stringy chips out of the auger. The problem was a dull insert that was making long ribbons instead of breaking clean. Has anyone else had a chip jam turn into a half day ordeal?

2 comments

2 Comments

anthony_jenkins611mo ago

Did you see that tip on Practical Machinist about switching to a chipbreaker insert for stainless?

kim_hart71mo agoMost Upvoted

Oh man, that tip saved my butt last week lol