8 Best Milling Cutters Used in Machining Process

Milling is best defined as a cutting process where we use a cutter, with multiple rotating cutting surfaces, to remove the material from the surface of a work piece or metal. Available in many shapes and sizes, these milling cutters used in several milling machines, play a vital role in the process. It is the most commonly used process in industry and machine shops today. It’s not an easy deal in choosing a milling cutter. You have to think of their diameter, the material from which they are made, etc for selecting a milling cutter.

Types Of Milling Cutters

The following are the various types of milling cutters that we use in different milling machines.

•   Slab Mill
•   Face mill cutter
•   End mill cutter
•   Roughing end mill
•   Hollow mill
•   Slide and face cutter
•   Thread Mill Cutter
•   Fly Cutter

1) Slab Milling

Also referred as plain milling or slab milling or surface milling. The slab mills are made from high speed steel. These are mostly used in a gang milling processes and for machining surfaces which are broad in shape as well as large. It is used by milling flat surfaces with the milling cutter axis parallel to the surface being milled. Machining is usually done by the teeth on the cylindrical surface of the cutter.

2) Face Mill Cutter

With this type of mill cutter, machining is done by the teeth on the flat surface of the cutter. The finished surface is usually perpendicular to the axis of the cutter. The cutting teeth are present on its sides.

Another interesting feature of this cutter is that it has got carbide inserts which are gold in color and these tips can be exchanged. You can also replace it with a newer one, whenever one of the tips get damaged. The cemented carbide in it also refers as indexable carbide insert.

Also Read: The Synergy of Milling Cutters and Industrial Automation

3) End Mill Cutter

Used for machining the faces and sides of metal pieces and objects, this cutter has a rotating cutting tool with a cylindrical shank with teeth at the end. It is used more in the vertical milling processes. To create end mills, high speed steel (HS or HSS) or the cemented carbide is used.

When the temperature increases, the high speed steel doesn't loose its hardness. The high speed steel, hence, is used to make end mills due to better hardness. The end mills are mostly used in tracer milling, plunging and face milling.

4) Roughing End Mill

Popularly known as "rippa" cutters, this type of cutter is used when you have to remove more amount of material from the work piece. Used in various industrial applications, they are more beneficial commercially.

5) Hollow Mill

These type of cutters look like a pipe having thicker walls. The cutting teeth of the hollow mills are generally present on the inside surfaces. Its usage is mainly in the screw machines.

6) Slide And Face Cutter

The earliest type of milling cutters that were discovered in 1800. Available in various shapes and sizes, the cutting teeth are available on its peripheral area and on its sides. The face and side cutter makes cutting an easy and efficient process on one side.

7) Thread Mill Cutter

Mostly used in various industries, the thread milling cutter is very pricey and operates same as that of the end mill. By moving helically on the metal surface, it removes the material from the work piece. Due to the helical motion that it possesses, it is easily identified.

8) Fly Cutter

There are some non-rotating cutters present in the fly cutters. Double fly cutters or fly bars refers to the fly cutters with two non-rotating cutters. Highly efficient and make the cutting process easier. Comparatively, much cheaper in price.

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