Zone: Milling Tools

Taking The Plunge

It doesn't take sophisticated technology to perform plunge roughing effectively. In fact, if you are making due with a less effective machine, plunge roughing deserves even more serious consideration. (Includes video.)

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The Key Points Of Helical Holemaking

VIDEO. Have you considered milling holes through helical ramping instead of drilling them? This brief animated video covers the high points, including tool diameter selection and the potential for savings.

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How & Why You Should Consider CNC Tool Grinding

If you outsource tool grinding or grind tools manually, this webinar is for you. Simon Manns explains WHY some shops move to CNC tool grinding. He then covers things to consider IF that move makes sense for you. Topics include

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Most Recent Content in this Zone:

When to Mill Keeps Changing
2/8/2010 Modern Machine Shop: Technology improvements steadily expand the range of tool and die parts that justify high speed machining.
Video: 80-Insert Crankshaft Cutter
1/14/2010 Modern Machine Shop: This video footage shows a massive crankshaft being machined on a turn-mill machine using an 80-insert cutter nearly 5-inches in diameter.
Video: The Role of Heat in High Speed Machining
1/13/2010: In high speed machining of die/mold steels, the heat has a more beneficial effect than the role it plays in conventional cuts.
New Tool, New Strategy Allow Five Times Faster Roughing
12/17/2009 Modern Machine Shop: This shop realized a tool designed for fast feeds and shallow cutting depths could reduce the roughing cycle time of a large shipyard component from 20 to 4 minutes.
Max-Flute Solid Carbide End Mill
12/10/2009 Modern Machine Shop: (Sponsored Content) MAG’s CYCLO CUT cutting tool line introduces the Max-Flute solid carbide end mill. The Max-Flute technology delivers a step-change in machining of a broad spectrum of jet engine components in both titanium and nickel alloys. MAG’s Max-Flute was also selected the winner of the prestigious 2009 Sir Henry Royce Awards for Technical Innovation.

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Overview Of:
Milling Tools

Milling is the work of producing a flat or precision-contoured surface on a machined workpiece by using a rotating tool, and generally by taking multiple parallel passes with that tool. The work can be done on a machining center or milling machine, and can also be done on a lathe, turning center or turn-mill machine that happens to have rotary tool (or “live tool”) capabilities. The tools for milling include both solid tools and inserted tools—the latter consisting of a tool body that uses replaceable cutting inserts. Carbide is the most likely material for milling tools, though high speed steel is another choice, as are ceramic, cermet and diamond tools in certain more demanding milling applications. A common milling tool variety is the “end mill,” which generally describes a relatively narrow cylindrical tool that can mill on both its tip and its side, and can reach into various constrained features and spaces. The end mill can be flat-bottomed for flat surfaces, or ball-nosed for milling up, down and along the contours of complex milled shapes such as die and mold surfaces. Another common milling tool variety is the “face mill,” a generally larger-diameter tool designed for efficiently milling a wide, flat surface in an economical number of passes.