Choosing a milling cutter for CNC machining prototype:

For many people, metalworking is not a profession, but an exciting hobby. CNC machining prototype Of course, if a hobby begins to generate income over time, this is a nice bonus. Cutting steel for modeling at home is carried out on CNC routers. It is an excellent equipment for the processing of flat surfaces and some types of volumetric parts.

To make the cut quality as close to professional performance as possible, it is important to choose the right cutting tool, that is, the milling cutter.

Features of different types of CNC machining prototype

Let’s start right away with some good news for metalworking fans: CNC router tools are freely available at various points of sale. They are inexpensive and compact. Collets of different diameters from 3.175 to 8 mm are common to mount the cutters in the machine. Large diameters are not suitable for a CNC machining prototype (it simply cannot withstand them).

Types of CNC machining prototype

Spiral single-flute cutter for aluminum and aluminum alloys of type AA and A perfectly fulfills its functions (of course, if you observe the correct cutting mode). There is a similar cutter for plastic and acrylic. If you plan to process solely metal parts, it will not work for you.

Two-flute spiral CNC machining prototype have one invaluable property:

low vibration in operation. Taper cutter set allows you to obtain a part with a smooth surface with a minimum level of roughness. If you are working with the 3D modeling software Artcam, it will certainly come in handy.

The pyramid type engraver has three edges and is suitable for making three-dimensional engravings on metal.

The spherical cone cutter features a small working surface diameter and is extremely tough. With its help, it is possible to process high reliefs of steel parts without roughing operations.

CNC machining prototype different number of edges

End-cutting tools for aluminum, copper and their alloys provide a surface with almost perfect cleanliness. This cutter is available in different diameters, which results in a different number of edges: 1.2 or 3.

For those who work with parts made of hard alloys, hardened, case-hardened steels, I advise you to replenish your arsenal of tools with diamond grinding heads. Also, it is easy to purchase as a set or separately. They are effective for finishing and lapping.

CNC machining prototype accuracy and quality

Besides machining accuracy, machined surface quality is another factor to evaluate the quality of machined parts. Moreover, to improve CNC machining prototype quality, it is important to understand what surface quality is and how it affects machining quality.

What is machined surface quality?

Machined surface quality is also known as surface integrity, it is the surface state of parts after being machined.

It is evaluated from two main aspects:

• Geometrical characteristics of surface layer
• Also, it mainly deals with the following 4 aspects:
• Moreover, Roughness of the machined surface

Three microscopic geometrical features

o includes small gaps and vertices and pins on the machined surface. These are the micro-geometry errors of the CNC machining prototype surface. Its evaluation parameters mainly include the arithmetic deviation of the contour – Ra or the average height of the micro-roughness of the contour – Rz.

Surface Wavelength

This is a periodic error between the macroscopic shape and the microscopic surface roughness. Also, It is mainly caused by the machining method and the law of cutting motion.

Surface texture in the

It refers to the shape and orientation of the cutting grain in surface cutting, depending on the machining method common in the surface forming process and the law of the cutting motion.

Surface defects

It refers to defects that appear on the CNC machining prototype surface, such as trachoma, pores, cracks, scratches, and most of them are distributed

2. Mechanical properties of the surface layer

They mainly deal with the following 3 aspects:

Freeze hardening of the surface layer

Also, Changing the microstructure of the surface layer

In addition, Residual stress in surface layer

How does machined surface quality affect machining quality?

The impact that the machined surface quality has on the machining quality is easy to describe from the following aspects:

1. About the wear resistance of work pieces

Wear resistance is an important performance indicator for machined parts. Once the friction material, the lubrication condition and the CNC machining prototype accuracy are gritty, the machined surface quality plays a major role in the wear resistance.

Due to the poor surface roughness of the parts, great stress is easy to contract on the contact surface. The larger the surface roughness, the more stress is made, leading to wear of the contact surface of the part.

2. CNC machining prototype Fatigue stress on the part

The quality of the machined surface also has a great impact on the fatigue strength of the work pieces. Moderate process hardening can prevent existing cracks from developing and new cracks from forming, thus to improve the fatigue strength of parts.

However, excessive hardening makes the surface structure of the parts brittle and prone to cracking, thereby reducing the fatigue strength.

3. About corrosion resistance

The quality of the CNC machining prototype surface has a great influence on the corrosion resistance of the work pieces. The larger the surface roughness of the parts, the easier it is to accumulate a corrosive medium at the depressions, thereby causing chemical and electrochemical corrosion on the work pieces.

4. Matching of details

The fit of two fitting parts is gritty by the degree of tightness or clearance. In the suitable clearance, if the roughness of the mounting surface is large, the clearance will increase rapidly because of wear, reducing the quality of the engagement.

Chat with CNC machining prototype

5. About other properties of work pieces

The quality of the machined surface will have an impact on other aspects of part performance. For example, reducing surface roughness Ra will reduce leakage and improve the sealing performance of sealed hydraulic cylinders and slide valves.

Conclusion

For sliding parts, the lower the surface roughness Ra, the lower the coefficient of friction, the more flexible the movement, and the less heat and energy loss.

In a word, improving the quality of the CNC machining prototype surface is very important to improve the performance and life of the work pieces.