The application of end mills in the Processing of sports goods parts

End mills are widely used in the processing of sports goods parts, mainly undertaking tasks such as plane milling, contour processing, groove and hole system processing, etc. Their application advantages and specific cases are as follows:

First, application advantages

High-precision processing capability

By adjusting the tool path and cutting parameters, end mills can achieve high-precision planar and contour processing of sports goods parts such as snowboard holders and bicycle cranks. For instance, when using a 4-edge carbide end mill to perform planar milling on an aluminum alloy bicycle crank, it can ensure that the flatness is ≤0.05mm and the surface roughness is Ra1.6μm.

Multi-material adaptability

For common materials in sports goods such as aluminum alloys, carbon fiber composites and engineering plastics, end mills can achieve efficient processing through material and coating optimization. For instance, diamond-coated end mills can reduce delamination defects in carbon fiber composites and enhance surface quality.

High efficiency and flexibility

End mills are suitable for CNC milling machines and machining centers, and can achieve automated processing of complex surfaces through program control. For instance, using a ball-end end mill to smooth the curved surface of a snowboard holder can reduce manual trimming time and enhance production efficiency.

Second, specific application cases

Processing of aluminum alloy bicycle parts

In the processing of bicycle crankshafts, frames and other parts, end mills can achieve efficient processing by optimizing cutting parameters (cutting speed 150-200m/min, feed rate 0.1-0.2mm/ tooth) and tool paths. For instance, a certain enterprise adopted a stratified processing strategy, with each cutting depth controlled within 0.5-1mm, which significantly enhanced the processing efficiency and dimensional accuracy.

Processing of carbon fiber composite material sports goods

In the processing of carbon fiber composite material parts such as skis and golf clubs, end mills can effectively reduce cutting heat and tool wear by selecting appropriate tools and cutting parameters (cutting speed 80-120m/min, feed rate 0.03-0.08mm/ tooth). For instance, in a certain case, diamond-coated end mills were adopted, which increased the processing efficiency by 25% and significantly improved the surface quality.

Processing of engineering plastic sports goods

In the processing of engineering plastic parts such as protective gear and helmets, end mills can achieve efficient processing by optimizing cutting parameters (cutting speed 80-120m/min, feed rate 0.2-0.3mm/ tooth) and tool paths. For example, a certain enterprise used ball-end milling cutters to process the curved surface of protective gear, with a surface roughness of Ra0.8μm, meeting the design requirements.

Third, suggestions for process optimization

Tool selection

Select the appropriate end mill cutter based on the processing material and the shape of the part. For instance, when processing aluminum alloys, hard alloy end mills are preferred, while when processing carbon fiber composite materials, diamond-coated end mills are preferred.

Cutting parameter optimization

Adjust the cutting parameters according to the material properties and processing requirements. For instance, when processing stainless steel, the cutting speed needs to be reduced to 30-50m/min and the feed rate to 0.05-0.1mm per tooth to control the cutting heat.

Hierarchical processing strategy

For deep grooves or complex surfaces, a layer-by-layer processing method is adopted, with each cutting depth controlled within 0.5-1mm to reduce tool load and improve dimensional accuracy.

Cooling and Lubrication

Select the appropriate cooling method according to the processing material. For instance, compressed air is used for cooling in the processing of aluminum alloys, while extreme pressure cutting fluid is adopted in the processing of carbon fiber composite materials to reduce the cutting temperature and the coefficient of friction.