What are the milling methods for gantry machining centers?

Gantry machining centers are mostly milled using the reverse milling method. However, forward milling should be used as much as possible to achieve better processing efficiency. Due to the intense conflict between the blades before cutting in the gantry machining center during reverse milling, the machining surface is hardened, making it difficult for the next cutter tooth to cut in.

When milling with a gantry milling machine, the milling width should be approximately equal to 2/3 of the milling cutter diameter, which ensures that the blade can immediately cut into the workpiece from the beginning, with almost no conflict. If it is less than 1/2 of the milling cutter diameter, the blade will start to "collide" with the workpiece again. As the cutting thickness decreases during cutting, the feed rate per tooth will also decrease due to the narrowing of the radial cutting width. The result of "conflict" is that the tool life is shortened. For cemented carbide tools, adding feed per tooth and reducing cutting depth are more advantageous.

Therefore, during rough milling, if the radial cutting width is smaller than the radius of the milling cutter, adding a tool feed will improve the tool life and shorten the processing time of the gantry milling machine. Of course, finishing milling requires a smooth surface of the workpiece, so the amount of tool feed should be limited.

Try adjusting this radial milling width to confirm the ratio of the milling cutter diameter to the radial milling width, preferably on a high-precision gantry machining center, in order to observe the changes in the workpiece surface roughness while adjusting the ratio.