An end mill is a type of milling cutter used to improve the cutting performance of milling machines. While drill bits cut directly into the material and create holes in the axial direction only, end mills can cut laterally into the material to create slots or profiles.
People often get confused between drill bits and end mills. In terms of appearance, they differ from each other in terms of the geometry of flutes and bits. They come in a variety of different lengths, diameters, flutes and types and are used for slotting, profiling, contouring, counter-boring and reaming. They can also be used to make jewellery designs, wood engravings, mould making and circuit boards.
To guide you further, this blog will educate you about these types of mills to help you make an informed choice.
- Square mills
The square mills are considered the all-rounder among mills. Their applications range from slotting, side, and profiling to plunging and face milling. They are the ones who can deliver perfect 90-degree cuts on the corner of your workpiece. You can further utilise it to yield rough or suitable finishing based on the particular workpiece.
- V-bits
The significance of the name can be rooted in the V-shape pass that is formed by small tips and angles. They specialise in making narrow cuts, lines, engraving and even signs. They come in two varieties named 90 and 60-degree v-bits. - Bull nose mill
These kinds of mills come with a rounded corner that benefits you by distributing the cutting force uniformly. This enhances the life expectancy of the blades as they have to go through less damage comparatively. Their ability to fabricate flat-base grooves makes them ideal to function in mould milling operations. - Router mill
When one end of the end mill appears to be thinner compared to the other, then it is termed a router or fishtail mill. Due to this thin cutter shape, one can directly plunge into a material to create a flat surface without any hassle of breaking out. Additionally, they can also lend a helping hand in the process of contouring, routing and creating pockets.
Tips to choose the right mill
- Type of material
Before making the final purchase, analyse the material you are planning to cut on. This will help you to narrow down certain mills that would be ideal for that particular material. Not all mills are equipped to make cuts on materials. There are end mills that work differently for different materials. However, you can make cuts with any random mill but the finishing won't be satisfactory on your part and there is a high chance that the cut might not stay for a longer period. That would be the last thing you would expect from your chosen mill. - Consider the number of flutes
The number of spiral-shaped cutting edges present at either end of the cutter is called flutes. Most of the mills have one or two flutes present within them. If you are looking to create more intricate finishing then mills containing more than 5 flutes would be ideal for your use.
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