A cutter head is a rotating piece of a machine containing a cutting bit that makes shapes in a work piece such as in a computer numerical control or CNC machine. The cutter head may also be a stationary tool that a work piece moves around such as found in a milling machine. It creates the cuts on the stock that give it its usefulness or its design often, a part is cut from a solid billet piece of stock. The cutter head is typically made of a material that is much harder than the product it is cutting and resembles the shape of the cut it is to perform.
In wood turning or machining, the cutter head is typically made of steel. Wood is also sanded smooth after it is machined with a cutter head, so the finished cut does not need to be perfectly smooth like some steel or iron parts. Many of the materials used to create a cutter head for a CNC machine need to be stronger or harder than steel. Tungsten and carbide are often used in the creation of cutter heads. To help add longevity to these cutter heads, coolant is used to reduce the heat produced in the cutting procedure.
