Overview
ISO 3855:1977 - "Milling cutters - Nomenclature" is an international standard that defines the terminology and classification of milling cutters. Its primary purpose is to provide a clear, consistent nomenclature (in English and French) for describing milling cutter types, features and methods of drive. An annex supplies equivalent German and Italian terms (published under the responsibility of the respective member bodies). Note: only the English and French terms are official ISO terms.
Key Topics
The standard organizes and standardizes technical vocabulary for milling and milling cutters, covering:
- Definitions
- Fundamental definition of milling as a machining operation with a circular primary motion and a feed motion.
- Milling processes
- Conventional terms used for face, peripheral and direction-of-cut processes.
- Characteristics of milling cutters
- Body and tooth forms: straight, helical (right/left), staggered teeth; triangular, parabolic, flat-relieved, eccentric tooth profiles; plain, interrupted and roughing cutting-edge forms.
- Tooth spacing and cutting direction: equally/unequally spaced teeth; right-hand and left-hand cutting.
- Drive (mounting) types
- Shank (4.2): plain parallel, parallel with flat, threaded, Morse taper (various), quick-release tanged types.
- Bore/arbor (4.3): driving holes, keyway, centring with internal thread, direct spindle mounting.
- Design / construction
- Solid cutters, cutters with brazed tips, indexable/inserts, cutters with inserted/brazed teeth.
- Classification by driving method
- Distinguishes shank-type and bore/arbor-type milling cutters and lists common cutter types: end mills (including ball-nosed), slot drills, T-slot cutters, dovetail, tapered diesinking, metal slitting saws, slotting cutters, slab (plain) mills, shell/mounted cutters, side-and-face, cutter heads, convex/concave profiles, angular and single/double-angle cutters.
Applications - Who uses ISO 3855
ISO 3855 is useful for:
- Tool designers and manufacturers standardizing product descriptions and catalogs
- Procurement and inventory teams specifying tooling in purchase orders
- Machinists and CNC programmers for unambiguous tooling identification
- Technical writers, training materials and standards committees for consistent terminology
- Suppliers and customers across borders to avoid translation ambiguity (German/Italian equivalents included)
Benefits & SEO keywords
Using ISO 3855 improves clarity in tooling specification, reduces misunderstandings in international trade, and supports consistent documentation for milling cutter types, tool nomenclature, shank milling cutters, bore milling cutters, end mills, and slotting cutters.
Related standards
For more detailed dimensional, performance or safety requirements consult other ISO documents on cutting tools and tooling systems (refer to relevant ISO tool standards in your organization or national standards body).
