Milling

Using an independent laboratory to test different coolants can provide the impartial data needed to make the right choice for machining titanium.

Productive Times feature Kevin Burns Golf, 408-244-7768, www.kbputters.com. Challenge: Maximize productivity and minimize tool breakage when roughing custom putter heads. Solution: A 5-flute, solid-carbide endmill that minimizes chatter. Solution Provider: Dura-Mill Inc., 800-444-6455, www.duramill.com.

Machine Technology column from the January 2010 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.

Milling plastics is just easy enough to be difficult.

A Studer brand S242 machine, which combines hard milling and grinding, is shown hard milling a toolholder without coolant, then grinding the holder's taper with coolant to achieve the required surface finish.

Rather than using taps to thread steel prior to hardening, a growing number of shops are opting to thread mill heat-treated steel.

Machinist's Corner column in October 2009 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.

Get With The Program column in October 2009 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.

Part Time column in October 2009 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.

An array of milling tools is available, including endmills, facemills and plain mills. Typical milling applications include facing, filleting or edge cutting, profiling, slotting, pocketing and blind slotting.

In recent years, monolithic machined aluminum components have been replacing sheet metal assemblies throughout the aerospace industry. The monolithic structures are lighter, less expensive and stronger than their conventional sheet metal counterparts. Machining the components requires fewer special tools, fewer hand operations and less assembly time.

Watch Sandvik Coromant Co.'s CoroMill 365 cutter mill an engine blockmade of compacted graphite iron in this online complement to our September CTE cover story.