Carbide End Mills

Carbide End Mills

Why choose Us Wide Range of Applications Our company mainly produces solid carbide milling cutters, drill bits, engraving tools, and various non-standard tools. Products are widely used in mold, aviation, electronics, advertising, home furnishing and other industries.
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Product Introduction
Why choose Us

Wide Range of Applications

Our company mainly produces solid carbide milling cutters, drill bits, engraving tools, and various non-standard tools. Products are widely used in mold, aviation, electronics, advertising, home furnishing and other industries.

One-Stop Service

We provide one-stop service from design, manufacturing to delivery. At the same time, in order to meet the needs of different customers, the company's professional technical staff will provide customers with customized services.

Advanced Technical Equipment

The company gives priority to the introduction of advanced manufacturing and monitoring equipment, such as the Swiss WALTER CNC milling cutter grinder and the German EOUER tool testing equipment, which greatly improves the company's manufacturing capabilities and product quality.

Recognition from Global Customers

After years of development, the GR8 brand has successfully expanded into markets in more than 50 countries including Japan, Australia, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas, and has been recognized by more and more customers.

 

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DLC Coating U Slot End Mill for Aluminum

This DLC Coating U Slot End Mill for Aluminum adopts U-groove design, which helps to eliminate burrs, keep the surface of the workpiece smooth, avoid damaging the finished product.

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U Slot End Mill without Caoting for Aluminum

This end mill is made of high-quality integral cemented carbide, which has good hardness, durability and wear resistance. Even under harsh machining conditions, it will not be easily deformed or broken.

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3 Flutes Aluminum Processing End Mill

It has a high helix angle design, which can reduce cutting force and improve cutting efficiency. Especially in high-speed cutting, it can maintain stability and high efficiency.

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1 Flutes Aluminum Processing End Mill

It provides a variety of diameter sizes to meet different processing needs. You can select the appropriate tool specifications according to the door and window models and processing requirements.

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DLC Coated End Mills

This DLC Coated End Mills is especially suitable for processing non-ferrous materials, such as aluminum, copper and copper alloys. Its tool design and coating performance make it the best choice for non-ferrous metal processing.

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2 Flutes DLC Milling Drills

It provides the choice of standard and metric shank and cutting diameter, which is suitable for different processing requirements, especially for high-yield light processing applications.

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Straight Flutes End Mills

Straight Flutes End Mills has two straight edges, which makes the cutter more stable in the cutting process and can realize efficient processing.

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Straight Flutes Engraving End Mills

The milling cutter is processed by full grinding process to ensure its precise size and high precision, ensure more accurate cutting effect and improve machining quality.

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Corn End Mill

Due to the serrated tooth shape and special design of the tool, it will leave traces on the surface of the workpiece, which will provide convenience for subsequent treatment.

 

What is Carbide End Mill?

Carbide end mills are one of the essential tools in the machine industry and do help improve the working performance to some extent.

 

Carbide end mills are made of high-quality cemented carbide to make them equipped with better properties and more resistant to wear and heat than other end mills, so they are more suitable for cutting cast iron, alloys, or plastics. Now in the market, the manufacturers will add chemical coatings on carbide end mills to enhance performance and reduce friction. The quality of carbide end mills depends on the cemented carbide instead of the binder because the former does the cutting.

2 Flutes DLC Milling Drills

 

Flute Types of Carbide End Mill

 

 

Flutes are the cutting surface of the body of the tool. It is a cavity that spirals along the axis of the tool body. A small number of flutes allow for more chip space allowing for faster material removal, but make the tool weaker. A higher number of flutes will increase the strength of the tool and are better suited for cutting harder materials.

Single Flute: Used for high-speed machining of high-volume material removal often in plastics or CFRP.

Two Flute: Used for high-volume removal in slotting and pocketing non-ferrous materials.

Three Flute: The same space between flutes as the two-flute endmill, but are stronger. Used for ferrous and non-ferrous materials.

Four Flute: Stronger than the three-flute endmill allowing for faster feed rates. They have less flute space than the 3-flute endmill and produce smaller chips. These are most often used when cutting ferrous materials.

Five Flute: Have smaller flute spacing than four-flute endmills allowing for more strength than four-flute endmills. These are better suited for high-efficiency milling and hard materials.

Six Flute and Above: These are finisher endmills that produce a very fine finish. They are also commonly used in dynamic or high-efficiency machining (HEM).

 

Coatings of Carbide End Mill

 

The Purpose of Coatings: Extend Tool Life, Wear Resistance, minimize built up edge, Faster Speeds & Feeds, increase productivity.

 

Application Technology Choices:

  • Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD),Thin, better edge toughness, smoother.
  • Arc Evaporation (ARC).
  • High-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) – ultra dense coatings.
  • Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD),Thick, wear resistant – older technology still used in indexable tooling, but not round shank such as end mills.

 

Common Coatings:

  • Titanium Aluminum Nitride (TiAlN)
  • Aluminium Titanium Nitride (AlTiN)
  • Titanium Carbonitride (TiCN)
  • Titanium Nitride (TiN)
  • Aluminum Chromium Nitride (AlCrN)
  • Titanium DiBoride (Tib2)
  • Zirconium Nitride (ZrN)
  • Diamond
  • Aluminium Oxide (Al2O3)

 

Straight Flutes Engraving End Mills

 

Manufacturing Process of Carbide End Mill

Raw Material Preparation

The production of solid carbide end mills begins with raw material preparation. Tungsten carbide powder of high quality is mixed with a binding agent, usually cobalt, in a ball mill. This mixture is then pressed and sintered at high temperatures, resulting in a solid carbide blank.

Precision Machining

After raw material preparation, the solid carbide blank undergoes precision machining. Utilizing a CNC milling machine, the blank is clamped, and the cutting edges are ground using diamond grinding wheels. This step ensures accurate dimensions and sharp cutting edges, enabling optimal performance.

Coating

To enhance the lifespan and cutting performance of solid carbide end mills, they are coated with various types of coatings. These coatings can improve hardness, reduce friction, and provide superior heat resistance. The coating process is typically conducted through physical vapor deposition (PVD) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD).

 

Tips for Using Carbide End Mill

 

 

Secure the Workpiece

Before using an end mill, it is essential to secure the workpiece to prevent it from moving during milling. Use clamps, a vise, or other holding devices to ensure the workpiece is stable and secure.

Choose the Right Speed and Feed Rate

The speed and feed rate at which the end mill is moving through the material affect the quality of the cut. Use the recommended speed and feed rate for the material being milled to ensure efficient cutting and a smooth finish.

Use the Right Cutting Depth

The cutting depth refers to the amount of material being removed per pass. A good rule of thumb is to remove no more than half the diameter of the end mill per pass.

Clear Chips Often

Chips can build up on the cutting edge of the end mill, affecting its performance. Clear chips often using compressed air or a chip brush to ensure efficient cutting and prevent damage to the end mill and the workpiece.

Lubricate the End Mill

Lubricating the end mill can help reduce friction and prevent overheating, prolonging the life of the tool. Use a cutting fluid or oil to lubricate the end mill and prevent it from overheating.

Test the Cut

Before milling the entire workpiece, it is essential to test the cut on a small section to ensure the end mill is working correctly and to adjust the speed, feed rate, and cutting depth as needed.

 

Choosing the Right Carbide End Mill for the Job
Straight Flutes Engraving End Mills
Straight Flutes End Mills
Straight Flutes End Mills
Straight Flutes End Mills

End Mill Length

First, decide the depth your end mill must cut. Choose the shortest length end mill that can still make the cut. This will allow for more aggressive feeds and speeds, while reducing the tendency for the tool to chatter.

End Mill Materials

Two of the most common materials used in the manufacturing of end mills are high speed steel (HSS) and carbide. HSS is useful in older, slower, or less rigid machines as well as one off or very short run production. Carbide is preferred in CNC machine tools where higher speeds, fewer tooling changes and increased productivity are required. 

Flute Count

Flutes are the helical grooves that wrap around the sides of an end mill. A smaller number of flutes (2-3 flute tools) will offer more flute space for long chipping materials such as aluminum. A larger number of flutes reduces the flute space, but can offer increased productivity in shorter chipping materials such as medium to high carbon steel and iron. 

End Geometry

Choosing the right end mill geometry is critical to the tool's success. Paying close attention to the materials that the manufacturer recommends for a given tool can help to ensure your success. Of equal importance are the speeds and feeds the manufacturer recommends for that material.

End Mill Coatings

Coatings are helpful in reducing friction and protecting the carbide from the heat that is generated in cutting. Some coatings are more suitable for certain materials. 

Tool Life

Cheaper isn't better. Choosing inexpensive or inadequate tooling costs time and money on wasted material, scrap, wasted tool spend and added wear and tear on your CNC machines.

 

 
Our factory

 

Introducing the most advanced production technology and the most advanced CNC tool production equipment at home and abroad, we use our process optimization methods to improve production quality, reduce costs and increase productivity.

 

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Our certificates

 

We have passed ISO 9001 quality management certification and obtained various qualification certificates, and are committed to providing customers with high-quality products.

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Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q: What is the difference between HSS and carbide end mills?

A: Carbide end mills typically provide better rigidity than HSS end mills, and can be operated 2-3x faster. This is primarily due to the material properties of carbide allowing it to have a substantially higher heat tolerance. Carbide is not the best option in all circumstances, however.

Q: What is a end mill used for?

A: End Mills are used for making shapes and holes in a workpiece during milling, profiling, contouring, slotting, counterboring, drilling and reaming applications. They are designed with cutting teeth on the face and edge of the body and can be used to cut a variety of materials in several directions.

Q: How hard are carbide endmills?

A: Cemented Carbide - the most popular substrate used in milling cutters/end mills, it is an alloy of Tungsten carbide (WC) mixed with cobalt (Co) to make a powder which is then pressed and sintered. The hardness of cemented carbide is at a level between diamond and sapphire and weight is about twice as iron.

Q: Can carbide end mills be sharpened?

A: Sharpening your carbide end mills & carbide drills is a complex task. The process involves regrinding the end mill's / drill's cutting edges as well as sharpening the points and flutes. However, it is important to note that this should be done by a professional and not done at home.

Q: Which is better HSS or carbide?

A: Carbide is much harder, so it has a longer tool life and faster cutting data than conventional HSS. The downside of that hardness is brittleness, so the cutting edge on carbide tools can quickly fracture or chip in certain situations. HSS can really excel over carbide due to its toughness in applications.

Q: How do I know if my end mill is carbide?

A: Here's a quick primer on determining whether your cutter is made of Tungsten Carbide of High Speed Steel. Carbide cutters can be run at much higher RPMs and can be damaged when run too slow. Carbide scrap is also very valuable, so being able to tell the difference between these materials is very helpful.

Q: What is the most commonly used end mill?

A: End mills are made of a few different materials, but "high-speed steel" (HSS) and tungsten carbide are two of the most common. The HSS tools are more forgiving than carbide, as carbide is brittle and can chatter and shatter. HSS is also cheaper than carbide, but it tends to dull faster than carbide.

Q: What are the disadvantages of carbide?

A: If you want something with high toughness, carbide isn't likely to be your go-to material. Toughness expresses the ability to sustain shocks, suddenly applied and relieved loads, or major impacts, without breaking. Often, materials with high wear resistance have low toughness. While carbide wears longer than other materials, once it becomes dull it can be very difficult to sharpen solid carbide or brazed carbide edges.

Q: Which is better ceramic or carbide endmills?

A: Cutting speeds with ceramic end mills can be much higher than those of solid carbide. The benefits of ceramic over carbide are the greater heat resistance of ceramic which allows cutting speeds up to 20 times higher than solid carbide cutters and inserts, with surface speeds up to 1,000m/min possible.

Q: What are carbide end mills made of?

A: Nevertheless, the material is not a solid metal at all, but a matrix composed of tungsten carbide (which itself is tungsten and carbon in equal parts) held together with a binder–typically cobalt. A lot of the quality of the carbide is a function of how much tungsten carbide grains there are versus how much binder.

Q: Can you use carbide end mill on aluminum?

A: The biggest downside to this type of end mill for your CNC is that they can get pricey. Or at least more expensive than high-speed steel. As long as you have your speeds and feeds dialed in, carbide end mills will not only cut through aluminum like butter, but they will also last quite a while. Get your hands on some carbide end mills here.

Q: Why is carbide good for milling?

A: Carbide end mills are the most commonly used tool for milling operations, and for good reason. These cutting tools are able to remove material quickly and efficiently, resulting in a smooth and accurate finish. Carbide end mills can also handle a wide range of materials, including aluminum, steel, and titanium.

Q: What is the best end mill for carbon steel?

A: Primarily, carbide end mills work best for steel and its alloys because it has more thermal conductivity and works well for hard metals. Carbide also operates at higher speed, which means your cutter can withstand higher temperatures and can prevent excess wear and tear.

Q: How do I choose an end mill?

A: Consider factors such as material, cutting diameter, flute count, coatings, and cutting speed and feed rate when selecting an end mill. By taking the time to choose the right end mill for the job, you can ensure efficient cutting and a high-quality finish.

Q: What is the best coating for a carbide end mill?

A: Titanium Nitride (TiN) coatings are used for general-purpose milling operations in softer materials. The coating offers high surface lubricity, reduces friction, and increases chip flow. The resistance in heat and hardness allows the tool to run about 20-30% higher machining speeds than uncoated end mills.

Q: What is the best material for end mills?

A: Solid Carbide provides better rigidity than high-speed steel (HSS). It is extremely heat resistant and used for high speed applications on cast iron, nonferrous materials, plastics and other tough-to-machine materials. Carbide end mills provide better rigidity and can be run 2-3X faster than HSS.

Q: What type of end mill is best for stainless steel?

A: For steel, stainless steel, high temp alloys and iron, a four flute endmill is preferred for slotting applications and can be a great general-purpose tool. Higher flute counts should be reserved for applications with a low radial depth of cut to allow for chip evacuation.

Q: What angle do you cut an end mill?

A: Helix angles generally come as low as 12°to as high as 60°. Most general purpose end mills use between a 25°and 30°angle where basic sharpness and cutting edge strength is maintained. Increasing the helix angle improves stock removal and is useful in machining at increased speeds and feeds.

Q: What are the basics of end mill?

A: An end mill will accurately remove workpiece material. Depending on the type of end mill, they are capable of slotting, grooving, plunging, ramping, facing, side-cutting, chamfering, tapering, making a convex or concave radius, contouring, profiling, and even threading.

Q: What is the difference between a slot cutter and an end mill?

A: The primary distinction between end milling and slot milling is the way they cut. A slot mill may plunge like a drill and then cut across like an end mill, combining drilling and lateral cutting capabilities. An end mill, on the other hand, mainly concentrates on lateral and horizontal cutting.

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