When compared to conventional milling procedures, trochoidal milling allows higher cutting speeds and deeper cuts while simultaneously reducing the loads imposed upon both tooling and the machine itself. With support from the computing power provided by the modern CNC machining portal, this concept allows manufacturers to execute complex milling operations with more speed and less expense. Trochoidal milling is a standard option in the WinMax control system from Hurco, with each data set ready to be accessed at just a single click.
During trochoidal, or wave milling, the tool's travel motion ─ in contrast with that encountered in conventional milling ─ is not linear, but instead proceeds along a spiral path. The milling tool penetrates into the workpiece to the point of complete immersion, and the cutting process proceeds across the entire length of the tool. This entails employing a special trochoid cutter featuring a diameter that is smaller than the groove or contour being machined. The penetration angle can be held consistently below 90 degrees with a combination of advance-feed and rotary motion. This reduces the loads and stresses imposed on both tooling and machinery to allow higher milling speeds and reduced processing times.
"The trochoidal process makes it possible to extend tool service life by as much as a factor of ten, while machining times drop by between 30 and 40 percent," reports Florian Kerkau, Applications Technician at Hurco. This is why trochoidal milling is a standard option in Hurco's WinMax control system, where each data set can be accessed with a single click. The program specifies the penetration point along with all of the other machining parameters. "Trochoidal milling is always the most economical solution in cases where conventional milling must rely on multiple depth stages," explains Kerkau. Trochoidal milling represents the process of choice when focus is on milling grooves and slots. In these applications, the aim is to remove much material in minimal time ─ just the job for trochoidal milling, whose substantially deeper machining depths endow it with a distinct advantage when compared to conventional milling techniques.
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