B23C MILLING (broaching B23D; broach-milling in making gears B23F; arrangement for copying or controlling B23Q)
Description
B23C covers machine tools and processes for milling operations, including the removal of material from workpieces using rotating cutters with multiple cutting edges. This subclass encompasses milling machines (horizontal, vertical, and universal types), their design, construction, and control systems, as well as milling techniques and tool holders. It includes both conventional and specialized milling applications such as gear cutting, form milling, and profile milling, but excludes grinding and other abrasive finishing processes covered elsewhere in B23.
Filing statistics
CPC subclass B23C recorded 24,967 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings declined from 1,871 in 2013 to 1,686 in 2023 (-10%), peaking at 2,770 applications in 2017. The most active applicants in class B23 are ITW (ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS) (3,642 applications), DISCO CORPORATION (3,316 applications) and FANUC (3,111 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
22 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
Navigate with arrow keys, Enter to open
- B23C 1/00 Milling machines not designed for particular work or special operations
- B23C 2200/00 Details of milling cutting inserts
- B23C 2210/00 Details of milling cutters
- B23C 2215/00 Details of workpieces
- B23C 2220/00 Details of milling processes
- B23C 2222/00 Materials of tools or workpieces composed of metals, alloys or metal matrices
- B23C 2224/00 Materials of tools or workpieces composed of a compound including a metal
- B23C 2226/00 Materials of tools or workpieces not comprising a metal
- B23C 2228/00 Properties of materials of tools or workpieces, materials of tools or workpieces applied in a specific manner
- B23C 2230/00 Details of chip evacuation
- B23C 2235/00 Details of milling keys
- B23C 2240/00 Details of connections of tools or workpieces
- B23C 2245/00 Details of adjusting inserts or bits in the milling cutter
- B23C 2250/00 Compensating adverse effects during milling
- B23C 2255/00 Regulation of depth of cut
- B23C 2260/00 Details of constructional elements
- B23C 2265/00 Details of general geometric configurations
- B23C 2270/00 Details of milling machines, milling processes or milling tools not otherwise provided for
- B23C 3/00 Milling particular work; Special milling operations; Machines therefor (milling gear-teeth B23F, )
- B23C 5/00 Milling-cutters (for cutting gear-teeth B23F21/12)
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class B23, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- ITW (ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS) US 3,642
- DISCO CORPORATION JP 3,316
- FANUC JP 3,111
- ROBERT BOSCH DE 2,711
- FANUC 2,163
- GE (GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY) US 2,113
- ISCAR IL 1,516
- SIEMENS DE 1,459
- LINCOLN GLOBAL US 1,433
- KOBE STEEL JP 1,423