Milling cutters

Milling cutters: what you need to know

Milling cutters are often used for cutting recesses in metal workpieces and for thread cutting. They are changeable accessories for machines and have several teeth made of durable material. As they are rotating, the required amount of metal is removed from a certain area of the processed workpiece.

What are the types of milling cutters?

In the manufacturers catalogues, you can come across products that differ in their design:

• solid;
• comprising several components assembled by welding;
• comprising several elements connected, for instance, with bolts.

You can buy online the accessories of the following shapes:

• Slab (plain) milling cutters. They are used for processing large workpieces.
• Side milling cutters. They are used for cutting parts, chamfering and making grooves. These milling cutters might have cutting edges either on one side or on both sides. Among them, there are tools designed for coarse and finish processing.
• Face milling cutters. They are suitable even for high strength metals. With their help, flat work-pieces and car components with projecting parts are processed. Thanks to a great number of teeth, the whole procedure doesn’t take much time.
• Hob milling cutters. They are used for processing toothed wheels, splines due to the point touch.
• End milling cutters. They are used for milling steps, recesses and mutually perpendicular planes. Depending on the size of the functional elements, these tools are divided into items for preliminary processing and finishing.
• Slitting saw cutters. These are tools that may have fine teeth for cutting parts made of aluminium or magnesium alloys, or coarse teeth which are more suitable for steel and cast iron.

In the online stores, you can come across tools made of the following materials:

• high-speed steel;
• carbon tool steel;
• alloys of tungsten and cobalt, sometimes including titan;
• mineral ceramics.

The tools also differ in the type of the attachment and the geometry of their teeth. Cutting edges can be straight, helical or angular.

Tips on using milling cutters

The specification of the tool should comply with the dimensions of the processed parts and the power of the equipment you use. Before you get down to work, make sure that the changeable part and the work-piece are securely fixed. It is forbidden to use accessories with defects. Otherwise, there is a risk of damaging the part and injuring the worker. The signs of a tool malfunction are vibration and bad quality of milling.

In order to avoid overheating, use special cutting fluid. It is cheap but helps to prevent damaging the surface of a car part. Don’t forget about personal protective equipment which includes goggles and a respirator.

AUTODOC: convenient online shopping

In our online store, you can buy everything you might need for automotive repair. In particular, you can order milling cutters, centre punches, metalworking chisels and other products. Our competent specialists from the customer support service will help you to make the choice. Besides, they will tell you about running promotions which give you a chance to buy many items at a really low price. Opt for AUTODOC and start saving money right now!