In order to process or produce rectangular or round blanks, there is no need for particularly complex tools. However, over time, there was a need for the manufacture of holes with a more complex shape, which means that a more complex tool for work is also needed. The spherical mill for metal became one of such tools.
What is a mill
A spherical type milling cutter is a tool that is designed to process notches and ledges of a spherical type. This device is a rotating body, which is also sometimes called a spherical body. In general, it can be said that a spherical mill for metal consists of only two structural parts - a cutting edge and a shank. Because of this, this device belongs to a large class of end mills.
As for certain features, the following can be distinguished. Firstly, the number of teeth of a spherical milling cutter for metal is from 2 to 6. Secondly, naturally, the profile of the tool is a sphere. Typically, the angle of the spherical portion is 180 degrees. However, today there are modifications of the device, in which the angle can be greater or less than 180 degrees.
Item Description
The spherical milling cutter for metal has spiral grooves that are designed to remove cutting elements from it. If the tool has interchangeable plates, then there is no need for grooves and they are absent.
As for the tail, it can produce not only in the form of a cylinder, but also in the form of a Morse cone. If you use a cone-shaped part as a shank, then you can achieve greater durability of the device. It will also allow the use of a spherical mill for metal for the manufacture of longer products.
When the cutter begins to rotate around its axis, the cutting edges of the device carry out the process of cutting the layers of the workpiece. A feature of the spherical shape of the cutter is that in this design the most complete contact of the tool with the work surface is provided.
Scope of a mill
The most widely used mill of this type is used in the following areas:
- engineering;
- tool manufacturing;
- art type milling;
- carpentry and woodworking.
Spherical milling cutters for 33 mm metal and others are practically irreplaceable in the manufacture of dies, molds, and also parts with a complex shape. The presence of spherical cutting edges allows, in theory, to achieve a fully calculated surface, taking into account all the necessary allowances. In addition, such cutters have found their application when it is necessary to apply engraving, especially a U-shaped one. Also suitable for restoring existing engraving.
It is possible to use a spherical milling cutter for metal 32 mm and others for semi-finishing and finishing of the surface. As processed raw materials, steel, cast iron, wood, plywood, non-ferrous metals, plexiglass, acrylic can be represented. If the cutting edges have four cutting teeth, then you can use the cutter to work even with hardened steel, which is characterized by high strength.
Tool with soldered tool
This device is completely cast, and does not consist of two elements. For this reason, such a tool is often called monolithic. Consists of a cylindrical shank and a cutting part.
For such a device, cutting inserts are made of high quality carbide raw materials, and are mounted in the mill itself using the soldering operation. This design allows you to achieve two important advantages. Firstly, high strength of the entire design of the cutter is ensured, and secondly, the rotation speed of the machine spindle will be transmitted to the cutting edges as fully as possible, which will increase productivity. In order to remove cutting products, a spherical cutter of this type has a spiral groove located at an angle of 30 degrees.
Removable Cutter
This tool is used if the highest quality requirements are not imposed on the quality of processing. In addition, it is of this type that spherical milling cutters for metal 50 mm are made, which are considered the largest among the rest. In this case, the tail can be made in the form of a cone or in the form of a cylinder.
The cutting inserts are also made of hard alloy, and are installed in special holes and attached to the shank using different types of fasteners. Most often, there are only two mounting holes, and they are located symmetrically. Because of this, when working on a large scale, a good economic effect can be achieved. Most often, such devices are used for roughing or semi-finishing workpieces from materials such as hardened steel, as well as non-ferrous and ferrous metals.
Interchangeable Head Milling Cutters
If we talk about the range of diameters of the head, then this type is located in the middle between monolithic and with removable cutters. The main dimensions of this type of cutter are 6-25 mm. As for the purity of processing, they are also located in the middle between the first two types. Speaking generally about such devices, they are the result of the evolution of end mills.
The main structural element is a replaceable head, which is screwed into the shank of the device. The head itself contains teeth that carry out cutting. The number of cutting teeth is usually from 4 to 6 pieces.
In the end, it is worth noting that the GOST of the spherical mill for metal, which was used earlier, has ceased to exist in the territory of the Russian Federation.