When it comes to end mills, many new users assume that specialized end mills are only for working with harder materials like steel. Soft materials like aluminum pose their own unique challenges and require specialized tools to mill properly. Using the wrong cutting tools while working with aluminum can quickly cause issues, including damage to the workpiece and the cutting tool itself. If you are looking for End Mills For Aluminum, it’s important to choose the correct tools for the job.

When machining aluminum, there are a number of unique material concerns that you will not find when working with other materials. One of the biggest issues is that aluminum forms extremely fine chips when it is being milled. These tiny chips are practically a powder, which means they can be hard for the end mill to eject them from the cutting area.

If your end mill fails to properly eject the fine chips produced by aluminum, they can build up around the base of your end mill. The heat produced by cutting can quickly cause the powdered aluminum to fuse and compact into a mass that can damage your end mill or your workpiece. End mills for aluminum are designed to ensure that any aluminum chips are quickly evacuated from the cutting area.

One way end mill design can help achieve the chip evacuation needed is by lowering the flute count. This gives more space between each flute and, combined with the proper helix angle, makes it easy for chips to fly clear of the end mill. Most aluminum end mills feature no more than 3 flutes, giving the ideal combination between cutting power and chip evacuation.

Another common feature found on end mills designed to cut aluminum is a coating of zirconium nitride. This golden ceramic material is used as a coating for a wide range of tools. ZrN serves a number of functions. It is a very hard coating that protects the surface of tools and extends their working life. ZrN also has a lower coefficient of friction than carbide, making it harder for fine aluminum chips to cling to the cutter while in use. This smoother surface also causes less friction while cutting, which can also increase the performance of your end mills.

Here at Online Carbide, we offer high-quality solid carbide end mills and drill bits. Our carbide end mills for aluminum are made with three flutes and coated in ZrN to ensure maximum performance. You can find our aluminum cutting tools in sizes ranging from ⅛” to ¾”.

So if you shop needs so new end mills for milling aluminum parts, visit our shop today at http://www.OnlineCarbide.com. We offer a wide selection of solid carbide cutting tools including thread mills, drill bits, specialty end mills, and more. If you have any questions about our carbide tools, feel free to reach out to a member of our team by calling 630-238-1424 or sending an email to [email protected].