A fine-point tip cuts lettering, numbering, and designs in a variety of metals and composites, such as aluminum, fiberglass, and titanium. 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. All are center cutting, allowing plunge cuts into a surface.

End mills with one flute are best where fine detail is required. They evacuate chips and dissipate heat better than end mills with more flutes, which extends tool life. End mills with two flutes can both engrave and chamfer, which reduces the need for multiple tools. Two-flute end mills are stronger than one-flute end mills and evenly distribute the cutting force for a better surface finish. Three flute end mills have the strongest tip that resists breaking. Precision-ground to a sharp point, these are commonly used to engrave serial numbers, logos, signage, and to create molds and dies. They distribute cutting force and resist heat build-up better than two-flute end mills for improved surface finish and tool life.

Use uncoated end mills for general purpose milling and short production runs. They stay sharper than coated end mills when used on soft materials like aluminum, leaving a better finish. Use end mills coated with titanium-aluminum-nitride (TiAlN) or aluminum-titanium-nitride (AlTiN) 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.

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