Selection of Tools for CNC Machining

Selection of Tools for CNC Machining

Tool selection is carried out in the state of human-computer interaction in CNC programming. Tools and tool holders should be selected correctly according to the Machining ability of machine tools, the performance of workpiece materials, machining procedures, cutting parameters and other relevant factors. The general principles of tool selection are: easy installation and adjustment, good rigidity, high durability and accuracy. On the premise of meeting the machining requirements, the shorter tool holder should be chosen as far as possible to improve the rigidity of tool machining.

When choosing the cutting tool, the size of the cutting tool should be matched with the surface size of the workpiece being machined. In production, end milling cutter is often used to process the peripheral contour of planar parts; carbide insert milling cutter should be selected when milling plane; high-speed steel end milling cutter should be selected when machining convex table and groove; corn milling cutter with carbide insert can be selected when machining rough surface or hole; ball end milling cutter, ring milling cutter, taper milling cutter and disc milling cutter are often used in the processing of some solid profile and variable oblique profile.

In free-form surface machining, because the cutting speed of the end of the spherical tool is zero, in order to ensure the machining accuracy, the cutting distance is usually very close, so the spherical head is often used for surface finishing. Flat-end cutters are superior to ball-end cutters in surface quality and cutting efficiency. Therefore, as long as the surface is not cut, whether roughing or finishing, flat-end cutters should be preferred. In addition, tool durability and accuracy have a great relationship with tool price. It must be noted that in most cases, although choosing a good tool increases tool cost, the improvement of machining quality and efficiency will greatly reduce the whole machining cost.