In milling, “climb milling” refers to a cutting technique where the cutter rotates in the same direction as the feed movement, essentially “climbing” into the workpiece, while “conventional milling” is when the cutter rotates opposite to the feed direction, meaning the cutter cuts against the material’s movement, which is considered the traditional method; climb milling generally provides better surface finish, reduced cutting forces, and longer tool life due to improved chip evacuation, while conventional milling can offer greater stability on machines with backlash due to the force pushing against the table feed direction.
Key differences:
- Cutting direction:
In climb milling, the cutter rotates with the feed direction, while in conventional milling, the cutter rotates against the feed direction.
- Chip evacuation:
Climb milling tends to have better chip removal as the chips are pushed away from the cutting edge, leading to a cleaner cut.
- Cutting forces:
Climb milling usually results in lower cutting forces due to the “pulling” action of the cutter, which can reduce vibration and improve stability on well-maintained machines.
- Application:
Climb milling is often preferred for finishing cuts due to its superior surface finish, while conventional milling might be used for roughing cuts or on machines with significant backlash where the force against the table is needed for control.
Here is a previous post on this subject.