Abstract
This paper presents and experimental investigation of high-spindle-speed end milling of dies and molds. Several issues involved with the high-spindle-speed ball end milling of SKD11 die steel material of hardened up to 60HRc, have been studied and explained from an analysis of cutting forces. The experiments were performed using a CNC milling machine equipped with a high speed air bearing spindle and small size ball-nose end mills with deferent cutting edge geometry. Dry cutting conditions were used and the optimum cutting edge geometry have been specified based on the tool lives.
