A 45° corner chamfer improves cutting edge strength, so these end mills last longer than standard square end mills when milling hard material; however they do not create as sharp of a corner. Variable spacing between the flutes reduces vibration, allowing these end mills to provide fast cuts, smooth finishes, and long tool life on hard materials. They have a square end for milling square-bottomed slots, pockets, and edges. All are center cutting, allowing plunge cuts into a surface.

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.

Titanium-aluminum-nitride (TiAlN) and aluminum-titanium-nitride (AlTiN) coated end mills 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. Titanium-aluminum-silicon-nitride (TiAlSiN) coated end mills are extremely resistant to wear and diffusion because they have especially high hardness, even at high temperatures.

End mills with fewer flutes provide better chip clearance for high-volume, high-speed plunge, slotting, and roughing cuts; end mills with more flutes provide a finer finish and operate with less vibration when run at high speeds.