Side milling varient.

[Richard RogalewskiParticipant @richardrogalewski21509]

Hi. Definition of side milling. : "The process of milling surfaces that are at right angles to the axis of rotation of the cutter with a side milling cutter."

The examples I see show the bottom of the cutter entering the work as well as the side. Slot milling is of course where the tool plunges into the work and then the cutter is moved sideways.

What about the situation where the cutter enters the work but the bottom of the cutter does not enter the work? Does this operation have a name? Can it be treated as regular side milling? Thanks.

 

 

Edited By Richard Rogalewski on 08/01/2020 11:51:58

[Richard RogalewskiParticipant @richardrogalewski21509]

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Maybe link to these examples? Milling a rebate by moving the cutter sideways in relation the workpiece will be side cutting – the end of the cutter will not be cutting anything.

Think about it.  Does a twist drill cut on the sides as it is moved through its cutting action?

Edited By not done it yet on 08/01/2020 12:53:04

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

yes an illustration of what you are asking would help.

A side milling cutter is not like an endmill/slot drill is is a circular cutter that is mostly used on a horizontal mill.

[Richard RogalewskiParticipant @richardrogalewski21509]

I'm just wondering what would be the technical term for the type of cutting taking place where a side milling tool cuts into a plate as per the picture. Maybe just – side milling?

Edited By Richard Rogalewski on 08/01/2020 14:00:47

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

It would be termed side milling if the tool were cutting along the long edge of your sketch or slot cutting if moving into the work in the direction of the arrow, a slot does not have to have closed ends.

But the tool is not a "side mill" or "Side milling cutter"

Edited By JasonB on 08/01/2020 14:04:32

[Richard RogalewskiParticipant @richardrogalewski21509]

So, if the tool was oriented horizontally, rather than vertically as in the sketch, that would be side milling. The sketch shows slot milling., even though the end of the tool does not come into contact with the work.

Edited By Richard Rogalewski on 08/01/2020 14:17:47

[JourneymanParticipant @journeyman]

As Jason says a side cutter is something like this:

Also referred to as a side and face cutter. Is used on a horizontal milling machine.

John

Edited By Journeyman on 08/01/2020 14:18:08

[Richard RogalewskiParticipant @richardrogalewski21509]

So, if the tool in the sketch was oriented horizontally, that would not be side milling. Side milling needs a side cutter, as shown above, shaped like a wheel.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

No as I said previously if the cutter shown in the sketch were machining the side of the plate shown in red that would be termed side milling, Slot cutting or slot milling if the tool is moving in the direction of the arrow but in both cases you are not using a "Side Milling Cutter"

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

You could cut as per the sketch with an End Mill, using the flutes, or with a Slot Drill.

The wheel shaped cutter is a Side and Face Cutter, because it will cut on either the side or the face, to produce flat surfaces, rebates, or slots. These are used on horizontal milling machines. Very unlikely to be used in a vertical mill, because of their size and weight. A Tee Slot Cutter is small version of this, with an integral shank, allowing it to be used in a vertical mill.

Don't get too involved in the technical descriptions, just use the tool that produces the required result.

Howard.

[JourneymanParticipant @journeyman]

A side cutter or a side and face cutter can be used to cut a flat surface, make a slot, machine an edge or cut a side. Similarly and end mill or slot drill can be used to cut a flat surface, make a slot, machine an edge or cut a side. All these operations may be carried out on a vertical or horizontal mill. Side milling as such is not a term I have heard used.

Not that I am going to argue with Merriam-Webster about their definition but they make dictionaries not milling machines

John

Edited By Journeyman on 08/01/2020 14:45:36

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Note that when the side of a cylindrical cutter is used to cut a step the end edges don't do any cutting because of the relief, they only cut when the cutter is plunged.

So in principle there is no real difference between cutting with the tip of further up the side, other than the shape of the finished profile.

Neil

[Richard RogalewskiParticipant @richardrogalewski21509]

Here is what I was looking at, at the time. My sketch is not either of the two examples highlighted.

I think where it says "correction for side milling" it' is highlighting the difference between slot milling, where about half the circumference engages with the sides as the tool cuts out the slot in the x or y direction, and, on the other hand, milling (or side milling) where something less than half the circumference of the tool is engaged in cutting the side as it cuts something "less" than a slot..

Of course, slot milling, in cases where you plung the tool into the work it requires a slot drill, or maybe end mill.

If you mill the side, does the tool need to have end cutting ability?

If you mill an open slot with a floor, does the tool need and end cutting ability?

Cutting an open slot without a floor would not require a tool with end cutting ability. Which is my example sketch.

Sorry if my questions are very basic.

 

 

 

Edited By Richard Rogalewski on 08/01/2020 20:29:26

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

The correction factor there is to do with chip thinning as the chip will be thinner the nearer the edge it gets for the same given feed rate. So if you want to keep the chip load the same when just using a small part of the edge of the cutter the feed needs to be increased. Some images here

You would only need end cutting if the tool were plunged into the work and neither of the instances you suggest would require that.

Edited By JasonB on 08/01/2020 20:37:09

[Richard RogalewskiParticipant @richardrogalewski21509]

Hi. Thanks. So, you only need and end mill if you are wanting to plung then proceed to make a slot. And in that case, the end of the tool is not creating the floor, the side of the tool is. Very similar to what happens if you side mill.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

You would only need an end CUTTING mill to plunge and ideally to get an accurate width slot a 2-flute cutter commonly known as a slot drill would be best.

[Author]

Posts