What Are Types of CNC Cutting Machine Tools – Lathe & Milling Cutting Tools Overview

2022.10.31

Machining is a manufacturing process that involves removing material from a workpiece through a cutting tool in order to convert it into the shape you want. Machine tools can efficiently and accurately repeat complex sequences to produce composite parts of different sizes and shapes. Most machine tool operators need to know about the types of machine tool tools. This article will briefly introduce the types of lathe tools and milling machine tools.

 

There are many types of machining tools in the manufacturing industry, which are specially designed for high-precision machining. Generally, manufacturers use cutting tools to process metal parts with high precision. The type of machine tool used depends on the project, operation mode and, importantly, the machine itself.

 

Basically, the machine tools are divided into different types of processing machine tools due to different functions. The tools used by the machine tools depend on the type of machine tools, the nature of the workpiece and the overall accuracy required for processing the workpiece. Machine tools can be mainly divided into milling machines, lathes, machining center machines, EDM CNC machines, etc.

 

What Are Types Of Lathe Cutting Tools?

The outside diameter of a lathe tool used to cut or finish a workpiece. Turning tools can be used to produce cylindrical parts. In its basic form, turning can be defined as machining the external surface while the workpiece is rotating or using a single point cutting tool. Turning tools are generally made of steel, carbon steel, high-speed steel and powder metal. To use the turning tool for turning operations, three main factors need to be considered: speed, feed, and depth of cut. Other factors, such as the type of materials and tools, also have a significant impact.

According to material classification, lathe tools can be divided into 3 types: high-speed steel tools, carbide tools and diamond blades. High speed steel tools, as the name implies, are made of high speed steel (HSS), which can maintain hardness even at operating temperatures up to 1000 ° F (588 ° C). Therefore, they are ideal for roughing and semi finishing. The cutting edge of cemented carbide tool comes from cemented carbide. Therefore, they are very suitable for cutting iron, plastic, glass, stone, steel and other difficult materials.

The main material of diamond tools is diamond, which is a very hard and wear-resistant material. It has low friction coefficient, high elastic modulus, high thermal conductivity and low thermal expansion coefficient. Therefore, turning tools with diamond cutting edges are very suitable for precision machining of brittle, wear-resistant, compliant and hard materials such as graphite.


Types of Milling Machine Tool

The milling center can not only automatically perform cutting, but also replace tools. For example, in the average process of making a finished product from one piece of metal, various tools will be used. Common types of milling cutter include: end milling cutter, face milling cutter, ball cutter, slab mill, side milling cutter, involute gear milling cutter, etc. A milling cutter is a rotary cutter with one or more teeth for milling. In the milling process, the cutter teeth cut the allowance of the workpiece sequentially and intermittently. It is cylindrical, with cutting edges at the circumference and bottom, and the workpiece is cut by rotation. Milling cutter is mainly used for machining plane, step, groove, formed surface and cutting workpiece on milling machine and CNC milling machine.

 

End Mills: These tools usually have a flat bottom, but this is not always the case. Round and fillet tools are also available. End mills are similar to drills because they can cut axially. However, the advantage of milling is that it can perform transverse cutting.

Face Milling Cutter: Face milling cutter cannot cut axially. On the contrary, the cutting edge is always on the side of the cutting head. The cutting teeth are replaceable carbide inserts. This makes the tool life longer, while maintaining good cutting quality.

Ball Cutter: Also called ball mill, with hemispherical cutting edge. The goal is to maintain the corner radius of the vertical face.

Rough End Milling Cutter: As the name implies, these are almost end milling cutters, slightly different. Rough end milling cutter has serrations. These make the cutting process faster than ordinary end mills. The metal chips cut are smaller than usual and therefore easier to remove. Multiple teeth contact the workpiece at the same time. This reduces chatter and vibration, which may otherwise be greater due to serrated teeth.

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