A milling cutter should be selected around the job it must perform: roughing, shoulder milling, pocketing, slotting, profiling or finishing.
Match the cutter to the material
Steel, stainless steel, aluminum, cast iron and hardened materials need different edge conditions.
Choose geometry and flute count
More flutes can increase productivity when the machine and workholding are rigid. Fewer flutes leave more chip space.
Check the setup before cutting
- Confirm toolholder runout and tool stick-out.
- Use stable workholding and minimize vibration.
- Monitor chip shape, sound, surface finish and spindle load.