The performance differences of end mills with different numbers of teeth in rough machining

The performance differences of end mills with different numbers of teeth in rough machining mainly lie in processing efficiency, cutting force, chip removal capacity and tool life, etc. The following is a specific analysis:

Coarse-toothed end mill

The number of teeth is small and the chip holding space is large: The number of teeth of a coarse-toothed end mill is generally 3 to 6, with a large chip holding space and high tooth strength, making it suitable for rough machining. In rough machining, the cutting volume is large and the thickness of the iron chips is also high. Milling cutters with fewer teeth have a larger chip holding space than those with denser teeth and are easier to remove chips.

Cutting force and vibration: During rough machining, there are fewer cutting edges simultaneously involved in the cutting process, and the cutting force and vibration tendency are relatively small, which is conducive to process stability.

Fine-toothed end mill

The number of teeth is large and the operation is stable: The number of teeth of a fine-toothed end mill is generally 5 to 8 (10 to 20 for a sleeve structure). With a large number of teeth, the operation is stable, but the chip holding space is small and the strength of the teeth is relatively low. During rough machining, due to the large cutting volume, the chip holding space of the fine-toothed end mill may be insufficient, making chip removal difficult and even potentially damaging the tool due to chip blockage.

Cutting efficiency and surface quality: Although fine-toothed end mills can provide better surface quality in finish machining, their cutting efficiency may not be as good as that of coarse-toothed end mills in rough machining.

Limitations of multi-tooth end mills (such as 6-tooth ones) in rough machining:

Chip removal issue: During rough machining with multi-tooth end mills, due to the large cutting volume, the chip removal grooves are prone to clogging, leading to tool damage.

Cutting force and vibration: When a multi-tooth end mill is in rough machining, more cutting edges are involved in the cutting simultaneously, and the cutting force and vibration tend to increase, which may affect the stability of the process.