Cutter pitch refers to the number of cutting stations in a milling cutter. Coarse, Medium, or Fine Pitch are the normal classifications. Pitch is determined as the cutters are designed to allow for appropriate chip clearance, depths of cut, and feed rates per tooth. Coarse pitch cutters are used for general purpose and heavy chip load milling operations. They have large chip gullets and adequate clearances to accept large depths of cut and high feed rates. Coarse pitch cutters generally draw less horsepower owing to fewer inserts engaged in cutting simultaneously. Medium pitch cutters are for lighter feed rates and general-purpose work where it is desirable to have more than one insert cutting at a time. This cutter will reduce entry shock and cutting pressures while maintaining acceptable feed rates. Fine pitch cutters have many inserts engaged in cutting at the same time. Chip load per tooth is reduced which in turn lessens the effects of deflection and chatter. Fine pitch cutters are effective in high production and on thin-walled parts, where edge breakout is a problem. The larger the number of teeth allows for high table feed rates in inches per minute while maintaining a light feed rate or chip load per tooth. There are, however, two disadvantages to the fine pitch cutters. First, the increased number of inserts engaged in the cut at a given time will raise the horsepower requirements of the application. Secondly, the close spacing of the inserts reduces the clearance for the chip flow. The cutter is usable in light feed per tooth applications only