CNC Milling Tools: Unparalleled Accuracy For CNC Manufacturing Excellence

CNC manufacturing is an automation process that has become a mainstay of manufacturing facilities worldwide due to its versatility in working with different materials as well as its precision and rapid manufacturing speed. You might wonder how a CNC machine can consistently achieve an excellent surface finish regardless of design complexity over thousands of identically produced parts. The reason is that a CNC machine has a diverse variety of tools that are capable of extremely high levels of accuracy. These automated tools are capable of creating extensive variations such as unique shapes, slots, and holes. As a result, manufacturers can create whichever design they imagine effortlessly. In this blog, we will take a look at the various types of CNC machine tools that prove essential to any CNC Precision turning manufacturer.

CNC Milling Tools: The Source of Excellence in Manufacture

The extensive range of tools fitted in a CNC machine plays a vital role in forging the most complicated designs and shapes. In CNC precision manufacturing, CNC milling cutters are responsible for giving shape to the material. The types of milling cutters used in manufacturing are numerous; however, four cutter types are most frequently used and are fundamental for any work project. Let us explore these four CNC milling tools in detail.

End Mills

End mills are drilling bits that specialize in creating holes, slots, and edges on work materials. These end mills come in various kinds, such as bull nose end mills, roughing end mills, V-bit end mills, and square-end mills. All end mill types feature horizontal cutting edges on their sides called flutes. The number of horizontal flutes determines the cutting speed and feed rate.

Selection of the correct end mills for a particular work project is an integral part of the manufacturing project. There are a number of things that should be kept in mind when selecting the end mills, like workpiece material, tool geometry, and machining operation.

Face Mills

When it comes to creating flat surfaces during any work project, the CNC machine uses face mills. These types of cutters have a single body that can be interchanged with various cutting inserts. Face mills are similar to fly cutters, which are cheaper and can be designed in-house. For a CNC precision turning manufacturer, the choice between face mills and fly cutters depends on the level of precision, budget, and project specifications. Fly cutters and face mills can both achieve a super smooth, flat surface.

Ball Nose Mills

If you are a manufacturer who specializes in making products with smooth edges and complex shapes, then a drill with a more subtle cutting edge is needed. Ball nose mills are excellent for this kind of cutting. They consist of a hemispherical end that is perfect for cutting rounded corners and counter-to-mill surfaces. Ball nose mills are versatile tools that can reach tight spaces and corners during the milling process and also achieve smoother finishing compared to other mill types.

Twist Drills

No work project is complete without holes since they can be a vital component in the manufacture of a finished product. For drilling holes in a workpiece, a variety of twist drills are used that are no different than the drilling bit of a common household drilling machine.

Tool Coatings

Cutting metals can be an intensive process, and CNC milling tools should be lubricated to extend their usage life and prevent excessive wear and tear. This also increases the performance and durability of the tools. Special tool coatings are used to make the tools withstand frictional heat during cutting. Let us take a look at these.

Titanium Nitride

Although it is not the best in the market, this gold-colored coating can extend tool life and reduce friction during the milling process. However, better coatings have been invented that are much more effective. But if you want a low-cost solution, then this tool coating is a good choice.

Chromium Nitride

A hard, non-reactive coating that is rust-resistant and improves the hardness of the tool, this tool coating is particularly effective in situations where high heat resistance is required during the milling process. The downside is that it is quite an expensive coating, and applying it frequently can cut into the maintenance budget.