MACHINING Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 26 Milling Machines 451 Miscellaneous Milling Cutters Included in this category are cutters that do not fit into any of the previously mentioned groups, Figure 26-22. 26.4.2 Care of Milling Cutters Milling cutters are expensive and can be damaged easily if care is not taken in their use and storage. The following recommendations will help extend cutter life: • Avoid using a dull cutter. The tool can be damaged beyond repair. • Properly support the cutter and make sure the work is held rigidly. • Employ the correct cutter for the job. • Use the correct cutting speed and feed for the material being machined. • Be sure there is an ample flow of cutting fluid. • Before starting the first cut, make sure the cutter is rotating in the proper direction. • Clean cutters before returning them to storage. • Store cutters in individual compartments, on wooden pegs, or in a rack, Figure 26-23. Do not allow them to contact other cutters or tools. • When using horizontal mills, never hammer a cutter on an arbor. Examine the arbor for nicks or burrs if a cutter does not slide on easily. Do not forget to key the cutter to the arbor. • Place a section of wood under an end mill when removing it from a vertical milling machine. This will prevent cutter damage if it is dropped acci- dentally. Protect your hands with a heavy cloth or gloves. • Angle milling cutters differ from other cutters in that the cutting edges are neither parallel nor at right angles to the cutter axis. • Formed milling cutters are designed to accurately duplicate a contour. A wide range of shapes can be machined with the standard form cutters avail- able. Included in this cutter classification are the concave cutter, convex cutter, corner rounding cutter, and gear cutter. • Metal slitting saws are thin milling cutters that resemble the circular saw blades used in woodworking. Goodheart-Willcox Publisher KEO Cutters Goodheart-Willcox Publisher Figure 26-22. A—T-slot milling cutter and the cut it produces. B—Woodruff keyseat cutter with indexable inserts. C—A dovetail cutter with indexable insert cutting edges. A B C PathomP/Shutterstock.com Figure 26-23. Store cutting toolholders and cutters so they cannot come into contact with other cutters. Storage rack for cutting tools and toolholders