Variable spacing between the flutes reduces vibration, allowing these end mills to provide fast cuts, smooth finishes, and long tool life on hard materials. Made of solid carbide, these end mills are harder, stronger, and more wear resistant than high-speed steel and cobalt steel for the longest life and best finish on hard material. Their extreme hardness means they are brittle, so a highly rigid setup, such as a CNC machine, is necessary to prevent the end mill from breaking. They have a square end for milling square-bottomed slots, pockets, and edges.

A titanium-aluminum-nitride (TiAlN) or aluminum-titanium-nitride (AlTiN) coating allows them to dissipate heat better than other end mills, especially at high speeds. At high temperatures, the coating creates a layer of aluminum oxide that transfers heat to the chips, keeping the tool cool, even when used without lubrication. Aluminum-titanium-nitride (AlTiN) has a higher percentage of aluminum than titanium-aluminum-nitride (TiAlN).

End mills with fewer flutes provide better chip clearance for high-volume, high-speed plunge, slotting, and roughing cuts; end mills with more flutes provide a finer finish and operate with less vibration when run at high speeds.

Noncenter-cutting end mills are for operations where the peripheral teeth do most of the work, such as shoulder milling, contouring, and finishing. They cannot be used for plunge cuts.

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