In the actual processing of the high speed milling cutter, due to the local damage of milling cutter components, the security and the decline in service life of the milling cutter generally exist, which seriously restricts its technical advantages of high-efficiency and high-precision processing. The tooth damage of the milling cutter is fuzzy and uncertain, which brings obstacles to the improvement of security stability and working efficiency of the milling cutter. The high speed milling cutter is subjected to high centrifugal force and cutting load during the milling process, resulting in damage to the milling components. Based on the material mechanical properties of milling cutter components and the impact experiment under a high strain rate, the damage types and formation mechanism of the milling cutter are analyzed, and the milling cutter damage model is established. The damage equivalent weight is adopted to quantitatively evaluate the damage degree of milling cutter teeth. Finite element simulation is used to find the vulnerable part of the milling cutter in high speed milling. Then the evolution process of milling cutter damage is analyzed, and the recognition and judgment method of milling cutter damage behavior is put forward, and lastly, this judgment method concerning the milling cutter damage is verified through experiment. Keywords: high speed milling cutter, component material, strain rate, damage model Highlights • Damage types and indexes were identified for the high speed milling cutter. • A model that can calculate milling cutter damage under the centrifugal force, the dynamic cutting force and the pre-tightening force was established. • The initial and the critical damage values were obtained by the cutting simulation and the high speed milling test. • Damage behavior features of the milling cutter components materials were analyzed. • A recognition and judgment method of milling cutter damage behavior was put forward.