Choosing the right milling cutter (part 2)…
In this article
By geometry: There are many types of milling cutters according to their geometry. Some of the most common ones for metalworking are listed below:
Peripheral milling cutters
Cylindrical cutters: They cut on the cylindrical periphery, producing flat surfaces parallel to the axis of the tool itself. These include: toothed, straight or helical.
Among cylindrical cutters, depending on the type of material being worked, you can find:
Type H: for steels, grey and white cast iron and non-ferrous metals. Cutters with lengths exceeding 50 mm; the angles formed by the teeth are between 25° and 45°, to provide a more favourable entry impact and a more uniform cut. The rake angle will be 12°.
Type N: for hard, tough materials. It has teeth parallel to the axis of rotation with lengths of up to 19 mm. For larger sizes, the teeth have an angle of between 15° and 25°, while the material rake angle is between 10° and 20°.
Type W: for soft materials. It has teeth parallel to the axis of rotation with lengths of up to 19 mm. For larger sizes, they have angles of between 15° and 25°. The material rake angle, meanwhile, is between 10° and 20°.
Roughing cutters: for cutting and removing swarf. They have a slightly serrated cutting edge.
Disc cutters: They have a short cutting length in relation to the diameter of the tool. These can be classified as:
Straight-tooth disc.
Staggered-tooth disc.
Double-helical disc.
Coupled discs (helical or flat):
Double-cut disc cutter.
-Saws: They have a minimal length and are used for cutting. There are different types of metal saws, depending on the type of toothing: angular teeth (type A), curved teeth (type B) and staggered curved teeth (type C).
-End mills: They are used for slotting, die-making, contours and engraving. They offer great versatility of use (cutting direction, hand, opposite or same helix?). Among the most representative types, you can find:
Tapered cutters: with flat or ball nose and cylindrical or tapered shank.
Slotting cutters: with tapered or cylindrical shank.
T-slot cutters .
Woodruff slot cutters.
- Angle milling cutters: They are used for machining angled guideways, wedges and steel workshop rules of different shapes and edges.
-Face cutters: used for machining angled guideways at angles of 45, 50, 55 and 60 degrees.
-Prismatic: used for machining prismatic guideways at angles of 45, 60 and 90 degrees.
- Constant-profile cutters: with or without a shank. They are used to obtain the specific geometric shape on the machined workpiece. There are three types:
Relieved cutters: They can be classified as:
– Convex: used to make male-type semicircular surfaces (semicircular grooves with radii from 1 to 20 mm).
– Concave: used to make female-type semicircular surfaces (semicircular grooves with radii from 0.5 to 20 mm)
– Module: used to create gears, sprockets, pulleys, racks, etc.
Frequently asked questions
What types of milling cutter are there according to their geometry?
For working metal, the most common are peripheral or cylindrical cutters, roughing cutters, disc cutters, saws, end mills, angle cutters and constant-profile cutters. Each geometry has its use: cylindrical cutters produce flat surfaces parallel to their axis, end mills are used for slotting and contouring, and constant-profile cutters give the workpiece a specific shape.
What is the difference between type H, N and W cylindrical cutters?
They are distinguished by the material they work. Type H is for steels, cast iron and non-ferrous metals, with teeth inclined between 25 and 45 degrees and a rake angle of 12 degrees. Type N is for hard and tough materials, and type W for soft materials; both have teeth parallel to the axis in lengths of up to 19 mm and rake angles of 10 to 20 degrees.
What are end mills used for?
End mills are used for slotting, die sinking, contouring and engraving, and they offer great versatility of use. The most representative include taper cutters, flat-end or ball-nose cutters, slot cutters with a taper or cylindrical shank, and cutters for T-slots and Woodruff keyseats.
Which cutter is used to cut gears or semicircular grooves?
Constant-profile cutters are used, intended to give the workpiece a specific geometric shape. Module-type cutters create gears, toothed wheels, pulleys and racks. Convex ones make semicircular male-type surfaces, with radii of 1 to 20 mm, and concave ones female-type surfaces, with radii of 0.5 to 20 mm.
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