Endmills
An endmill is a cutting tool that is typically used in a milling machine, or a mill/turn machine. They come in various diameters and lengths, to suit the needs of the user and the application. With that, they typically come in variations with 2-flutes, 3-flutes and 4 flutes. A 2-flute and 3-flute endmill is typically used in cutting aluminum. The 4-flute version is used in milling steel. The versions with 5 to 12 flutes are used in finish cutting steel.
The endmill is used in various types of cutting operations, such as face milling, pocketing, profiling, and slotting. They typically are made from a material called carbide, but some are made from high-speed steel.
Endmills typically have a coating on them to help cut the workpiece more efficiently and it also prolongs the life of the endmill. These coating are typically titanium aluminum nitride (TiALN) or aluminum titatium nitride (AlTiN).