Milling cutters are cutting tools typically used inmilling machines or machining centres to performmilling operations (and occasionally in other machine tools).

Definition of side milling cutter. : a cylindrical milling cutter with teeth on the circumferential surface and on both sides.

Plain Milling, also called Surface Milling or Slab Milling, is milling flat surfaces with the milling cutter axis parallel to the surface being milled. The arbor is well supported in a horizontal plane between the milling machine spindle and one or more arbor supports.

In manufacturing, milling machines are very important. Aside from the fact that this machine is used for machining solid materials, a milling machine is also used for planing, die-sinking, keyway cutting, and routing, among others. The milling machine provides convenience to the operator because the workpiece is moved toward the cutter. In this manner, machining is more effective.

Some of the most important components of the milling machine are the mill tools. These tools are actually the cutting tools which are attached to the milling machine for the cutting process. There are many types of mill cutting tools depending on the shape and the size. Moreover, milling cutters are categorized according to coatings and rake angle. The cutting process is achieved by the movement of the cutter within the machine.

In order to achieve effective cutting, the features of the milling cutter must be critically considered. The milling cutter features include shape, flutes, center cutting, helix angle, shank, roughing, and coatings.