What is a face mill used to do?

• A. Create a flat surface across the top of a workpiece.
• B. Drill holes.
• C. Shape internal threads.
• D. Machine curved surfaces.

Answer: (A)

Face milling removes material from the face of a workpiece to produce a flat, level surface. This straight-on cutting action across the top surface is exactly what a face mill is designed for, making a smooth, large flat area efficiently. Drilling creates holes, so it’s not about removing material from the surface in a flat-down manner. Internal threads are formed with tapping or thread milling, not by a face mill. Curved surfaces require tools capable of following a contour, such as ball end or contour cutters, not a flat-face cutter. So the primary use of a face mill is to create a flat surface across the top of a workpiece.