What Are End Mills Used For in CNC Machining?

In CNC machining, end mills are versatile cutting tools with a wide range of applications. The following are the main uses:

Surface Milling

Flat Surface Milling: End mills are used to machine flat surfaces on workpieces. For example, in the production of mechanical parts such as engine blocks and machine tool beds, end mills are used to mill the upper and lower surfaces to ensure flatness and surface roughness requirements, providing a good foundation for subsequent assembly and processing.

Profile Milling: They can mill various complex profiles. In the manufacturing of automotive parts, such as the outer contours of car door panels and hoods, end mills can precisely machine the designed profiles according to the CNC program, improving production efficiency and part accuracy.

Groove Milling

Keyway Milling: In the production of shafts and gears, end mills are often used to mill keyways to ensure the accurate connection and torque transmission between components. For example, in the gearbox manufacturing industry, the keyways on the shafts and gears are machined by end mills to ensure the reliable operation of the transmission system.

T-slot and Dovetail Groove Milling: For some special mechanical structures that require T-slots or dovetail grooves for connection or positioning, end mills with corresponding shapes can be used for milling. This is widely seen in the manufacturing of machine tool worktables and fixture components.

Step Milling

Machining of Multi-level Steps: In the production of parts with stepped structures, such as some complex mechanical housings and connector components, end mills can mill out different levels of steps according to the process requirements to meet the needs of component assembly and function.

Hole Machining

Pilot Hole Machining: Before drilling deep holes or large-diameter holes, end mills are often used to machine pilot holes to guide the drill bit and ensure the straightness and position accuracy of the hole.

Counterboring and Countersinking: End mills can be used for counterboring and countersinking operations to process the mating parts of bolt heads and screw heads, making the connection more stable and the surface more flat.

3D Surface Machining

Mold Manufacturing: In the mold industry, end mills are crucial for machining complex 3D surfaces of molds. Whether it is the cavity of a plastic mold or the die of a forging mold, end mills can precisely machine the surface according to the designed 3D model to ensure the accuracy and quality of the mold.

Aerospace Component Machining: In the aerospace field, parts such as aircraft wing profiles and engine blade surfaces often have complex curved shapes. End mills are used in CNC machining to achieve high-precision shaping of these surfaces, meeting the strict requirements of the aerospace industry for part accuracy and surface quality.

Deburring and Edge Blending

Deburring: After other machining processes, there are often burrs on the edges of workpieces. End mills can be used to remove these burrs, improving the surface quality and appearance of the parts and ensuring the safety of use.

Edge Blending: End mills can also be used for edge blending operations to make the edges of parts smooth and rounded, reducing stress concentration and improving the performance and service life of the parts.