Face milling, especially high volume, with the High-Feed Milling method is perfect for creating a good platform for further machining operations or a final finishing. In most HFM applications, you’ll often get such close tolerances that only final finishing is needed.

Since the work involves large blocks, tools with large diameters are most often used. This means using trigon-style inserts in cutters with cassette bodies. High-feed face milling is relevant for most soft materials.

The HFM method is highly effective in cavity milling, and especially suitable in mold and die. Recommendations for tool choices and other parameters all depend upon what is to be machined, the size of the component to be produced and the level of rigidity.

Copy milling using the HFM method also is very practical for machining uneven surfaces.
In helical interpolation, the HFM method is a very suitable solution for making large-diameter holes—you can skip pre-machining or pre-drilling. The high-feed cutter has minimal contact with the component’s wall section. The advantage is more stable machining than with conventional milling cutters that have a 90-degree setting angle.

High-feed machining tools also can be applied to plunging operations. They’re especially appropriate for difficult materials like titanium and other light alloys. HFM is equally suitable for applications with long overhangs. The risk for vibrations drops, which extends the tool life. However, square inserts should be avoided for overhangs larger than 3 x D. Using HFM tools for plunging, however, relies upon normal feedrates used together with larger cutting depths.