Fræsing

Fræsing (Danish for milling) is a machining process in which material is removed from a workpiece using a rotating cutting tool. It is performed on milling machines and CNC milling centers and can produce flat surfaces, slots, pockets, contours, and other complex geometries. The basic principle is that a cutter with multiple cutting edges removes material as it advances relative to the stationary workpiece.

Workpieces are typically clamped in a vise or fixture, and the cutting path is controlled manually or by computer numerical control. Cutting directions can be up-cutting (conventional milling) or down-cutting (climb milling), which affect tool life, chatter, and surface finish. Milling operations are commonly categorized as peripheral milling, where the cutting edges engage the workpiece along the circumference of the tool, and face milling, where material is removed by the tool’s end or face.

Common cutting tools include end mills, ball-nose mills, face mills, and slot drills. Materials machined span metals, plastics, wood, and composites. Typical outcomes include precise dimensions, smooth surfaces, pockets, slots, and complex profiles achieved through multiple passes and multi-axis setups.

In modern manufacturing, milling is frequently performed with CNC control, using CAM software to generate toolpaths. Factors such as feeds and speeds, spindle power, and cooling influence productivity and quality. Safety considerations include chip hazards, proper workholding, and personal protective equipment.

Fræsing has a long-standing role as a fundamental metalworking and fabrication process and remains essential across industries, from precision engineering to aerospace and automotive manufacturing. See also milling machine, end mill, CNC milling.