3. The Types of Milling Processes?

• Slab Milling: This is the most basic form of milling. It involves the removal of material from a flat work piece. The milling cutter is typically cylindrical and rotates along its axis. In slab milling, the cutting action occurs primarily at the edges of the cutter. It’s used for machining large, flat surfaces.

• Slot Milling: This process is used to create slots or grooves in a work piece. The cutter used in slot milling is generally narrower than the width of the slot being milled, and it moves along the length of the slot.

• Side and Face Milling: In this method, the cutting is done by the sides and circumference of the milling cutter. This allows for efficient removal of material from the surface of the work piece. It’s commonly used for cutting large, flat surfaces, but the cutter can also be used to produce slots or grooves.

• Form Milling: Form milling involves using cutters that are shaped to create a specific form on the work piece. These cutters can be shaped to produce complex contours or profiles in a single operation, making them ideal for intricate work.

• Straddle Milling: This process involves the use of two or more milling cutters mounted on the same arbor, so multiple surfaces can be machined simultaneously at a parallel level. Straddle milling is often used for machining parallel slots or cutting flanges at the end of a shaft.

• Gang Milling: Gang milling uses multiple milling cutters mounted on the same arbor to produce complex parts with various surfaces or features in a single pass. This method is efficient for mass production as it combines multiple operations into one pass.