Convex & Concave milling cutter

Convex and concave milling cutters are specialized cutting tools manufactured according to standards. They are divided into two types: convex half-round milling cutters and concave half-round milling cutters, used for machining convex and concave half-round external surfaces on workpieces, respectively.
Convex Milling Cutter

1. Primary Function
   Used for machining convex external surfaces on workpieces. The curved profile of the cutter teeth matches the convex surface of the workpiece. The core function of the convex half-round milling cutter is to efficiently and precisely mill concavearc surfaces or circular grooves with a specific radius.

1. Milling Concave Circular Grooves:Machining grooves with a semi-circular or segmental circular cross-section on flat or cylindrical surfaces. Examples include oil grooves on guide rails, decorative patterns, and seal rings.
2. Milling Internal Fillets:Creating smooth radial transitions at internal corners of parts. Applications include the roots of mold cavities and mechanical components, aiming to eliminate stress concentration, improve fatigue strength, and facilitate demolding.
3. Form/Profile Milling:Serving as part of a complex profile and used in combination with other form milling cutters.
4. Core Advantages
5. Precise Arc Forming Capability:The accuracy and consistency of the arc are entirely guaranteed by the precision of the cutter itself. It enables single-pass operation with good repeatability, offering far superior quality compared to manual profiling.
6. High Machining Efficiency:For machining continuous, long concave circular grooves, it can be completed in a single pass, significantly more efficient than using multiple passes with an end mill.
7. Excellent Surface Finish:The smooth, continuous arc surface is generated by the “envelope” formed by the precise profile of the cutter.
8. Ease of Operation:Reduces the skill requirements for the operator, making it particularly suitable for batch production.

Concave Milling Cutter

1. Primary Function
   Used for machining concave external surfaces on workpieces. The concave profile of the cutter teeth conforms to the concave surface of the workpiece. The core function of the concave half-round milling cutter is precisely the opposite of the convex type, used for efficiently and precisely milling convexarc surfaces or circular ribs with a specific radius.
2. Milling Convex Circular Ribs:Machining raised ribs with a semi-circular or segmental circular cross-section on workpieces. Examples include certain guide rails, matching convex keys, and decorative lines.
3. Milling External Radii:Machining rounded corners on the external edges of parts, making them smoother, safer, and improving appearance.
4. Form/Profile Milling:Used for machining the convex arc portions within complex profiles.
5. Precise Convex Arc Forming Capability:Capable of directly machining convex arcs with high precision and consistency, which is difficult to achieve with other universal tools.
6. Combines Efficiency and Quality:Similarly offers the advantages of single-pass operation, high efficiency, and good surface finish.
7. Solves Specific Machining Challenges:For convex arc surfaces requiring precise fits, the concave half-round milling cutter is often the only efficient and economical choice.

III. Application Examples

• Mold Manufacturing:

• Convex Cutter:For machining internal fillets in mold cavities (e.g., at the root of draft angles).
• Concave Cutter:For machining external radii on mold parting lines or surfaces.

• Mechanical Components:

Convex Cutter:Machining undercut grooves and oil grooves on shaft-type parts.Concave Cutter:Machining raised guide ribs on sliders and guide rails.

• Tool Manufacturing:Machining anti-slip ribs or grooves on tool handles.
• Woodworking and Craft Processing:Machining decorative convex and concave lines on wood or plastics.

Summary
Convex and concave milling cutters are a pair of functionally complementary, specialized form milling cutters. Their greatest value lies in their ability to directly, precisely, and efficiently replicate arc surfaces of a specific radius, whether concave grooves or convex ribs.
When your design requires precise and consistent circular profiles and involves a certain production volume, selecting this pair of cutters is the optimal solution for ensuring quality, improving efficiency, and reducing overall costs. They simplify complex profile machining into simple linear feed motions, making them indispensable tools in mass production.