Machining even surfaces

Operations to create even surfaces occur very frequently and in different areas in the die & mould sector: It could be component-related, strategy-related due to the respective milling process or due to requirements for mould closing surfaces as well as sections and cutting dies. The right tool is then selected depending on the application and requirements.
On a rendered example component, an operation is highlighted.
Tool overview for the following machining steps:
  1. Roughing
  2. Residual material roughing
  3. Pre-finishing
  4. Finishing​​​​​​​

Roughing

Roughing operations are responsible for most of the chip removal capacity. Special milling strategies such as high-feed machining or trochoidal milling can reduce machining time and thus increase profitability. In addition to tools with indexable inserts and solid carbide milling cutters, high-performance milling cutters with special roughing geometry are used.
  • OptiMill®-3D-CR

    Solid carbide corner radius milling cutter
    • Finishing of 3D moulds with a high-precision corner radius
    • High precision corner radius with high level of radius accuracy
    • Wide selection for hard and soft machining of steel
    • Different numbers of teeth available
    • Available in cylindrical and conical forms

  • OptiMill®-3D-HF

    Solid carbide high-feed milling cutter
    • Perfect for high-feed machining with a high material removal rate and high process reliability
    • Innovative face geometry
    • Extremely quiet running
    • Different numbers of teeth available

  • NeoMill®-HiFeed90

    90° corner/high-feed milling cutter
    • Universal tool system to ensure maximum productivity
    • Tool body with indexable inserts for high-feed and shoulder milling
    • Maximum rate of removal due to very high feed rates and large cutting depths
    • Double-edged and four-edged indexable inserts available
    • Large selection of corner radii available


Residual material roughing

After roughing, in a second machining step, users machine the residual material, especially in corners and cavities, removing material as constantly as possible. Usually tools with corner radius or high-feed milling cutters are used. In some cases a ball cutter can be used to remove the residual material in corners.
  • OptiMill®-3D-HF

    Solid carbide high-feed milling cutter
    • Perfect for high-feed machining with a high material removal rate and high process reliability
    • Innovative face geometry
    • Extremely quiet running
    • Different numbers of teeth available

  • NeoMill®-HiFeed90

    90° corner/high-feed milling cutter
    • Universal tool system to ensure maximum productivity
    • Tool body with indexable inserts for high-feed and shoulder milling
    • Maximum rate of removal due to very high feed rates and large cutting depths
    • Double-edged and four-edged indexable inserts available
    • Large selection of corner radii available


Pre-finishing

If there are high demands on dimensional accuracy and surface finish, semi-finishing is recommended before finishing. With pre-finishing, machining approaches the final mould profile. The aim is to obtain a residual material that is as constant as possible in order to enable fast finishing with high demands on the surface quality. The stock removal after roughing is approx. 0.5-1 mm for hardened materials and 0.03-0.5 mm for soft materials. After pre-finishing, the constant stock removal is 0.05-0.1 mm for hardened materials or 0.1-0.3 mm for soft materials.
  • OptiMill®-3D-CR

    Solid carbide corner radius milling cutter
    • Finishing of 3D moulds with a high-precision corner radius
    • High precision corner radius with high level of radius accuracy
    • Wide selection for hard and soft machining of steel
    • Different numbers of teeth available
    • Available in cylindrical and conical forms

  • OptiMill®-3D-CS

    Solid carbide shoulder radius milling cutter
    • Milling with a large operating radius
    • Finishing of complex free-form surfaces and complicated workpiece geometries
    • Short machining time due to large line interlacing
    • High surface quality

  • NeoMill®-HiFeed90

    90° corner/high-feed milling cutter
    • Universal tool system to ensure maximum productivity
    • Tool body with indexable inserts for high-feed and shoulder milling
    • Maximum rate of removal due to very high feed rates and large cutting depths
    • Double-edged and four-edged indexable inserts available
    • Large selection of corner radii available

  • NeoMill®-ISO-360

    Round-insert milling cutters
    • Roughing and pre-finishing of 3D contours
    • Optimum contours due to the indexable inserts being installed in a neutral position
    • Soft cutting behaviour for low vibration machining
    • Offered as shell type, shank and screw-in milling cutters in the diameter range 10-160 mm

  • NeoMill®-3D-Torus

    Toric end milling cutter
    • For the highest requirements regarding precision and process reliability
    • Special tool body for toric plates with additional stabilisation of the cutting edge
    • Precise rotational tolerances
    • Different corner radii available


Finishing

The finishing process removes the remaining material in order to achieve the final shape. After pre-finishing, stock removal is 0.05-0.1 mm for hardened materials or 0.1-0.3 mm for soft materials. Ball and/or corner radius milling cutters are the tools of choice, regardless of the final contours of the workpiece.
  • OptiMill®-3D-CR

    Solid carbide corner radius milling cutter
    • Finishing of 3D moulds with a high-precision corner radius
    • High precision corner radius with high level of radius accuracy
    • Wide selection for hard and soft machining of steel
    • Different numbers of teeth available
    • Available in cylindrical and conical forms

  • OptiMill®-3D-CS

    Solid carbide shoulder radius milling cutter
    • Milling with a large operating radius
    • Finishing of complex free-form surfaces and complicated workpiece geometries
    • Short machining time due to large line interlacing
    • High surface quality

  • OptiMill®-3D-HF

    Solid carbide high-feed milling cutter
    • Perfect for high-feed machining with a high material removal rate and high process reliability
    • Innovative face geometry
    • Extremely quiet running
    • Different numbers of teeth available

  • NeoMill®-HiFeed90

    90° corner/high-feed milling cutter
    • Universal tool system to ensure maximum productivity
    • Tool body with indexable inserts for high-feed and shoulder milling
    • Maximum rate of removal due to very high feed rates and large cutting depths
    • Double-edged and four-edged indexable inserts available
    • Large selection of corner radii available

  • NeoMill®-3D-Ballnose

    Ball and toric end milling cutters
    • Universal milling system to ensure maximum productivity
    • A tool body with ball and toric plates for pre-finishing and finishing of hardened steel
    • Precise rotational tolerances
    • Available as shank and screw-in milling cutters

  • NeoMill®-3D-Torus

    Toric end milling cutter
    • For the highest requirements regarding precision and process reliability
    • Special tool body for toric plates with additional stabilisation of the cutting edge
    • Precise rotational tolerances
    • Different corner radii available


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