With a wear-resistant coating and high helix angle, these end mills provide excellent shearing and chip removal in stainless steel and titanium. Made of solid carbide, they are harder, stronger, and more wear resistant than high-speed steel and cobalt steel end mills 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. The coating allows them to dissipate heat better than other end mills, especially at high speeds. At high temperatures, it creates a layer of aluminum oxide that transfers heat to the chips, keeping the tool cool, even when used without lubrication. End mills have a square end for milling square slots, pockets, and edges. All are center cutting, allowing plunge cuts into a surface.

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

Aluminum-titanium-nitride (AlTiN) coated end mills have a higher percentage of aluminum than titanium-aluminum-nitride (TiAlN) coated end mills.

These end mills have either a neck or shank that’s extended and has a reduced diameter—this prevents them from rubbing against your workpiece when deep milling. Variable spacing between the flutes reduces vibration, allowing the end mills to provide fast cuts, smooth finishes, and long tool life on hard materials. Often used for slotting and pocketing cuts in mold and die making, they have a 90° profile and rounded corners, which reduce flute breakage and chipping. Also known as corner radius end mills.

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.

An aluminum-titanium-nitride (AlTiN) coating allows them to 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. This makes these good for aggressive machining while roughing or making interrupted cuts.

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.

Center-cutting end mills allow plunge cuts into a surface.

Designed for milling the surfaces of plates and bars, these cutters consist of multiple carbide inserts and a holder. They help you reduce waste and cost in high-volume jobs—when the cutting edges dull, replace the inserts instead of the entire tool. The inserts are locked in place with a screw for a hold that’s strong enough to handle the high speeds of a CNC machine. These cutters have a large mill diameter for making wide, shallow cuts on the face or side of your workpiece. They also have a hole that passes coolant from your machine onto the workpiece, minimizing heat.

When choosing a holder, consider the type of finish you want. The finer the finish, the more inserts you’ll need. More inserts mean tighter spacing, so you can machine at high speeds and remove material quickly while leaving a smooth surface. However, you’ll also need more machine power. Fewer inserts mean a coarser finish—the inserts are spaced apart to help with chip evacuation. A coarse finish is best for roughing applications, light machining, and cutting soft metals such as aluminum.

Inserts (sold separately) have a negative rake, which means they have cutting edges on both sides. They last longer than comparable positive-rake inserts. As each edge dulls, you can rotate to a fresh one. When all the edges on one side are worn, flip the insert over. Built-in chip breakers prevent long chips from forming, so they won’t block the flow of coolant or damage your tool. Inserts sold individually come packed in a clear plastic case to protect cutting edges during shipment. Inserts sold in packs come factory sealed from the manufacturer for maximum traceability.