Get speed and longevity when cutting keyseats with these carbide end mills that have staggered teeth. The alternating right- and left-hand tooth style removes more material at high speeds than straight-tooth keyseat cutters. They mill precise notches in rotary shafts to fit machine keys and can also be used for slot milling. Made of solid carbide, these end mills are harder, stronger, and more wear resistant than high-speed steel and cobalt steel for the longest life and best finish on hard material. Their extreme hardness means they are brittle, so a highly rigid setup, such as a CNC machine, is necessary to prevent the end mill from breaking.

Use uncoated end mills for general purpose milling and short production runs. They will stay sharper than coated end mills and leave a better finish on soft materials like aluminum. Use aluminum-titanium-nitride (AlTiN) coated end mills for demanding, high-speed jobs in hard material as well as for longer production runs. The coating reduces friction and vibration as they’re used, making them more wear resistant than uncoated end mills. They dissipate heat better than other end mills, especially at high speeds. At high temperatures, the coating creates a layer of aluminum oxide that transfers heat to the chips, keeping the tool cool, even when used without lubrication.