Milling tool: what it is, types, applications

A milling tool is a cutting tool that, when rotated, forms a cut of various shapes, depths and sizes on workpieces. With such a tool it is possible to remove several layers of material from the surface of the product, drill a flat hole of required depth, make a groove, etc.

Milling tool is exposed to intensive stresses during use, that's why only high-tech materials with high strength threshold, including tool steel, are used for its production. The relief of the tool implies the presence of clogged working edges, which are often made of ceramic, coated with diamond sputtering, and in some cases carded wire, which allows to give the surface maximum strength.

The constructive features of any milling tool are the presence of:

• working parts;
• shanks;
• central holes;
• end serrated elements with grooves;
• necks;
• extensions (in some cases).

What milling tools can be used for

Milling tools can be used for work on wood, furniture, eurowoods, wrought iron and metal products, as well as when making products from plastic and stone.

Tools, designed for processing metals, are most often used to perform work with steel, cast iron and aluminum workpieces. Other types of milling tools are used when working with wood materials. Such tools are characterized by relatively small dimensions and a higher turnover rate.

With the use of milling tools of various types it is possible to perform the following types of work:

• creating a variety of recesses, copying of holes and grooves in accordance with the template;
• edge forming of products;
• forming of toothed profile;
• layer-by-layer removal of material;
• shaped surface creation.

Types of milling tools

There are many types of milling tools, which differ from each other in type and purpose.

Milling tools for wood

Milling tools for woodworking can be made in the following shapes:

• milling tools for rounding corners.
• V-shaped milling tools - designed to create a notch in the workpiece.
• Disc milling tools - designed to create grooves.
• Galvanic milling tools - used to create grooves on the edge of the workpiece.
• Edge milling tools - used to process the edges of products.

Milling tools, which are designed to work with wood. Differ their soft effect on the material of the product, which eliminates the risk of chipping and hardening of the edges with a subsequent increase fragility.

Milling tools for metal working

Metal is a hard material with a uniform crystal lattice. When working with it, toughness and speed become the key factors.

Depending on what result is to be achieved, the following types of metal milling tools are used:

• end mills;
• angular;
• disk;
• cylindrical;
• end mills.

A suitable milling tool must be selected for each operation when working with metals. When working with metal, you should also be aware of the increased load on the tool motor and possible overheating.

Milling tools for plastic

A key feature of plastic processing with milling tools is the high viscosity of the material. At high rotational speeds the tool winds the plastic material around the cutting head, and only then does it get liquefied.

Soft materials can be processed with milling tools for plastic at low speeds, while compression milling tools for edge processing are recommended for sheet plastic.

Milling tools for concrete

For milling concrete pavement, diamond bits equipped with a set of outside cutting edges are used. Pobedite-coated milling tools can also be used - these tools deburr the holes well, provided that the drill is operated in hammerless mode.