How to choose CNC tools?

The following aspects should be considered when selecting tools for CNC machine tools:

(1) Select tools based on the cutting performance of the part material. For example, when turning or milling high-strength steel, titanium alloy, or stainless steel parts, it is recommended to select indexable carbide tools with good wear resistance.

(2) Select tools based on the processing stage of the part. In the roughing stage, the main purpose is to remove the excess, so tools with good rigidity and low precision should be selected. In the semi-finishing and finishing stages, the primary principle is to ensure the processing accuracy and product quality of the parts, so tools with high durability and high precision should be selected. The tools used in the roughing stage have low precision, while the tools used in the finishing stage have high precision. If the same tool is selected for both processes, it is recommended to use the tools eliminated from the finishing process for roughing. The wear of these tools is mostly slight wear on the blade and the coating is worn and polished. Continuing to use will affect the processing quality of the finishing process, but will have little effect on the roughing process.

(3) Select tools and geometric parameters based on the characteristics of the processing area. If the part structure allows, a tool with a large diameter and a small aspect ratio should be selected; the end edge of the through-center milling cutter for cutting thin-walled and ultra-thin-walled parts should have a sufficient centripetal angle to reduce the cutting force of the tool and the cutting part. When processing parts made of softer materials such as aluminum and copper, an end mill with a slightly larger rake angle should be selected, and the number of teeth should not exceed 4.

When selecting a tool, the size of the tool should be adapted to the surface size of the workpiece being processed. In production, end mills are often used to process the peripheral contours of planar parts; when milling planes, carbide blade milling cutters should be selected; when processing bosses and grooves, high-speed steel end mills should be selected; when processing blank surfaces or rough machining holes, corn milling cutters with carbide blades can be selected; ball-end milling cutters, annular milling cutters, conical milling cutters and disc milling cutters are often used for processing some three-dimensional surfaces and variable angle contours.