Milling tips Milling cutter pitches In milling selecting the proper cutter pitch is an important decision because it has a dramatic effect on, productivity, stability, and power consumption. In this episode, we’ll discuss the importance of selecting the correct number of inserts or pitch of a milling cutter, and its effect on the machining process. Milling cutters are manufactured in two or three main pitch assortments, In this animation we’ll look at three different pitches, Coarse, Close and Extra Close pitch cutters. The immediate advantage of increasing the number of inserts in the cutter, is increased table feed, however, increasing the number of inserts can cause problems on machines with stability or power issues. The close pitch design should always be your first choice for general purpose milling, Coarse pitch should be used for unstable conditions and long overhangs, Extra-close pitch should be used for higher feedrates and short chipping materials. Another important point, some cutters are designed with unequal spacing of the inserts around the cutter. This is referred to as differential pitch. Looking at an even pitch cutter, each insert on the cutter body is evenly spaced, On a differential pitch cutter, the design is based on unequal spacing of the inserts, around the cutter body. Differential pitch cutters are a good solution for breaking up harmonic vibrations, which in turn, increases stability. In summary, the number of inserts in a cutter body changes the cutters performance in certain situations, choosing the correct cutter pitch is important to maximize productivity. For more Smart tips contact one of our specialists or visit us at the Sandvik Coromant web site