What is the primary purpose of using a milling cutter?

The primary purpose of using a milling cutter is to machine flat surfaces and achieve specific geometries. Milling cutters are specifically designed to remove material from a workpiece through rotational motion, creating various shapes and features such as slots, grooves, contours, and flat surfaces. This versatility in shaping metals and other materials allows manufacturers to produce components to exact specifications.

While milling can involve applications that may touch upon other options, such as drilling or cutting through large sheets, these are not the primary functions of the milling cutter itself. Instead, milling cutters excel in tasks requiring precise control over the geometry of the finished part, making them essential tools in machining and manufacturing processes.