Carbide end mills are industrial tools used to cut and shape metal and other solid materials. They have cutting teeth on both ends and sides, with deep helical flutes that reduce vibration and provide a shinier finish. Made of tungsten carbide, they have a longer life than steel cutters. They are manufactured by computerized machines using industrial diamond abrasive wheels.
A carbide end mill is a type of industrial tool used to cut and shape metal and other solid materials. Although its appearance is similar to that of a drill bit, an end mill can cut in all directions laterally and axially like a drill bit. Cutters are often made of carbide, also called tungsten carbide. Carbide is a very hard and heavy material that can cut through metal without breaking or scratching.
Carbide end mill is one of several types of commonly used milling tools. End mills are distinguished from other types by having cutting teeth on both one end and the sides. End mills also have one or more “flutes,” which are deep helical flutes that run up and down the end mill.
The helical shape of the grooves offers two advantages. First, as the teeth cut material, the chips are swept away from the cutting surface by the rotation of the flutes. Second, the shape of the helix reduces vibration and provides a shinier finish than if the entire cutting tooth were striking the material at once.
Depending on the material being milled and how the milling is to be done, there are many types of carbide cutters, with different shapes and geometries. For example, if the material being cut is a hard metal such as stainless steel, then shallow flutes and a square cutting edge will be optimal. With a softer metal such as aluminum, deeper grooves with sharp cutting edges will be advantageous.
High-speed steel used to be the traditional raw material for end mills, but most are now made from tungsten carbide. It is a highly rigid and extremely wear-resistant material, which gives a carbide cutter a longer life than a steel one. Some of carbide’s more impressive properties include its high melting point, at 5,200 degrees Fahrenheit (2,870 degrees C). It also measures an 8.5 to 9.0 out of 10 on the Mineral Harness Mohs Scale. In comparison, hardened steel measures only seven to eight.
Due to the precision required in its manufacture, a carbide end mill will usually be made by computerized machines. Inside the machine, the mills are ground by abrasive wheels mounted on spindles. The wheels are made with industrial diamond, one of the few materials in the world that is harder than tungsten carbide. The temperatures in these grinders are kept at bay with high pressure lubricants, which include oils, oil-water emulsions, and sometimes plain water.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
