Abstract:　The　ADC12　aluminum　alloy　is　prone　to　severe　tool　wear　and　high　cutting　heat　during　high-speed　milling　because　of　its　high　hardness.　This　study　analyzes　the　high-speed　milling　process　from　the　perspective　of　different　chip　morphologies.　The　influence　of　cutting　temperature　on　chip　morphology　was　expounded.　A　two-dimensional　orthogonal　cutting　model　was　established　for　finite　element　analysis　(FEA)　of　high-speed　milling　of　ADC12　aluminum　alloy.　A　theoretical　analysis　model　of　cutting　force　and　cutting　temperature　was　proposed　based　on　metal　cutting　theory.　The　variations　in　chip　shape,　cutting　force,　and　cutting　temperature　with　cutting　speed　increasing　were　analyzed　via　FEA.　The　results　show　that,　with　the　increase　in　cutting　speed,　the　chip　morphology　changes　from　continuous　to　serrated,　and　then　back　to　continuous.　The　serrated　chip　is　weakened　and　the　cutting　temperature　is　lowered　when　the　speed　is　lower　than　600 m·min−1　or　higher　than　1800 m·min−1.　This　study　provides　a　reference　for　reducing　cutting　temperature,　controlling　chip　morphology　and　improving　cutting　tool　life.　Graphic　abstract:　[Figure　not　available:　see　fulltext.]　©　2020,　The　Nonferrous　Metals　Society　of　China　and　Springer-Verlag　GmbH　Germany,　part　of　Springer　Nature.