What is Side Milling

Side milling is commonly used to produce slots, keyways, and other features on the sides of a workpiece with various CNC milling cutting tools. What is side milling and what are the different types of side milling cutters? Read more for the questions and we’ll compare the side milling and end milling.

Side milling is a machining process that involves the cutting of a workpiece using a cutting tool with teeth on the side or periphery of the tool. In this process, the cutting tool is moved perpendicular to the surface of the workpiece to remove material from its side. Side milling can be performed on a variety of materials, including metals, plastics, and composites, and is commonly used in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing. It is often used in combination with other machining processes, such as drilling, turning, and boring, to produce complex geometries on a workpiece.

What is side milling used for?

Side milling is a machining process that is used for a variety of applications in different industries. Here are some common uses of side milling:

– Flat surface machining: Side milling is often used to create flat surfaces on workpieces, especially those that are too large to be machined using other processes like grinding or planing. The process can be used to create flat surfaces on components such as machine beds, bases, and tables.

– Slotting: Side milling is an effective way to create slots or grooves on the sides of a workpiece. This process is commonly used in the production of gears, keyways, and splines.

– Contouring: Side milling can be used to create complex geometries and contours on a workpiece. By using specialized cutting tools with different shapes and profiles, side milling can produce parts with precise shapes and dimensions.

– Surface finishing: Side milling can be used to achieve a smooth surface finish on a workpiece. This is especially important in industries such as aerospace, where surface finishes can affect the performance of components.

What is a Side Milling Cutter - Types of Side Milling Cutters

A side milling cutter is a cutting tool that is designed for use in the side milling process. It is a cylindrical-shaped tool with cutting teeth on its periphery or sides that remove material from the workpiece as the cutter rotates. Side milling cutters can be made from a variety of materials, such as high-speed steel, carbide, or ceramic, depending on the specific application requirements. They can also come in different sizes, ranging from small cutters used for precision work to large cutters used for heavy-duty milling.

Side milling cutters can be classified into two types based on their design:

– Plain side milling cutters: These cutters have straight teeth that run parallel to the cutter axis. They are used for general-purpose milling and are suitable for machining flat surfaces and slots.

– Staggered tooth-side milling cutters: These cutters have teeth that are arranged in a staggered pattern on the cutter periphery. This design helps to reduce the amount of vibration and chatter during the machining process, resulting in a smoother surface finish. They are commonly used for heavy-duty milling and machining of uneven surfaces.

Side Milling vs End Milling

Side milling and end milling are two different machining processes that are used to remove material from a workpiece using cutting tools with different geometries. Here are some key differences between side milling and end milling:

1) Cutting direction: In side milling, the cutting tool moves perpendicular to the surface of the workpiece to remove material from its side. In end milling, the cutting tool rotates around its axis and moves axially along the surface of the workpiece to remove material from its end.

2) Cutting edge geometry: Side milling cutters have teeth on the side or periphery of the tool, while end mills have teeth on the end of the tool. The cutting-edge geometry of the tool determines the type of machining operations that can be performed.

3) Application: Side milling is commonly used for machining flat surfaces, slots, keyways, and other features on the sides of a workpiece. End milling is typically used for machining cavities, pockets, and other features on the end of a workpiece.

4) Tool selection: Side milling cutters come in different sizes and shapes, such as plain or staggered tooth designs, depending on the specific machining requirements. End mills also come in different sizes and shapes, such as square, ball nose, and corner rounding end mills, to suit different machining applications.

What is Side Milling | Types of Side Milling Cutters & Side Milling vs End Milling