2. Special milling applications

2.1 Aluminium trimming

Aluminum alloys are generally considered easy to machine, with comparatively low cutting forces, especially at high cutting speeds. Limitations in this field are mainly imposed by machines and cutting tools. Slotting has long been dominated by a wide choice of high-speed steel slotting cutters, used on a wide variety of machines, from small copy milling machines to the powerful multi-axis CNC machines in use in the aerospace industry. The main criteria for finishing are usually cutting efficiency, surface finish and tool life when using resharpenable helical slot milling cutters. Milling cutters with brazed carbide and Coronite inserts considerably improve finishing quality, as does the milling of aluminum parts with small-diameter cutters, by enabling higher...