Choosing the right milling cutter… (part 1)
In this article
Milling cutters are rotating elements used for machining different types of materials. They are the main tool used with the machines called milling machines.
They are normally made of high-speed steel; but because of the high cost of this material, larger cutters are made with a construction-steel body and a cutting part in high-speed steel (blades or teeth), or in widia (tungsten carbide or wolfram carbide) for the cutting inserts.
The function of the cutting parts is to progressively remove material from the workpiece, turning it into a finished part with the desired shape and size.
There are many types of milling cutters, and they are classified according to different factors:
By milling method
For face milling: The fixing of the centre of the cutter determines the clearance angle of the cutting edge.
For peripheral milling: The cutting plane is parallel to the axis of rotation of the tool. The cutting length exceeds its depth. It can be classified, based on the cutting and feed direction, into:
– Climb milling: The cutting and feed movements are in the same direction.
– Conventional (up-cut) milling: The cutting and feed movements oppose each other.
By type of construction
Solid cutters (made of a single material).
Cutters with replaceable teeth.
By the shape of the flutes between the teeth
Straight-flute cutters.
Helical-flute cutters.
By the cutting direction of the cutters:
Right-hand cutters.
Left-hand cutters.
By the type of fixing on the milling machine:
Face cutters.
Shank cutters.
Frequently asked questions
What is a milling cutter and what is it made of?
The milling cutter is a rotating element used to machine different materials and is the main tool of milling machines: its cutting parts remove material little by little until the workpiece has the desired shape and size. It is usually made of high-speed steel; large ones have a structural steel body and high-speed steel blades or tungsten carbide (Widia) inserts.
What is the difference between climb milling and up milling?
They are two forms of peripheral milling, in which the cutting plane is parallel to the axis of rotation of the tool. In climb milling, the cutting movement and the feed movement have the same direction; in up milling, also called conventional milling, both movements oppose each other. In face milling, on the other hand, the clearance angle of the cutting edge depends on how the centre of the cutter is positioned.
How are the types of milling cutter classified?
They are classified according to several factors: the milling method (face or peripheral); the type of construction (solid, in a single material, or with replaceable teeth); the shape of the flutes between the teeth (straight or helical); the cutting direction (right-hand or left-hand); and the type of fixing on the milling machine (face mills or shank-type cutters).
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