What type of milling cutter is typically used for creating flat surfaces?

Face mills are specifically designed to create flat surfaces on a workpiece. They feature a large diameter and are equipped with multiple cutting edges, which allows for efficient removal of material from the surface. The design facilitates broad contact with the workpiece, ensuring that a flat, smooth finish is achieved.

End mills, while versatile and able to create flat surfaces, are primarily used for more intricate work, such as profile cutting, slotting, and contouring. Slab mills are also designed for flat surface machining, but they are less common compared to face mills for this particular application. Ball nose mills are primarily used for creating curved surfaces and profiles, not for producing flat surfaces.

Thus, face mills are the most effective choice for producing flat surfaces due to their specific design and intended function.