Contour die milling with a toroidal cutter

摘要

A contoured die surface is milled with a toroidal cutter and a three axis milling machine by orienting the toroidal cutter with its axis of rotation at an acute angle substantially greater than zero degrees with respect to the plunge direction of the milling machine, driving the toroidal cutter from the milling machine and passing the cutter over substantially all the die surface in engagement therewith while maintaining the acute angle constant and moving the cutter in the plunge direction according to a predetermined program.