Cutting of High Strength Steel-End Mill and Milling Cutter
High strength steel has been widely adopted in engineering industry due to its high strength and good performance in mechanical and environmental conditions. Generally, high strength steel has a high carbon content and has been quenched as a pre-treatment. Therefore, it is extremely hard and brittle and has a low machinability. In order to achieve a high quality finish without defects, it is necessary to select the appropriate tool materials and production parameters. In this paper, the differences between the two common types of cutting tools for machining high strength steel, the end mills and milling cutters, are discussed.
Firstly, end mills are generally constructed from high speed steel (HSS), tungsten carbonitride (WC), or tungsten carbide (WC) alloys. This type of tool has flutes along its length, which help to remove chips from the workpiece and provide excellent clearance when cutting. End mills typically have a cut edge along the end, with a round, flat, or staggered edge profile, which serves as a cutting face when machining. Commonly used end mills include plain and grooving models.
Secondly, milling cutters are constructed from tungsten carbide, coated carbide, or cemented carbide. Compared to end mills, the cutting edges of milling cutters are composed of a large number of teeth with relatively sharp edges. This type of tool usually has a spiral flute, which increases the stability of the tool during the cutting process. Milling cutters also generally have a pointed cutting edge at the tip, which provides excellent cutting performance. Commonly used milling cutters include face milling cutters, tangential cutters, and end cutting cutters.
Compared to end mills, milling cutters are usually more suitable for high speed and precision machining of high strength steel. Milling cutters have a larger number and sharper cutting edges, which help to reduce the cutting force and cutting temperature during machining. Moreover, the spiral flute of a milling cutter can effectively prevent chip clogging, thus minimizing the occurrence of defects such as burning and cracking in the workpiece. On the other hand, due to their limited cutting edge, end mills are mainly used for roughing and semi-finishing operations of high strength steel.
In conclusion, end mills and milling cutters are both common cutting tools for machining high strength steel. The selection of the appropriate tool materials and cutting parameters can significantly affect the efficiency, accuracy and surface finish of the machined workpiece. Depending on the complexity and precision of the machining operations, either end mills or milling cutters can be selected for optimal performance.
