Tooling & Workholding

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.

» Titanium and HRSA Machining

Featured Zone Content

November 2010

Video: Hard Pocket Milling


Relieved end mills and pre-machining of corners are two important considerations for accurate pocket machining in hard steel.



June 2013

Small-Diameter Cutting Tools Increase Productivity

By: Modern Machine Shop
Seco Tools will display small-diameter cutting tools designed to increase productivity and provide longer tool life for mold machining.

June 2013
Niagara Cutter Stabilizer end mills

Solid Carbide End Mills Reduce Chatter

By: Modern Machine Shop
Niagara Cutter will display its line of solid carbide Stabilizer end mills. The end mills feature specially engineered, variable-flute geometries designed to reduce distorting harmonics and chatter.

June 2013
LMT SpeedLift milling head system

Plunge-Milling System for Finishing

By: Modern Machine Shop
LMT Kieninger will display its SpeedLift milling head system designed for finishing passport and guide surfaces.

June 2013
U.S. Union Tool UDC end mills

Diamond-Coated End Mill Cuts Cemented Carbide

By: Modern Machine Shop
U.S. Union Tool will display its UDC end mills for cutting cemented carbide.

May 2013
Ingersoll Hi-QuadF

High-Feed Cutters Improve Tool Life

By: Modern Machine Shop
Ingersoll Cutting Tools will show its Hi-QuadF line of high-feed cutters.


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