Milling cutter features: In a plain (slab) milling cutter, the chip space between the back of one tooth and the face of the next tooth is called the

Introduction / Context:
Milling cutters have defined surfaces that control chip formation and evacuation. Correctly naming these surfaces helps in specifying regrinds, analyzing chip flow, and diagnosing loading problems.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Plain (slab) milling cutter with straight or helical teeth.
• Terminology per standard cutter geometry.
• We distinguish face, land, fillet, and gash.

Concept / Approach:
The gash (also called flute space on some cutters) is the chip pocket. It is the space behind a tooth where the chip is accommodated before being expelled. The land is the narrow surface immediately behind the cutting edge. The face is the surface on which chip flows off the cutting edge. The fillet is the curved transition at the tooth root.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Handbooks and cutter drawings label these regions; chip capacity is tied to gash volume and affects feed capacity and loading.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Face: surface where chip slips; not the pocket.
• Fillet: the rounded root transition, not the main chip cavity.
• Land: the narrow support behind edge, not the space.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing “land” with “gash” leads to incorrect regrind instructions and reduced chip space after excessive face relief grinding.

Final Answer:
Gash