Types of End Mills

HSS/HSS-E End Mills

HSS end mills are milling tools made from high-alloy high-speed steel (HSS). These cutters are specifically designed to perform precise milling operations in various materials such as metal, wood, or plastic.

Solid Carbide End Mills

Solid carbide end mills (solid carbide stands for tools made from solid hard metal) are milling tools manufactured from solid carbide, a material consisting of a mixture of tungsten carbide and cobalt. These cutters are known for their high hardness, wear resistance, and temperature resistance, which makes them particularly suitable for machining hard materials.

Long-Shank End Mills

Long-shank end mills are special milling tools with an extended shank that allows them to reach deeper into workpieces or into hard-to-access areas. They are frequently used in metalworking, woodworking, and in the milling of plastics.

Advantages of End Mills

Economy

• Indexable inserts can be replaced: When the cutting edge is worn, only the insert needs to be replaced instead of the entire cutter. This reduces tooling costs.
• Longer tool life: By using different indexable inserts, the overall tool life can be increased.

Versatility

• Adaptability: Indexable inserts are available in various geometries and materials, so they can be adapted to different machining conditions and materials (e.g. steel, stainless steel, aluminium, plastics).
• Use in various applications: From rough material removal to fine finishing, different milling operations can be carried out with the appropriate inserts.

Precision and Quality

• High cutting precision: Indexable inserts offer a consistent cutting geometry, which leads to high precision and good surface finishes.
• Optimised cutting forces: The geometry of the inserts can be optimised to minimise cutting forces and improve machining quality.

Easy Handling

• Fast changeover: Replacing indexable inserts is usually quick and straightforward, which minimises setup times and increases efficiency.
• No special alignment required: Indexable inserts often do not need to be precisely aligned, which further simplifies replacement.

Technological Advances

• Modern coatings: Many indexable inserts are equipped with special coatings that increase their hardness and wear resistance and reduce friction.
• Optimised geometries: Advanced cutting geometries contribute to efficiency and success in milling.

Applications and Fields of Use of End Mills

End mills are extremely versatile and can efficiently machine a wide range of materials. The most common workpiece materials include:

Metals

• Steel (unalloyed and alloyed)
• Stainless steel
• Aluminium
• Cast iron

Plastics

• Polyethylene (PE)
• Polypropylene (PP)
• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
• Acrylic (PMMA)

Wood

• Solid wood
• Chipboard
• MDF (medium-density fibreboard)
• Multiplex

Composites

• GFRP (glass-fibre reinforced plastic)
• CFRP (carbon-fibre reinforced plastic)

Other Materials

• Foams
• Leather