End mills play a vital role in mold processing and are the key factor in determining processing accuracy and efficiency. There are many types of tools used in mold processing, and each tool has its own unique uses and characteristics.
Milling Tools
Flat End Mill
Flat end mill is one of the most common milling tools in mold processing, mainly used for milling planes, steps, grooves, and contours.
Square Milling Cutter Tool Function
Plane processing: used to process the plane part of the mold to ensure flatness and surface quality. Especially widely used in the processing of large mold bases or templates.
Step and groove processing: suitable for processing feature structures such as steps, bosses and grooves in the mold, which can quickly remove materials and ensure the width and depth accuracy of the groove.
Outline processing: used for milling the outline of the mold, especially when performing rough processing and semi-finishing of two-dimensional contours and simple three-dimensional contours, square end mills can efficiently complete material removal.
Flat Milling Cutter Application Scenarios
Injection mold: End mills can be used to process the template, cavity plane, guide groove, ejector hole and other parts of the injection mold.
Stamping mold: Suitable for the processing of plane and groove features such as punch seat, mold frame plate, and unloading plate of stamping mold.
Die-casting mold: In the processing of the bottom plate, template, cooling water channel groove, etc. of the die-casting mold, the end mill can remove materials efficiently.
Casting mold: Used for the parting surface processing of the casting mold, the rough processing of the insert part, and the processing of the gate, riser and other positions.
Electrode processing: In the electrode manufacturing of mold EDM, end mills are often used for the rough processing and semi-finishing of electrodes to ensure the accuracy of the electrode shape.
Ball Nose End Mill
Ball Nose milling cutter is a milling cutter with a hemispherical cutter head, which is widely used in the processing of complex curved surfaces and three-dimensional cavities in mold processing. It can achieve smooth transition during cutting, effectively reduce surface residue, and improve the quality of the processed surface. It is one of the core tools for mold finishing.
Function of Ball Nose tool
Complex surface processing: Ball Nose end mill is particularly suitable for the processing of three-dimensional curved surfaces. For example, free-form surfaces and curve transition areas in the mold cavity can achieve detailed contour processing.
Cavity finishing: In the finishing of the mold cavity, the Ball Nose milling cutter can carefully remove the excess to ensure the accuracy and smoothness of the cavity surface.
Chamfer processing: For the inclined surfaces or slopes that need to be processed in the mold, the Ball Nose milling cutter can cut evenly, reduce cutting vibration, and improve the quality of the inclined surface.
Applicable scenarios of Ball Nose End Mill
Plastic mold: It is suitable for the fine processing of the cavity, curved surface, etc. of plastic molds, and can accurately restore the complex mold shape.
Die casting mold: used for finishing of cavity surfaces and details of die casting molds, such as guide grooves and complex contours in the mold.
Forging mold: In the processing of cavity and surface details of forging molds, ball nose milling cutters can effectively remove materials and achieve the required surface quality.
Electrode manufacturing: Ball nose end mills are often used for finishing of complex surfaces and grooves of EDM electrodes to ensure the shape and dimensional accuracy of electrodes.
Mold repair: In mold repair, ball nose milling cutters are used to repair worn surfaces or cavities and restore the original processing accuracy of the mold.
Corner Radius End Mill
Bullnose milling cutter is a milling cutter with a small arc on the tip, which combines the characteristics of end milling cutter and square milling cutter. It can perform flat milling, as well as processing curved surfaces and transition areas. It plays an important role in mold processing. It is especially suitable for processing cavities and edges that require smooth transitions, and can improve the finish and strength of the mold surface.
Function of Corner Radius End Mill
Plane and curved surface transition processing: Corner Radius end mill can smoothly process the transition area between the plane and the curved surface in the mold, reduce stress concentration, and is suitable for finishing.
Cavity finishing: Bullnose end mills can achieve smooth cutting in the finishing of mold cavities, reduce tool marks and surface roughness.
Edge rounding and rib processing: Suitable for processing the rounded corners or ribs in the mold, which can improve the strength and surface quality of the parts.
Corner Radius End Mill Applicable Scenarios
Injection mold: Used for finishing the cavity, ribs and curved transition area in the injection mold to ensure the smoothness and durability of the mold surface.
Die-casting mold: suitable for fine processing of the cavity and rounded edges of die-casting molds, which can reduce edge defects and improve the quality of castings.
Stamping mold: used for plane and edge transition processing in stamping molds to improve the surface hardness and wear resistance of the mold.
Mold repair: In mold repair, round nose milling cutters can be used to trim worn edges and transition areas to restore the mold to its original state.
Casting mold: used for surface transition and cavity finishing of casting molds to enhance the overall strength and surface finish of the mold.
Keyway Milling Cutter
A keyway end mill is a milling cutter specially used for keyway machining. It is characterized by a narrow and deep blade, which is suitable for milling standard keyway sizes in workpieces. It is widely used in the manufacture of molds and mechanical parts, especially in situations where precise keyways and narrow grooves are required.
Keyway Milling Cutter Tool Function
Keyway machining: Keyway milling cutters are designed for machining standard keyways to ensure that the width and depth of the grooves accurately meet the tolerance requirements.
Narrow groove machining: Suitable for machining various narrow grooves, such as high-precision groove features required in small molds.
Mold assembly hole groove machining: Milling positioning grooves or assembly grooves in the mold to improve the matching accuracy of parts.
Keyway Milling Cutter Applicable Scenarios
Injection mold: Used for the machining of guide grooves and assembly grooves in injection molds to ensure precise matching between mold components.
Stamping mold: Used for keyway and positioning groove machining in stamping molds to improve mold accuracy and assembly reliability.
Mechanical mold: used to process small grooves and tightly fitting assembly grooves in mechanical mold manufacturing to ensure the precise positioning of moving parts.
Repair processing: used to repair worn or damaged keyways and guide grooves to restore the original processing accuracy.
Electrical mold: suitable for processing narrow joint grooves in electrical connection molds to ensure contact stability.
Chamfering Milling Cutter
Chamfering milling cutter is a tool specially used for chamfering. By removing the sharp angle of the edge of the workpiece or processing a specific chamfer shape, the appearance quality and assembly performance of the parts are improved. It is widely used in chamfering, deburring and smooth edge processing in mold processing.
Chamfering Milling Cutter Tool Function
Chamfering processing: Chamfering milling cutter is used to chamfer the edge of the workpiece, remove sharp edges, improve safety and assembly effect.
Deburring: Remove excess burrs after part processing to ensure that the edge of the part is flat and smooth.
Edge trimming: Chamfering milling cutter is used to trim the edge of the mold after mold processing to improve the overall quality of the mold.
Chamfering Milling Cutter Applicable Scenarios
Mold edge processing: Chamfering milling cutter is used for trimming and chamfering of mold edges to improve the appearance quality and assembly convenience of the mold.
Stamping mold: Suitable for burr removal and chamfering of stamping molds to ensure the safety and quality of stamping parts.
Machinery parts processing: Widely used for chamfering and deburring of mechanical parts, reducing sharp edges and improving the assembly accuracy of parts.
Casting mold: Chamfering milling cutter is used for chamfering the edge of casting mold to prevent cracks on the edge of casting.
Injection mold: Used for chamfering of injection mold components to improve the disassembly and safety of molds.
Thread End Mill
A thread milling cutter is a milling cutter designed for thread processing. It processes internal and external threads through milling. Compared with traditional tapping processes, thread milling cutters have the advantages of high precision, low cutting force, and the ability to process hard materials. They are the preferred tools for precision thread manufacturing.
Function of Thread End Mill Tools
Thread milling: used for high-precision processing of internal and external threads to ensure that the size and surface quality of the threads meet the standards.
Non-standard thread processing: the tool path can be flexibly adjusted, suitable for processing non-standard and special-shaped threads.
Thread repair: thread milling cutters can also be used to repair damaged threads and restore the use function of parts.
Applicable scenarios of Thread End Mill
Precision molds: used for thread processing in precision molds to ensure thread tightness and processing accuracy. Aerospace molds: suitable for thread processing of high-strength materials to ensure the reliability of threads.
Medical device molds: thread milling cutters are used for high-precision thread processing of medical device molds to meet strict dimensional tolerances.
Special thread processing: suitable for mold processing of various non-standard threads, flexible to deal with complex thread designs.
Repair and maintenance: In the maintenance of molds and mechanical parts, it is used to repair damaged threads and extend the life of molds.
Drilling Tools
Drill Bit
A drill bit is a tool used to drill holes in workpieces and is one of the most common hole processing tools. It removes materials through high-speed rotation and is widely used in drilling operations of various metal and non-metal materials. There are many types of drill bits, including twist drills, flat drills, center drills, etc., which can meet the processing needs of different hole diameters and depths.
Drill Bit Tool Function
Drilling Processing: Mainly used to process holes of various diameters to ensure the accuracy and depth of the hole diameter.
Roughing Hole: Suitable for preliminary drilling of holes, providing a basis for subsequent finishing such as reaming and boring. Guide Hole Processing: Used to process guide holes to provide a positioning basis for other complex processing.
Drill Bit Applicable Scenarios
Mold Manufacturing: Widely used for through-hole and blind-hole processing in molds to ensure the precise matching of mold components.
Mechanical Processing: Suitable for hole processing of various mechanical parts, such as shaft holes, bolt holes, etc.
Steel Structural Parts: Used for drilling holes in steel structural parts to ensure the assembly accuracy of connectors.
Woodworking Processing: Drill bits can also be used for hole processing of non-metallic materials such as wood and plastic.
Repair processing: used to reprocess worn holes during the repair process to ensure the size is restored.
Center Drill Bit
The center drill is a short and sturdy drill bit used for the initial positioning of the machining hole to ensure the accuracy of subsequent drilling operations. It can open a center positioning hole on the surface of the workpiece to avoid drill bit deviation, and is the first step in drilling processing.
Center Drill Bit Tool Function
Positioning drilling: used to drill a center positioning hole on the surface of the workpiece to ensure the accuracy of subsequent drilling. Preventing deflection: Using a center drill before machining a hole can effectively prevent drill bit deflection and improve the accuracy of the hole.
Chamfering: The chamfering design of the center drill can form a chamfer around the positioning hole to reduce cutting burrs.
Center Drill Bit Applicable Scenarios
Mold manufacturing: widely used in guide hole processing in molds to provide accurate positioning for deep hole and complex hole processing.
Machinery parts: used for the initial positioning of mechanical parts to ensure the accuracy and stability of subsequent processing.
Steel plate processing: In the drilling of steel plates and other plates, the center drill is used for initial positioning to improve the processing quality.
Casting processing: suitable for hole processing positioning on castings to reduce position errors during processing.
Precision machining: used for drilling and positioning of high-precision parts to ensure the accuracy and consistency of machining.
Chamfer Drill Bit
Chamfer drill is a tool specially used for chamfering and deburring holes. It can quickly process the hole after drilling, remove sharp edges, and increase aesthetics and safety. The chamfer drill has a tapered blade design, which can achieve efficient chamfering on workpieces of different materials.
Chamfer Drill Bit Tool Function
Hole Chamfering: Used for chamfering holes, removing sharp edges, and preventing cutting burrs.
Safety Processing: Chamfer drills can reduce the sharpness of part edges, improve operational safety and product appearance.
Fitting Assembly: Chamfering can improve the assembly effect of parts and prevent damage to other parts during assembly.
Chamfer Drill Bit Applicable Scenarios
Mould Hole Processing: Widely used for chamfering holes in molds to ensure smooth and safe surfaces of mold parts.
Mechanical Assembly Parts: Suitable for chamfering mechanical parts to improve the fit during part assembly.
Metal Parts: Used for chamfering metal parts to ensure that the heads of screws and bolts are flush with the hole.
Woodworking manufacturing: suitable for chamfering and edge trimming of woodworking products to improve the overall aesthetics.
Furniture production: used for chamfering the holes of furniture parts to ensure smooth installation of fasteners and reduce contact damage.
Taper Drill Bit
A taper drill is a tool used to process tapered holes. It can accurately process the tapered angle so that the hole mouth can be tightly combined with a specific matching part (such as a tapered pin or a tapered screw). The tapered design of the taper drill makes the processed taper hole size stable and smooth, and is often used in machinery, molds, woodworking and other fields.
Taper Drill Bit Tool Function
Tapered hole processing: dedicated to processing various tapered holes, ensuring the taper of the hole is accurate and suitable for tapered parts.
Positioning hole processing: used to process tapered positioning holes to enhance the positioning accuracy and bonding firmness of accessories.
Taper hole trimming: Taper drills can be used for tapered hole trimming to correct the shape and surface defects of the hole.
Taper Drill Bit Applicable Scenarios
Mold matching hole: In mold manufacturing, it is used to process tapered matching holes to ensure accurate positioning between mold components.
Mechanical assembly parts: widely used to process tapered holes in mechanical parts, such as tapered shaft holes and tapered screw holes.
Metal processing: Suitable for taper hole processing of metal parts, providing high-precision and high-finish hole shapes.
Woodworking manufacturing: Taper drills are also widely used in woodworking processing to produce wooden hole shapes that meet taper requirements.
Repair processing: Used to repair and adjust taper holes to restore the original accuracy and finish of worn or deformed holes.
Boring and Finishing Tools
Reamer
A reamer is a tool used for finishing holes. The reaming process improves the dimensional accuracy and surface finish of the hole. The reamer has a multi-tooth design, which can stably cut and remove a small amount of material. It is the last process of hole processing and is used to achieve high-precision tolerance requirements.
Reamer Tool Function
Hole finishing: The reamer is used to finish the hole to ensure that the hole size meets strict tolerance standards.
Surface finishing: Reaming can significantly improve the surface quality of the hole and make the inner wall smooth and flawless.
Aperture correction: Suitable for micro-adjustment and correction of the aperture to eliminate errors caused by drilling or reaming.
Reamer Application Scenarios
Mold guide hole: In mold manufacturing, it is used for finishing key parts such as guide pin holes and ejector holes.
Mechanical parts: Widely used for precision hole processing of mechanical parts to ensure the stability and reliability of mating parts.
Automobile engine: Reamers are used for processing precision holes such as engine cylinder blocks and bearing seat holes to ensure assembly quality.
Hydraulic parts processing: used for high-precision hole processing in hydraulic components to ensure the sealing and functionality of the hydraulic system.
Aerospace: suitable for hole processing of aerospace parts to meet the requirements of high precision and high reliability.
Boring Tool
A boring tool is a tool used to enlarge or correct existing holes, mainly used for finishing and semi-finishing of large holes. Boring tools can enlarge or adjust the hole diameter by cutting the inner hole during rotation, and are suitable for processing high-precision, large-sized holes.
Function of Boring Tool
Finishing and trimming of holes: used for precise trimming of holes to ensure the roundness, smoothness and straightness of holes.
Expanding the hole diameter: Boring tools can enlarge the existing hole diameter to meet specific assembly requirements.
Step hole processing: used to process step holes with different diameters to achieve multi-level hole structure.
Boring Tool Applicable Scenarios
Large molds: suitable for finishing large-sized holes such as guide pin holes and sliding holes in large molds. Machining: widely used for hole trimming of mechanical parts, such as cylinder blocks and sleeves.
Power generation equipment: Boring tools are used for hole processing in power generation equipment to ensure the assembly accuracy of equipment components. Heavy machinery: suitable for hole processing of heavy machinery and equipment, such as hole trimming of key parts such as drilling rigs and presses.
Military manufacturing: In military manufacturing, it is used to process high-precision, large-diameter holes to meet stringent usage requirements.
