Trochoidal milling

The basic idea is to move the cutter around in a circular pattern with each circle advancing into the cut.  This is an approach to rough milling in which straight lines are replaced by “curlicue” circular moves of constant radius. Potential benefits include: 

• Faster metal removal. Making the constant circular curve the only direction change allows a high feed rate to be consistently maintained.
• Longer tool life. The cutting edge is in contact with the material through only about 5% of the cutter’s revolution vs. up to 50% for more conventional cutting. Cooling of the tool is improved.

This new machining method can be defined as circular milling that includes simultaneous forward movements (see illustration). It is particularly suitable for processing hard to machine materials such as super alloys, for hard machining and stainless steels, and offers a high cost saving potential.