There are different cutting tools for milling machine that can help you get your job done with efficiency and productivity, so it is essential to know what they are.
But, before, you should know what is a milling machine.
A milling machine is a machine that enables you to perform machining operations on a workpiece by moving a tool called a milling cutter.
The cutter rotates on its axis and removes material from the surface of the piece, creating shapes, and finishes, diverse.
The cutting tools for milling machine are the elements that are coupled to the cutter to perform the machining.
There are different types of cutting tools for milling machine according to the shape, the material, the coating and the cutting edge of the tool.
In this article we will explain what are the main cutting tools for milling machine, how they are classified, how they are sharpened and how they are selected according to the type of work you want to do.
So you can make the most of your milling machine and get professional results.
What types of tools for milling machine exist?
Tools for milling machine can be classified according to several criteria:
- According to the form: there are tools such as cylindrical, spherical, conical, angular, etc, Each form has a specific application according to the type of surface that you want to be machined.
- According to the material: there are tools of high speed steel (HSS), carbide (carbide), ceramic, diamond, etc, Each material has unique properties of hardness, wear resistance and heat that influence the performance and lifetime of the tool.
- According to the coating: there are tools without coating, with the coating of titanium nitride (TiN), with a coating of titanium nitride, aluminum (TiAlN), etc., The coating improves the wear resistance and heat and reduces friction between the tool and the workpiece.
- According to the edge: there are tools with straight-edge, with edge helical, with cutting edge irregular, etc, The edge determines the angle of attack, the feed and depth of cut that can be applied with the tool.
What are the tools for lathe and milling machine?
Tools for lathe and milling machine are those that it can be used both in a machine as in another.
This is possible because they have a cylindrical, that can be clamped in a tool holder universal.
The advantages are:
- Save space and money by having less tools.
- Take better advantage of the material to be able to use it on different machines.
- To facilitate the quick-change tool to have a standardized system.
The disadvantages are:
- Lose precision and quality do not have a specific tool for each operation.
- To limit the possibilities of machining to not be able to use all the shapes and sizes available.
- Some examples of tools for lathe and milling machine are:
Types of cutting tools for milling machine
Now let's look at the kinds of tools for milling machine, there are:
- Bits: these tools are cylindrical with a cutting edge helical that are used to make holes in the piece. Can be used both in the lathe as in the milling machine, although in this case we need an accessory called a mandrel.
- Males: these tools are cylindrical with a cutting edge for threading that are used to make internal threads in the piece. Can be used both in the lathe as in the milling machine, although in this case we need an accessory called portamachos.
- Strawberries front: these tools are cylindrical with several sharp edges on the end that are used to make grooves or recesses in the piece. Can be used both in the lathe as in the milling machine, although in this case we need an accessory called a dividing head.
What are the roughing tools for milling machine?
The roughing tools for milling machine are those that it is used to remove a large amount of material of the piece in a short time.
Their goal is to give an approximate form of the piece, without worrying about the finish or accuracy.
The characteristics of the roughing tools for milling machine are:
- They have a large diameter and a large number of sharp edges, which allows them to have a high feed and high depth of cut.
- They feature a cutting edge helical or spot, which allows them to evacuate best chips and avoid the heat and the jam from the tool.
- Offer a coating of titanium nitride, aluminum (TiAlN) or similar, which gives them a greater resistance to wear and heat.
Some examples of roughing tools for milling machine are:
- Strawberries cylindrical roughing: these tools are cylindrical with several phyla helical or irregular serve for grinding flat surfaces or curves in the piece.
- The ball-nose end mills-roughing: these tools are spherical with several phyla helical or irregular serve for grinding concave or convex surfaces in the piece.
- Strawberries conical roughing: they are conical tools with multiple cutting edges helical or irregular serve to rough surfaces inclined or stepped in the piece.
Types of milling cutters for milling machines
Some of the types of cutters for milling machine most common are:
Strawberries cylindrical
They are tools to form a cylinder which serve to make grooves, recesses, or outlines in the piece. May have sharp edges either straight or helical and different diameters and lengths.
Ball-nose end mills
Have the form of a sphere that are used to make holes, fillets, or profiles curved in the piece. Have a single cutting edge and different diameters and radii.
Strawberries cone
Its shape is that of a cone that serve to make chamfers, brackets or profiles inclined in the piece. Have several sharp edges and different angles and diameters.
Strawberries angular
These types of drills are a form of angle that are used to make V-grooves, in T or in dovetail in the piece. They have several sharp edges and different angles and diameters.
Strawberries front
They are tools with multiple cutting edges cutting at its end which serve to make the slots or recesses in the piece.
They can take the form of a cylindrical, spherical, conical or angular and different diameters and lengths.
Disc milling cutters
Your disk layout which serve to cut or separate the piece, in addition, they have cutting edges either straight or jagged, and of different diameters and thicknesses.
Strawberries profile constant
They are characterized by a specific form serving to make complex profiles in the piece.
Is it possible to have the form of gear, screw, cam, etc., Have a single cutting edge and different dimensions.
Strawberry copied
Serve to reproduce a given form in the piece following a model or a template.
They are cylindrical, spherical, conical or angular and different diameters and lengths.
Strawberries rough
Their function is to eliminate a large amount of material from the workpiece in a short time.
They have a large diameter and a large number of sharp edges, which can be straight, spiral or irregular.
Strawberry special
They serve to perform specific operations of machining that can not be made with strawberries past and can have a variety of forms and adapted to each case.
What are the tool holders for milling machine?
Tool holder for milling machine are the elements that are used to hold the cutting tools on the milling cutter. Their function is to transmit the rotational movement of the cutter to the tool and ensure its stability and alignment.
Tool holder for milling machine can be classified according to the type of subject that they have:
- Clamping pliers: it consists in using tweezers elastic inserted in the hole of the tool holder and tightened the handle of the tool for friction. It is a fast and simple system, but it has low accuracy and rigidity.
- Clamping sleeve taper: it's about using a cap with a conical shape that is inserted into the hole of the tool holder and it fits in with the handle of the tool for adjustment. It is a system more precise and rigid than the previous, but more slow and complex.
- Clamping flange: is to use a flange with a circular shape that is placed over the end of the tool holder, and holding the handle of the tool for pressure. It is a very precise and rigid, but also very expensive and heavy.
How do you sharpen the cutting tools for milling machine?
The cutting tools for milling machine, grind off when they lose their cutting ability due to wear and tear or deterioration of the cutting edge.
The sharp edge is to remove a small layer of material of the blade to recover its original geometry.
And it can be done manually or automatically:
In the first place, the sharp manual is done with an abrasive stone or an emery board it passes over the edge with a circular motion or longitudinal.
It is a cheap and simple, but requires skill and experience to achieve a good result.
On the other hand, the sharp automatic it is made with a machine taper that has an abrasive disc or a grinding wheel that rotates on the edge with a move scheduled.
Of course, this process is more expensive and complex, but it ensures greater accuracy and uniformity.
But, the sharpening must be done carefully and frequently, as that influences the quality of the machining and the useful life of the tool.
If you do it in excess, you can weaken the blade and cause their rupture, and if it is missing, it will increase the effort and the heat and cause wear and tear.
How to choose the cutting tools for milling machine universal?
A universal milling machine is a machine that allows you to perform different types of machining on a piece by the combined motion of the cutter and the table.
The table can be rotated, tilt, and move in various directions, which allows it to adapt to different shapes and sizes of pieces.
To choose the cutting tools for milling machine, universal must take into account several factors:
- The type of material of the piece: depending on the hardness, the strength and the ductility of the material you should choose a tool with a material, a coating and a cutting edge suitable. For example, for machining steel, you can use a tool carbide with a coating of TiAlN and cutting edge helical. For machining aluminum, you can use a tool from HSS uncoated and straight-edge.
- The type of machining operation: depending on the type of surface, the finish and the precision you want to get it you must choose a tool with a shape, a diameter and a number of cutting edges suitable. For example, to make the slots you can use a strawberry cylindrical shape, with several sharp edges. For contouring, you can use a strawberry spherical with a single cutting edge.
- The type of cutting parameters: according to the advance, the depth and speed of cut that you want to apply you must choose a tool with a geometry, an angle and a radius appropriate. For example, to have a high feed, you can use a tool with a cutting edge spot and an angle of attack small. To have a high depth, you can use a tool with a cutting edge helical and an angle of attack great.
What materials do you cut a milling machine?
A milling machine is a machine that can cut different types of solid materials, usually metal, but also wood, plastic, ceramic, etc
The material is subjected to a table that moves in multiple directions and is passed through a rotary tool called a milling cutter, which has multiple cutting edges.
The cutter removes material from the surface of the material, creating shapes, and finishes, diverse.
What tools do you use the vertical mill?
The vertical mill is a type of milling machine that you have the axis of the cutter is perpendicular to the work table.
It is used to perform machining operations on flat surfaces, slots, outlines, etc
The tools that you use the vertical mill are the same as those of the milling machine horizontal, but they are clamped in a tool holder vertical.
These tools are:
- Strawberries cylindrical: to make the slots or recesses in the piece.
- Strawberries front: to make flat surfaces or profiles in the piece.
- Strawberries angular: to make V-grooves, in T or in dovetail in the piece.
- Disc milling cutters: to cut or separate the piece.
- Strawberries profile constant: in order to make complex profiles in the piece.
- Strawberry copied: to play a certain way in the piece.
What are the cutting tools CNC?
The cutting tools CNC are those that it is used in CNC machines (Computer Numerical Control), they are machines that can perform machining operations automatically and accurately by following a computer program.
The cutting tools CNC can be of different types depending on the type of machine and the type of operation you want to perform. For example:
- Drill bits: drill holes in the piece.
- Dogs: to make internal threads in the piece.
- Roof: to make external threads in the piece.
- Blades: for turning or brush the piece.
- Cutters: milling or shaping the piece.
- Saws for cutting or sawing the piece.
- Electrodes: in order to edm'ing the piece.
Conclusion
The cutting tools for milling machine are the elements that allow you to perform the machining on a piece by the movement of a strawberry.
There are different types of cutting tools for milling machine according to its shape, its material, its coating and its edge.
To choose the cutting tools for milling machine more appropriate to take into account the type of material of the workpiece, the type of machining operation and the type of cutting parameters that you want to apply.
The cutting tools for milling you need to sharpen when they lose their ability to court to recover its original geometry.
Sharpening can be done manually or automatically.
Tools for lathe and milling machine are those that can be used in a machine as in another. Tool holder for milling machine are the elements that hold the tools of the strawberry.
And, finally, the roughing tools for milling machine are those that are used to remove a large amount of material in a short time.
