4 Types of End Mills to Make your Machining Process Easier

End mill cutters are undoubtedly an essential part of the industrial milling process. These tools have cutting surfaces called flutes that define how refined the cutting process and the end product will be.

Generally, there are four different kinds of end mills that are used in sync with the end-product desired. They are:

Straight Flute

As the name suggests, these end mills have ‘straight’ and basic flute and are best for general use. They are also widely popular for their good edge quality.

Up-cut and Down-cut End Mills

They are spiral tools that either carry the residue chips up and away from the designated area, hence giving it a somewhat rough finishing, or take them down for a smoother top finish.

Ball-nose Mill

Ball-nose mill has rounded tips that are ideal for 3D tooling as they produce some high quality carved surfaces.

V-bit

Generally used for carving a V-shaped depression in the material, v-bit end mill comes in two forms- 60° or 90° V-bit. The sharp tip of the tool is used to cut through the narrow paths whereas the wider bottom is used to create larger cuts. This tool is also ideal when one wants exceptionally sharp edges, unlike the other end mill tools.

Pro tip: If you want even better finish for your material, go for end mills that are tipped with solid carbide.

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