Custom End Mills Precision Tools for Customized Machining Requirements

Product Description:

Carbide End Mill for Wood

Carbide end mills for wood are crafted from a composite of carbide, often tungsten carbide, and a metal matrix binder. This composition endows them with remarkable hardness and heat resistance. These end mills are designed to be used in milling machines or CNC machining centers for woodworking applications. Their high hardness enables them to cut through various types of wood, such as hardwoods and softwoods, as well as wood-based materials like MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard), plywood, and particleboard with precision. The heat resistance property allows for high-speed cutting, reducing processing time and increasing productivity. They come in different flute configurations, lengths, and diameters to suit various milling operations, including slotting, profiling, and contouring.

Single Flute End Mill

Single flute end mills are engineered for applications demanding rapid and high-volume material removal. Their most distinctive feature is the single cutting edge. This unique design creates ample space for chip evacuation. As a result, they can operate at faster feed rates and handle higher chip loads compared to conventional multi-flute tools. Single flute end mills are highly versatile and excel in roughing operations. They are well-suited for machining non-ferrous materials such as aluminum, brass, plastics, exotic composites, and soft metals. However, they are not recommended for use with steel. These long-life tools are typically made from micro-grain carbide, which contributes to their durability. They are available in a variety of cutting diameters, lengths, shank diameters, and geometries to meet the requirements of different specialty applications.

Compression End Mill for Wood

Compression end mills for wood are specialized tools designed to address specific challenges in wood and wood-derivative machining. They are typically used for materials like MDF, melamine chipboard, plywood, and other wood-based panels. These end mills have a unique design that combines both up-cut and down-cut features. During the cutting process, the top part of the tool exerts a downward force on the workpiece, while the bottom part exerts an upward force. This dual-action helps to minimize splintering and delamination, especially when working with materials that are prone to such issues, like panels with surface layers. Compression end mills are ideal for milling, grooving, and contouring operations. They can be made from solid carbide or have brazed hard metal plates, and some are coated to enhance their wear resistance, allowing for optimal productivity in high-feed machining on CNC nesting machines.

2-Flutes Spiral Flutes End Mill for Wood

Two-flutes spiral flutes end mills for wood are popular choices for many woodworking tasks. The spiral flute design offers several advantages. As the tool rotates, the spiral flutes gradually engage with the wood, resulting in a smoother cutting action. This reduces vibration and noise during operation. These end mills can be further classified into up-cut and down-cut types. Up-cut 2-flutes spiral end mills are used for upward chip evacuation. They are excellent for achieving a clean finish on the bottom side of the workpiece. The shearing action of the up-cut design yields an accurate cut, and the augering effect helps to clear chips from the cut, reducing heat build-up, preventing tool breakage, and extending the tool's lifespan. They are perfect for creating grooves, slots, and dados in hardwood, softwood, MDF, plywood, and particleboard. Down-cut 2-flutes spiral end mills, on the other hand, are suitable for applications where a clean finish on the top surface of the workpiece is required, such as when working on the visible sides of furniture components.

Features:

Square End Mills: As shown in the TM series of solid carbide end mills, the square end mills have 2 flutes, with a blade diameter ranging from D1 to D25, an edge length of 3-40, a shank diameter of D4-D25, and an overall length of 50-200. They are mainly used for slotting, profiling, and contouring in woodworking, and can process various woods and wood-based materials.

Ball Nose End Mills: Also in the TM series, the ball nose end mills have 2 flutes, with a blade diameter of D1-D25, a nose arc radius of R0.5-R12.5, an edge length of 2-30, a shank diameter of D4-D25, and an overall length of 50-200. They are suitable for curved surface machining in woodworking, such as carving decorative patterns on furniture.

Corner Radius End Mills: The corner radius end mills in the TM series have 2 flutes, with a blade diameter of D1-D25, a nose arc radius of R0.2-R3, an edge length of 3-30, a shank diameter of D4-D12, and an overall length of 50-100. They are often used for machining rounded corners and fillets in wood parts to improve the appearance quality and safety of the parts.

Compression End Mills: These end mills have a unique design that combines both up-cut and down-cut features. For example, some compression end mills are made of solid carbide or have brazed hard metal plates, and are coated to enhance wear resistance. They are ideal for milling, grooving, and contouring operations on materials like MDF, melamine chipboard, and plywood, which can minimize splintering and delamination.

Mortising and Tenoning End Mills: There are various types, such as the Huxi mortising and tenoning end mill, T-shaped mortising and tenoning end mill, and set-tooth mortising and tenoning end mill. They are mainly used for mortising and tenoning processing of solid wood or artificial boards, and are suitable for the processing of various shapes of mortising and tenoning boards for cabinets, door frames, floors, etc.

Single Flute End Mills: Their most distinctive feature is the single cutting edge, which creates ample space for chip evacuation. For example, the single-flute end mills made of micro-grain carbide are highly versatile and excel in roughing operations, and are suitable for machining non-ferrous materials such as aluminum, brass, plastics, and soft metals, as well as some woods.

Technical Parameters:

Choosing the Right Carbide End Mill for Wood

Choosing the appropriate carbide end mill for woodworking involves considering several crucial factors related to your specific project, material, and machining needs. To help you make an informed decision, here is a step-by-step guide:

1. Consider the Wood Material

Solid wood (hardwoods/softwoods): Opt for end mills with sharp cutting edges and strong carbide grades for hardwoods like oak and maple. Spiral flutes work well for smooth cuts and reducing splintering.

Engineered wood (plywood, MDF, melamine): Compression end mills are ideal to prevent splintering or delamination in these materials.

Softwoods (pine, cedar): Single-flute or 2-flute spiral end mills are efficient for high chip loads.

2. Flute Configuration

Single-flute: Suitable for high-speed, high-volume material removal.

2-flute spiral: Versatile for most woodworking tasks.

Compression (multi-flute hybrid): Specifically designed for layered materials.

3. Cutting Direction

Up-cut: Leaves a clean finish on the bottom of the workpiece.

Down-cut: Results in a clean top surface.

Compression: Cleans both surfaces.

4. Shank Size and Length

Match the shank size to your machine’s collet for secure gripping.

Choose a length slightly longer than the material thickness.

5. Carbide Grade and Coating

Balance hardness and toughness with fine-grain carbide.

Consider coatings like TiN or DLC to reduce friction and extend tool life.

6. Machine Compatibility

Ensure compatibility with your machine’s spindle speed and power.

7. Finish Requirements

Choose the appropriate tools based on your finishing needs.

Applications: