Enter Along an Arc

These animations show why an arc in the same direction as tool rotation is effective. The strategy is relevant for entering material from the edge, as well as for pocketing.

Here is video of a simple way to save tool life in milling: Roll into the material instead of entering in a straight line. Doing this lets the load on the cutting edges change gradually, even from the beginning of the cut. In tests in Inconel, Sandvik Coromant measured a 7x tool-life increase, just by implementing the roll-in strategy. For more toolpath tips from the cutting tool maker, click here.