MaxiMill 271 is designed for applications where face, slot and chamfer milling are required. To ensure maximum performance, the cutters can be specified with either a 45° approach angle or as a high-speed tool with a 17° approach angle combined with the options of fine- and coarse-pitched cutter bodies to maximise application flexibility. Further extending the MaxiMill series to meet market expectation, Ceratizit has added a 12 mm insert system to the range. The advantage of these smaller inserts is that a greater number can be used, which in turn results in longer tool life and higher chip removal rates.
A key feature of the MaxiMill inserts is that they have eight usable cutting edges, making the system cost effective. In addition, the design delivers a sturdy and robust interface between the insert and material being cut, consequently achieving high cutting speeds and high levels of process security.
The inserts form part of the story, with the cutter bodies also playing an important role. As such, tight tolerances are demanded to ensure MaxiMill 271 milling cutters produce the best face and concentricity performance. With the irregular pitch of the insert pockets, the cutters also achieve extremely quiet machining, which when combined with the precision-ground Masterfinish geometry of the indexable inserts will deliver outstanding surface finishes, says Ceratizit. The availability of inserts, with a variety of geometries covering ISO P, M, K and S material classifications, also means that MaxiMill 271 can be applied to a range of applications.
Putting some numbers to the claims for MaxiMill 271, when run against a comparable cutter from a competitor, the results proved conclusive. Machining unalloyed S355 structural steel, a 125 mm diameter MaxiMill 271 face mill achieved 50% higher feed per tooth, along with an increase of 200% in cutting depth. The volume of swarf removed was also increased by 430%, with MaxiMill 271 achieving a volume of 523 cm³/min, as opposed to 97 cm³/min using the competitor tool. The overall result was a 50% increase in the number of components produced before replacement was required.
