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.


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.



April 2012

A Systems Approach for Successful Titanium Machining

By: Shi Chen
Coolant delivery, spindle connection and dynamic response all are part of a tooling formula for milling this metal productively.

April 2012

Inconel Meets Match in General-Purpose End Mill

By: Modern Machine Shop
This difficult Inconel application demonstrates that even some basic tool designs can perform admirably when paired with the right tool paths.

April 2012
Seco Tools Minimaster Plus replaceable tip milling system

Replaceable-Tip Milling System Cuts Hard Materials

By: Modern Machine Shop
Seco’s Minimaster Plus replaceable-tip milling system features a variety of inserts and shanks suited for a variety of milling applications.

April 2012

What Your Handbook Isn’t Telling You

By: Peter Zelinski
Tony Schmitz, professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, gives a presentation on machine tool dynamics. Learn the role that this concept plays in realizing your optimal machining center performance.

February 2012
Monster Tool HPNF carbide end mills

Carbide End Mills Offer Fast Chip Removal

By: Modern Machine Shop
Monster Tool Co.’s HPNF series of carbide end mills feature a 45-degree helix for rapid chip evacuation.

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