There is a surprisingly wide variety of different types of end mills used in machining, some of which are used for rough stock removal and cutting a workpiece to shape, and others which are used to impart a desired finish to it, with a whole lot in between.
This short post will take a quick look at some of the more common types of end mills used in machining.
Square End Mills
With a 90-degree profile (hence the name) square end mills are used for a wide range of general purpose machining applications including but not limited to plunge cutting, slotting, and profiling. This makes them fairly versatile among end mills.
Radius End Mills
Radius end mills have a radiused nose, rather than a square nose, which makes them useful for cutting a specific radius in a workpiece.
Roughing End Mills
Roughing mills are used to remove a large amount of material from a workpiece relatively quickly. They typically have a serrated tooth configuration which leaves a fairly rough finish on the workpiece after the pass or passes are completed. They are sometimes referred to as hog mills and are available in coarse and fine pitch configurations.
Drill Mills
Drill mills or drill end mills are relatively versatile end mills that can be used for a wide variety of applications such as drilling, spotting, chamfering, countersinking and milling.
Corner Radius End Mills
Corner radius end mills are specialized types of end mills with a rounded cutting edge that are used when a specific cutting radius is needed.
Tapered End Mills
Tapered end mills are another specialized type of end mill that are used in die and mold applications when a specific taper is required to cut the specific shape needed.
Ball End Mills
Ball end mills are also known as ball nose end mills and have a rounded end, hence the name. They are used for cutting contours in workpieces, and can also be used for slotting and pocketing.
Keyway End Mills
Keyway end mills have an undersized cutting diameter which enables a precise fit for the cutting tool within the keystock.
Finishing End Mills
Finishing end mills are used to leave a smooth, polished finish on a workpiece, typically in a single pass. A special type, called a roughing and finishing end mill, is designed both to remove a large amount of material from the workpiece and leave the desired finish in a single pass.
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