![]() They are the part of the end mill anatomy that create those sharp cutting edges (sometimes referred to as “teeth”). Secondly, it improves your MMR (Material Removal Rate) since the end mill can remove more material per unit of time when it is moving inside the material, allowing you to optimise certain operations and do the same job faster.įlutes are the deep spiral grooves that allow chip formation and evacuation. A lot more rigid actually, since increasing diameter by 2x will increase its rigidity by a factor of 16x. On the other hand, increasing the diameter of your tool offer two main advantages.įirst, it makes your tool more rigid, which will allow you to make deeper cuts while minimizing tool deflection. Dog bone corners describe the shape of a corner that is extended outside the cut area to create a perfect 90º corner. ![]() In order to overcome this problem, CNC operators use what is called “ dogbones”. The larger your end mill diameter, the bigger the radius of this circular profile. Indeed, the tool will leave a circular profile in every internal corner, with a radius equal to half its diameter. Since your tool is a cylinder with a certain radius, it won’t be possible to do it as such. Let’s say you want to make a box and assemble it using 90° interlocking joints. The diameter of your tool will have a direct incidence on the profiles you can cut. Tool deflection can actually be very problematic since it induces: If it sticks out too far and you work it too demanding, the cutting forces will make it bend, which is what is called “ tool deflection.” If cutting deeper than the length of the flutes, chips won’t clear properly, heat will build up and you risk to damage your tool.Īt this point, it might seem smart to buy end mills that are as long as possible to have the flexibility to use them in more situations, right? It’s actually not the case, because the more stickout, the less rigid a tool is. It is defined by the distance from the end of the tool holder to the tip of the end mill.Īlso, keep in mind that the cutting depth should never exceed the flute length of your end mill. The associated concept with this observation is called “ stickout”. Hence, the length of your end mill will be determined by how deep it must penetrate into the material. You will need a long tool to be able to machine the bottom without colliding your spindle mandrel with the stock of the material. Imagine you want to mill a very deep pocket inside a high part. So let’s dive into the theory and answer those questions later with some concrete examples. What are your goals in terms of performance and surface finish, while keeping an acceptable cost for you and staying within the capabilities of your CNC machine?Īnswering these questions will help you determine the desired tool geometry, based on your project type, the material being cut and on the desired surface finish. What kind of material do you want to mill? What kind of shapes do you want to mill (2D contour, 3D shape, holes.)? ![]() Three major factors will influence your choice : This article aims at explaining the basics of end mill science while answering the simple question you might have: which end mill should I use on my CNC machine? To be centre-cutting, meaning they can plunge into the material as wellĪnd making them far more versatile than drill bits. What is an end mill actually, is it like a drill bit? It is a usual question that comes up since terminologies are often mixed up, but the answer is no.Ī drill bit is designed to plunge directly into the material and create holes only, while an end mill can cut laterally into the material and create slots or profiles. Performance, cost, surface finish, tool life. ![]() Type, material, while several trade-offs have to be considered: Variables come into play, such as end mill length, geometry, profile Before turning on your CNC machine can be a pretty complex task. ![]()
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