End Mills for Aluminum

End Mills for Aluminum

2 Flute - Ball
2 Flute - Ball
3 Flute - Ball
3 Flute - Ball
3 Flute - Ball - Chipbreaker
3 Flute - Ball - Chipbreaker
3 Flute - Chipbreaker
3 Flute - Chipbreaker
3 Flute - Corner Radius - Chipbreaker
3 Flute - Corner Radius - Chipbreaker
2 Flute
2 Flute
2 Flute - Corner Radius
2 Flute - Corner Radius
3 Flute
3 Flute
3 Flute - Corner Radius
3 Flute - Corner Radius

Milling aluminum can be quite different from milling other materials like steel or plastics due to aluminum's unique properties. To achieve the best results when milling aluminum, it's important to use carbide end mills specifically designed for this material. Here are some characteristics that make certain carbide end mills better for milling aluminum compared to standard end mills:

 

Material Selection

Carbide end mills are the preferred choice for milling aluminum. Carbide is harder and more wear-resistant than high-speed steel (HSS), making it suitable for the high-speed machining often used with aluminum.

Flute Geometry

High Helix Angle: Carbide end mills designed for aluminum typically have a high helix angle (often 45 degrees or higher). This helps in efficient chip evacuation and reduces the risk of chip recutting, which can lead to heat buildup and tool wear.

Flute Design

Polished Flutes: Some aluminum-specific carbide end mills have polished or specially coated flutes to minimize built-up edge (BUE) and reduce the tendency of aluminum to stick to the tool.

Number of Flutes

Fewer Flutes:  Carbdie end mills with fewer flutes (typically two or three) are often preferred for aluminum machining. Fewer flutes allow for larger chip evacuation channels and can handle the softer, gummy nature of aluminum better.

Coatings

TiN, TiCN, ZRN or AlTiN Coatings: These coatings can enhance tool life and reduce friction during aluminum milling. AlTiN (Aluminum Titanium Nitride) coatings are particularly well-suited for aluminum due to their lubricity and heat resistance. (see additional coating details here)

Chip Breakers

Some carbide end mills designed for aluminum may have chip breakers or flutes with varying helix angles to help control chip formation and improve surface finish.

Rigidity and Stiffness

The carbide end mill and the milling machine should provide sufficient rigidity and stiffness to prevent vibrations, which can negatively impact surface finish and tool life.

Speeds and Feeds

Proper speeds and feeds are critical when milling aluminum. Aluminum-specific end mills are often optimized for higher speeds and chip loads suited to the material's properties.

Coolant or Lubrication

While aluminum is known for its ability to dissipate heat, using a coolant or lubrication can still help improve tool life and surface finish, especially in high-speed milling operations.

Cutter Geometry

Some carbide end mills designed for aluminum have specialized cutter geometries, such as variable helix or variable pitch designs, to minimize chatter and vibrations.

 

When selecting a carbide end mill for milling aluminum, it's essential to consider the specific requirements of your machining operation, including the type of aluminum alloy, cutting conditions, and desired surface finish. If you would like to discuss your application in more detail please reach out to us at 908-98-ATLAS or email us at Sales@atlascuttingtools.com

 

  • Compare SKU Vendor Size (D1) Shank Diameter (D2) Flute Length (L2) Reach (L3) Overall Length (L1) Length Type Corner Radius (R) Included Angle Taper Angle Helix Angle Number of Flutes Weldon Flats Flats Coating In Stock Price Quantity
    A76600 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 45° 3 Uncoated 24
    $17.20
  • A76540 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 45° 3 Uncoated 61
    $17.89
  • A76412 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 0.0100 45° 3 Uncoated 4
    $20.36
  • A76121 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 45° 3 Uncoated 100
    $20.36
  • A75977 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 45° 2 Uncoated 100
    $18.51
  • A41138 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/4 1-1/2 .010 45° 3 Uncoated 100
    $14.80
  • A41120 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/4 1-1/2 45° 3 Uncoated 100
    $11.60
  • A41084 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/4 1-1/2 .010 45° 2 Uncoated 75
    $14.80
  • A41057 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/4 1-1/2 45° 2 Uncoated 100
    $11.60
  • A76522 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 45° 2 ZrN 21
    $23.13
  • A76478 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 45° 3 ZrN 11
    $21.81
  • A76445 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 45° 3 ZrN 12
    $22.42
  • A76413 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 0.0150 (1/64) 45° 3 Uncoated 19
    $20.36
  • A76364 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/4 1-1/2 0.0150 (1/64) 45° 2 Uncoated 100
    $12.70
  • A76174 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/4 1-1/2 0.0150 (1/64) 45° 3 Uncoated 100
    $12.70
  • A76027 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 45° 3 ZrN 36
    $24.94
  • A71606 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/4 1-1/2 45° 3 ZRN 100
    $15.96
  • A71588 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/4 1-1/2 45° 2 ZRN 17
    $15.96
  • A76609 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 45° 3 Uncoated 54
    $28.78
  • A76549 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 45° 3 Uncoated 75
    $32.16
  • A76513 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 45° 2 Uncoated 100
    $33.02
  • A76414 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 0.0200 45° 3 Uncoated 16
    $20.36
  • A76365 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/4 1-1/2 0.0200 45° 2 Uncoated 100
    $12.70
  • A76175 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/4 1-1/2 0.0200 45° 3 Uncoated 100
    $12.70
  • A76130 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 45° 3 Uncoated 88
    $34.67
  • A75976 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/8 1-1/2 45° 3 ZrN 100
    $16.82
  • A43460 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 45° 2 Uncoated 71
    $89.67
  • A76531 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 45° 2 ZrN 41
    $37.93
  • A76487 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 45° 3 ZrN 3
    $33.65
  • A76454 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 45° 3 ZrN 28
    $37.07
  • A76415 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 0.0300 45° 3 Uncoated 15
    $20.36
  • A76366 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/4 1-1/2 0.0300 45° 2 Uncoated 100
    $12.70
  • A76176 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/4 1-1/2 0.0300 45° 3 Uncoated 100
    $12.70
  • A76036 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 45° 3 ZrN 11
    $39.54
  • A57689 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 45° 3 Uncoated 100
    $19.13
  • A57675 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 45° 2 ZRN 275
    $22.30
  • A76601 ACT 3/16 3/16 5/8 2 45° 3 Uncoated 30
    $23.99
  • A76541 ACT 3/16 3/16 5/8 2 45° 3 Uncoated 17
    $25.19
  • A76321 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 0.0100 45° 3 ZrN 8
    $24.94
  • A76256 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/4 1-1/2 0.0150 (1/64) 45° 2 ZrN 57
    $17.28
  • A76122 ACT 3/16 3/16 5/8 2 45° 3 Uncoated 37
    $28.16
  • A75991 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/4 1-1/2 0.0150 (1/64) 45° 3 ZrN 50
    $17.28
  • A75978 ACT 3/16 3/16 5/8 2 45° 2 Uncoated 60
    $25.86
  • A57691 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 45° 3 ZRN 100
    $20.00
  • A43454 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 45° 2 Uncoated 67
    $116.89
  • A76523 ACT 3/16 3/16 5/8 2 45° 2 ZrN 100
    $31.00
  • A76479 ACT 3/16 3/16 5/8 2 45° 3 ZrN 9
    $29.15
  • A76446 ACT 3/16 3/16 5/8 2 45° 3 ZrN 50
    $30.31
  • A76322 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 0.0150 (1/64) 45° 3 ZrN 8
    $24.94
  • A76257 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/4 1-1/2 0.0200 45° 2 ZrN 59
    $17.28
  • A76028 ACT 3/16 3/16 5/8 2 45° 3 ZrN 20
    $33.28
  • A75992 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/4 1-1/2 0.0200 45° 3 ZrN 66
    $17.28
  • A75974 ACT 1/8 1/8 5/8 2 45° 3 ZrN 23
    $23.95
  • A57683 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 45° 2 ZRN 20
    $37.89
  • A76610 ACT 3/16 3/16 3/4 2-1/2 45° 3 Uncoated 14
    $33.40
  • A76550 ACT 3/16 3/16 3/4 2-1/2 45° 3 Uncoated 100
    $37.11
  • A76514 ACT 3/16 3/16 3/4 2-1/2 45° 2 Uncoated 68
    $38.22
  • A76323 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 0.0200 45° 3 ZrN 11
    $24.94
  • A76258 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/4 1-1/2 0.0300 45° 2 ZrN 65
    $17.28
  • A76131 ACT 3/16 3/16 3/4 2-1/2 45° 3 Uncoated 39
    $40.03
  • A75993 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/4 1-1/2 0.0300 45° 3 ZrN 53
    $17.28
  • A41058 ACT 3/16 3/16 3/8 2 45° 2 Uncoated 82
    $18.14
  • A57697 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 45° 3 Uncoated 100
    $30.64
  • A76532 ACT 3/16 3/16 3/4 2-1/2 45° 2 ZrN 100
    $44.04
  • A76488 ACT 3/16 3/16 3/4 2-1/2 45° 3 ZrN 10
    $38.88
  • A76455 ACT 3/16 3/16 3/4 2-1/2 45° 3 ZrN 17
    $42.59
  • A76324 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 0.0300 45° 3 ZrN 8
    $24.94
  • A76037 ACT 3/16 3/16 3/4 2-1/2 45° 3 ZrN 10
    $45.57
  • A71615 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/4 1-1/2 .010 45° 3 ZRN 8
    $17.65
  • A71597 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/4 1-1/2 .010 45° 2 ZRN 2
    $17.65
  • A71589 ACT 3/16 3/16 3/8 2 45° 2 ZRN 7
    $23.75
  • A57699 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 45° 3 ZRN 71
    $37.77
  • A76628 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 0.0100 45° 3 Uncoated 55
    $34.67
  • A76593 ACT 1/4 1/4 1/2 2 45° 3 Uncoated 39
    $25.90
  • A76542 ACT 1/4 1/4 3/4 2-1/2 45° 3 Uncoated 78
    $33.44
  • A76392 ACT 1/8 1/8 1 2-1/2 45° 3 ZrN 46
    $32.20
  • A76123 ACT 1/4 1/4 3/4 2-1/2 45° 3 Uncoated 63
    $36.58
  • A75979 ACT 1/4 1/4 3/4 2-1/2 45° 2 Uncoated 70
    $34.47
  • A41212 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 0.02 45° 3 Uncoated 100
    $42.47
  • A41170 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 0.01 45° 2 Uncoated 100
    $15.55
  • A43463 ACT 3/16 3/16 5/8 2 45° 2 Uncoated 100
    $263.38
  • A76629 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 0.0150 (1/64) 45° 3 Uncoated 16
    $34.67
  • A76618 ACT 1/4 1/4 1/2 2 45° 3 ZrN 8
    $32.04
  • A76524 ACT 1/4 1/4 3/4 2-1/2 45° 2 ZrN 39
    $41.02
  • A76447 ACT 1/4 1/4 3/4 2-1/2 45° 3 ZrN 24
    $39.99
  • A76393 ACT 9/64 9/64 9/16 1-1/2 45° 3 ZrN 8
    $20.77
  • A76386 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 0.0150 (1/64) 45° 2 Uncoated 100
    $17.89
  • A76201 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 0.0150 (1/64) 45° 3 Uncoated 100
    $17.89
  • A76029 ACT 1/4 1/4 3/4 2-1/2 45° 3 ZrN 13
    $43.17
  • A57676 ACT 3/16 3/16 5/8 2 45° 2 ZRN 60
    $30.92
  • A76630 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 0.0200 45° 3 Uncoated 15
    $34.67
  • A76602 ACT 1/4 1/4 3/4 2-1/2 45° 3 Uncoated Available to Order*
    $32.73
  • A76551 ACT 1/4 1/4 1-1/4 3 45° 3 Uncoated 29
    $47.49
  • A76515 ACT 1/4 1/4 1-1/4 3 45° 2 Uncoated 100
    $48.90
  • A76387 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 0.0300 45° 2 Uncoated 100
    $17.89
  • A76202 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 0.0300 45° 3 Uncoated 100
    $17.89
  • A76132 ACT 1/4 1/4 1-1/4 3 45° 3 Uncoated 16
    $50.67
  • A41121 ACT 3/16 3/16 3/8 2 45° 3 Uncoated 100
    $18.14
  • A43459 ACT 3/16 3/16 3/4 2-1/2 45° 2 Uncoated 78
    $355.52
  • A76631 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 0.0300 45° 3 Uncoated 21
    $34.67

* Lead times can vary from 1–10 business days. Call (908) 98-ATLAS or email sales@atlascuttingtools.com for details.

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