For particularly soft materials, such as aluminum alloys, copper alloys, mild steel, etc., milling is generally considered a more suitable processing method than tapping. This is mainly due to the series of advantages that milling teeth bring when processing such materials:
- Reduce material extrusion and deformation:
Soft materials are prone to extrusion and deformation during processing. Because tooth milling is a rotational cutting process, the cutting force can be controlled more effectively, thereby reducing the extrusion and deformation of the material during processing.
- Improve thread surface quality:
Thread milling can be performed at lower cutting forces, which helps produce smoother thread surfaces on soft materials. Tapping in soft materials can easily cause the thread surface to be uneven or rough.
- Improve processing efficiency:
For soft materials, milling teeth can use higher cutting speeds and feed rates, which means more parts can be processed in the same time, thereby increasing production efficiency.
- Better chip removal effect:
Chips generated during machining of soft materials may adhere to the tool, resulting in reduced cutting performance. The milling cutter is designed with a better chip removal groove, which can effectively remove chips and reduce the impact of chips on processing quality.
- Reduce tool wear:
When machining particularly soft materials, milling teeth can reduce the friction between the tool and the material, thereby reducing tool wear. In contrast, tapping in soft materials may accelerate tool wear due to chip adhesion and material extrusion.
- Flexibility and adjustability:
The adjustability and flexibility of the milling process is greater than that of tapping, making it easier to adjust the depth, angle and shape of the thread during machining. This is especially important for soft materials as their behavior during machining may be more complex. not predictable.