Difference Between Up Milling and Down

Milling
Today we will discuss about difference between up milling and down milling. The milling is a
machining process in which, a rotary cutter is used to remove the material from work piece in the
direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The milling process is done by the machine, which
hold both the tool and work piece in jig and fixture, known as milling machine. There are two
ways to cut the material from the work piece through milling machine. First one is named as
conventional milling or Up milling and the other one known as climb milling or down milling.
The main and basic difference between up milling and down milling is the direction of rotation
of cutter to the feed.

The milling operation is used to facing of those work piece, which are not symmetrical from its
axis. It is also used to cut pockets, drill, slot and shape the work piece according to the
requirement.

There are two ways to cut the material from the work piece through milling machine. First one is
named as conventional milling or Up milling and the other one known as climb milling or down
milling. The main and basic difference between up milling and down milling is the direction of
rotation of cutter to the feed.

In up milling the cutter is rotate clockwise when cutting the work piece from right to left. In this
type of milling the tool spins against the direction of feed. In this milling process, the cutting
chips are carried upward by the tool.

Image Source : http://mmu.ic.polyu.edu.hk/handout/0103/0103.htm

In down milling, the cutter rotates clockwise while cutting the work piece
from left to right. In this milling operation, the tool spins with the direction
of feed. The cutting chips are carried downward by the tool.

Image Source : http://mmu.ic.polyu.edu.hk/handout/0103/0103.htm

Difference between Up milling and Down

milling:

Up Milling Down Milling

1. In up milling the cutter rotates In Down milling, the cutter
against direction of feed. rotates with direction of feed.
2. It is also known as conventional It is also known as climb
milling. milling.

3. In this, chip width size is zero at In this cutting process, chip size
initial cut and increase with feed. It is maximum at start of cut and
is maximum at the end of feed. decrease with the feed. It is
zero at the end of feed.

4. In this process, heat is diffuse to the In down milling most of heat

work piece which causes the change diffuse to the chip does not
in metal properties. change the work piece
properties.

5. In up milling, tool wear is more In this, tool wear is less

because the tool runs against the compare to the up milling, due
feed. to the cutter rotate with the
feed.

6. Tool life is low. Tool life is high.

7. The cutting chips are carried upward The chips are carried downward
by the tool so known as up milling. by the tool so known as down
milling.

8. The cutting chips fall down in front The cutting chips fall down
of the cutting tool which again cut behind the tool. This gives
the chips cause less surface finish. better surface finish.

9. Due to upward force by tool, high In down milling, downward

strength zig and fixture required to force act on work piece normal
hold the work piece. zig and fixture required.

10. It is the traditional way of cutting It is non-traditional way, but

the work piece. now days, down milling used
more than up milling.

11. High quality cutting fluid is required In this process heat does not
because heat diffuse in the work diffuse in the work piece, so
piece. simple cutting fluid is required.

12. It required high cutting force It required low cutting force.

compare to down milling.