Is dry milling better or wet milling better?

Milling is a fundamental and widely used machining method in the field of mechanical processing. Its efficiency and quality directly impact the performance of the final product. Shandong GSK CNC Equipment Co., Ltd., a manufacturer specializing in a wide range of machining equipment, is often asked by customers: Which is better, dry milling or wet milling? This article analyzes this question from multiple perspectives to help readers fully understand the advantages and disadvantages of both milling methods and provides reference recommendations based on practical application scenarios.

Advantages and Limitations of Dry Milling

Dry milling refers to the use of no coolant or lubricant during the cutting process. This method has gained considerable attention with the promotion of energy conservation and environmental protection concepts.

Cost Savings: Eliminating the need to purchase and dispose of coolant reduces production costs.

Environmental and Clean: Avoiding the environmental pollution and waste disposal challenges associated with coolant results in a cleaner workshop environment.

Easy Workpiece Post-Processing: No liquid residue is left, reducing cleaning steps.

Simplified Equipment: No cooling system is required, reducing equipment maintenance.

Dry milling also has significant drawbacks.

Heat dissipation is diffcult, leading to increased cutting temperatures and potentially thermal damage to the tool and workpiece.

Tool wear accelerates, especially during high-speed cutting.

High cutting forces can easily generate vibration, affecting surface quality.

Dry milling is more suitable for applications with lower cutting difficulty and moderate surface quality requirements, such as machining certain light alloys or plastics.

Advantages and Limitations of Wet Milling

Wet milling involves the use of cutting fluid during machining. This fluid not only provides cooling but also lubrication.

Effective cooling reduces cutting zone temperatures, protecting the tool and workpiece from thermal deformation.

Lubrication reduces cutting forces and extends tool life.

Flushing removes chips, improving machining efficiency and surface quality.

Wet milling has a wide range of applications and can be used for precision machining of high-hardness materials and complex parts.

Wet milling also presents some inconveniences.

The high cost of cutting fluid and the subsequent wastewater disposal burden can easily increase the burden on businesses.

The working environment may be relatively humid, increasing the risk of rust on equipment and workpieces.

Liquid residue requires cleaning, and the machined parts require drying.

In actual production, wet milling often ensures high-quality machining requirements and is particularly essential for machining heavy loads, high precision, and high-hardness materials.

Selecting a milling method from the perspective of machining equipment

SGSK specializes in a variety of machining centers and machine tools, including vertical machining centers, horizontal machining centers, gantry machining centers, and multi-function milling machines. These machines offer different designs and functions to support wet and dry milling.

Most vertical and horizontal machining centers are equipped with comprehensive cooling systems, making them suitable for wet milling and are used for machining precision or high-hardness parts.

Multi-function milling machines and radial milling machines offer flexible options for wet and dry milling, depending on the material properties and machining requirements.

The equipment's continuous operating capacity, the sophistication of its cooling system, and the workpiece material are all factors to consider when selecting a milling method.

New Technologies and Trends: The Future of Dry Milling

With advancements in tool materials, coating technology, and machine tool rigidity, the feasibility of dry milling has greatly increased. New carbide and ceramic cutting tools offer improved high-temperature resistance, reducing heat-related wear. Some high-end equipment even incorporates air cooling or minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) technology, enhancing both environmental performance and machining performance.

Some industries are also actively promoting dry machining as a key initiative in green manufacturing. For example, demand for dry machining is growing in the automotive lightweighting sector.

In the future, dry milling is expected to play an even more important role in qualified working conditions, but it is not suitable for all machining operations.

Professional Advice from Shandong GSK CNC Equipment Co., Ltd.

Based on current technology and market demand, SGSK recommends that users rationally select a milling method based on their specific machining conditions:

For machining complex, high-precision parts using high-hardness materials, wet milling is recommended, in conjunction with our vertical and horizontal machining centers to ensure high efficiency and stability.

For machining lightweight, non-precision parts or tasks requiring high environmental standards, consider dry milling strategies, leveraging our multifunctional milling and drilling machines and universal milling machines to improve efficiency.

Adjust cooling methods based on actual cutting temperatures and tool wear, flexibly employing advanced technologies such as MQL.

Regularly maintain machine tool cooling systems to ensure machining stability and cutting results.

As a leading machine tool manufacturer, we offer a full range of products and solutions, from vertical drilling machines to gantry machining centers, enabling customers to seamlessly transition between dry and wet milling, enhancing production flexibility and efficiency.

VI.

Dry milling and wet milling each have their own advantages and limitations, and it's not easy to simply judge one over the other. The key lies in a comprehensive consideration of workpiece material properties, machining accuracy requirements, production environment, and equipment conditions. SGSK emphasizes the importance of integrating equipment and processes, providing users with customized equipment configurations and technical support.

For in-depth information on milling solutions and supporting equipment tailored to their specific needs, please visit SGSK. With our professional experience and complete product line, we are committed to helping our manufacturing customers achieve more efficient, greener and smarter production in milling.