Contour plunge milling

This invention relates generally as indicated to a method of plunge milling for removing large amounts of material from a workpiece blank. A plunge milling system () for effecting rapid removal of material from a workpiece blank during a rough and/or finishing cutting procedure. In this system, an axial cutting tool () is rotated about its axis and axially moved into engagement with the workpiece blank for cutting material from the workpiece. When the tool () is engaged with the workpiece, the tool is also moved transaxially and simultaneously with the axial movement whereby material is removed from the workpiece blank along a curved path.