Cutting tools and work holding devices of milling machine.

Sudipta Das,
062077.
Objectives:
1. To know about different cutting tools of milling machine.
2. To know about different work holding devices of milling machine.

Milling machine:
A milling machine is a machine tool used to machine solid materials. Milling machines are often
classed in two basic forms, horizontal and vertical, which refer to the orientation of the main
spindle. Both types range in size from small, bench-mounted devices to room-sized machines.
Milling consists of machining metal by bringing it into contact with a rotating cutting tool having
a number of cutting edges. The cutting tools are called milling cutters. It’s remove metals in the
form of chips.

Fig: Milling machine.

There are two ways of cutting on the milling machine.

1. Up cutting: Here the feed direction is against the direction of cutting rotation.
2. Climb cutting: Here the feed is in the same direction as the cutting rotation.

Fig: Up cutting Fig: Down cutting

 Types of milling cutters:
1). Plain milling cutters.
2). Side milling cutters.
3). Metal-slitting saws.
4). End mill.
5). Form-relieve cutters.
6). Face-milling cutters.
7). Other kinds of cutters.

Plain milling cutters: These cutters are cylindrical in shape and have teeth on the periphery.
They are used for milling plain or flat surfaces.

Fig: Plain milling cutter.

Kinds:
1. Light duty plain milling cutters.
2. Heavy duty plain milling cutters
3. Helical plain milling cutters.

Side milling cutters: These cutters have teeth around the periphery and also on one or both
sides.

Fig: Side milling cutter.

Kinds:
1. Plain side milling cutters.
2. Staggered tooth side milling cutters
3. Half side milling cutters.
4. Interlocking side milling cutters
Metal-slitting saws: These resemble small circular-saw blades. They have teeth around the
circumference. They are used for cutting-off operations and for slotting.

Fig: Metal-slitting cutter.

Kinds:
1. Plain metal slitting saws.
2. Staggered tooth metal slitting saws.
3. Metal slitting saws.

End mill: End mill have cutting teeth on the end as well as on the periphery. The periphery teeth
may be straight or helical.

Fig: End mill.

Kind:
1. Taper-shank end mils.
2. Straight-shank end mill.
3. Shell end mills.

Form-relieved cutters: These are made in various shapes to mill irregular-shaped surfaces.

Fig: Form-relieved cutter.

 Kind:
1. Concave
2. Convex
3. Corner-rounding cutters

Face-milling cutters: These cutters are of the solid type or may have inserted teeth. They are
used for machining large, flat surfaces. The teeth cut on the face and periphery. The cutter may
be mounted an arbor which passes completely through the cutter.

Fig: Face-milling cutter.

Other types of solid cutters:
1. Angular milling cutters: Are made as single or double-angle cutters and are used to
machine angles other than 90 degrees. They may be 45 degree and 90 degree in both
single and double –angle cutters.

Fig: Angular milling cutter.

2. T-slot milling cutters: Are used for milling T-slot.

3. Woodruff key-slot milling cutters: Are for milling a specific size of key-slot.

Fig: T-slot milling cutter. Fig: Woodruff key-slot milling cutter

Classification of milling cutters:
To identify the cutters, they are classified as:
1. Method of Holding the cutters:
a. Arbor type milling cutters.
b. Shank-type milling cutters.
c. Facing-type milling cutters.
2. How the teeth are sharpened.
3. Use of the cutter.
4. Construction of the cutter.

Work holding device:

There are many different devices for holding the work piece to be machined. Many are similar to
those used on the drill press and shaper. The following are important attachments for use on the
milling machine:
1. The plain vise: It is the handiest and most common work holding device. The vise
can be fastened to the table with the jaws either parallel or at right angles to the T-
slot.

Fig: Plain vise.

2. The swivel vise: It is the same as the plain vise expect that the top part can be turned
in a complete circle. The base is divided into 360 degrees. The jaw can be set to any
angle.

Fig: swivel vise.

3. The universal chuck: It is used to hold round work pieces. It is fastened to the
spindle of the machine itself or on the dividing head. It is used mostly on the dividing
head.

Fig: Universal vise.

4. The rotary table: Rotary table is used to hold work pieces for accurate spacing,
dividing and radius milling operations. The base is divided into 360degrees, allowing
the work piece to be rotated in a complete circle.

Fig: Rotary table.

5. The dividing head: The dividing head is a device for holding and turning the work
piece so that a number of equally spaced division or cuts can be around it. It consists
of a headstock and tailstock. The work piece may be held between centers, or it may
be held in a chuck mounted on the headstock spindle. With this attachment we can
mill a square or hexagonal head on the end of a bolt or rod and can cut teeth on all
kind of gears.

Fig: Dividing head.

Discussion: Milling machine is an important machine in machine shop. A study about its cutting
tools and work holding devices, have widen our knowledge. It will help us in near future in
various job field.

Reference: “Machine Tool Metalworking Principle and Practice”

By- John L. Ferier
Earl E. Tatro.