The embodiments described herein relate to methods, systems, and structures for cutting a part to form a highly reflective and smooth surface thereon. In some embodiments, the part includes substantially horizontal and vertical surfaces with edges and corners. In described embodiments, a diamond cutter is used to cut a surface of the part during a milling operation where the diamond cutter contacts the part a number of times with each rotation of the spindle of a milling machine. The diamond cutter has a cutting edge and a land. The cutting edge cuts the surface of the part and the land burnishes the surface of the part to form a highly reflective and smooth surface. Thus, the diamond cutter cuts and burnishes portions of the part, thereby eliminating a subsequent polishing step.

A method of manufacturing an extrusion die (102, 152, 302). The method comprises providing the extrusion die (102, 152, 302), the extrusion die (102, 152, 302) having a plurality of die pins (154, 316) defining a plurality of slots (156, 320), the plurality of die pins (154, 316) having an initial die pin width and an initial die pin depth and the plurality of slots having an initial slot width (Ws) and an initial slot depth (Ds), providing a micro-milling machine (104) with a spindle (122), providing a micro-cutting tool (120) coupled to the spindle (122), mounting the extrusion die (102, 152, 302) proximate the micro-cutting tool (120), and removing material from one or more die pins (154, 316) using the micro-cutting tool (120), the micro-cutting tool (120) making one or more cutting passes against the one or more die pins (154, 316) to remove the material. Micro-milling apparatuses and further methods are provided, as are other aspects.

A method of manufacturing an extrusion die (102, 152, 302). The method comprises providing the extrusion die (102, 152, 302), the extrusion die (102, 152, 302) having a plurality of die pins (154, 316) defining a plurality of slots (156, 320), the plurality of die pins (154, 316) having an initial die pin width and an initial die pin depth and the plurality of slots having an initial slot width (Ws) and an initial slot depth (Ds), providing a micro-milling machine (104) with a spindle (122), providing a micro-cutting tool (120) coupled to the spindle (122), mounting the extrusion die (102, 152, 302) proximate the micro-cutting tool (120), and removing material from one or more die pins (154, 316) using the micro-cutting tool (120), the micro-cutting tool (120) making one or more cutting passes against the one or more die pins (154, 316) to remove the material. Micro-milling apparatuses and further methods are provided, as are other aspects.

A thermally insulated pipe system includes a pipe with an outer diameter and a thermally insulating pipe section mounted on it. The pipe section has two longitudinal parts with longitudinal openings forming an aperture for the pipe. The parts face each other in a symmetry plane, with two webs in each opening that extend substantially to the symmetry plane and are arranged at an angle between 45 and 90, forming a first groove between the webs and second grooves between each web and the surface of the opening.

A thermally insulated pipe system includes a pipe with an outer diameter and a thermally insulating pipe section mounted on it. The pipe section has two longitudinal parts with longitudinal openings forming an aperture for the pipe. The parts face each other in a symmetry plane, with two webs in each opening that extend substantially to the symmetry plane and are arranged at an angle between 45 and 90, forming a first groove between the webs and second grooves between each web and the surface of the opening.