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
    A76553 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 0.0100 45° 2 Uncoated 24
    $23.25
  • A76533 ACT 1/4 1/4 1-1/4 3 45° 2 ZrN 53
    $72.11
  • A76480 ACT 1/4 1/4 3/4 2-1/2 45° 3 ZrN Available to Order*
    $51.24
  • A76469 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 0.0100 45° 3 Uncoated 100
    $23.25
  • A76456 ACT 1/4 1/4 1-1/4 3 45° 3 ZrN 18
    $70.38
  • A76038 ACT 1/4 1/4 1-1/4 3 45° 3 ZrN 3
    $74.41
  • A71607 ACT 3/16 3/16 3/8 2 45° 3 ZRN 67
    $23.75
  • A57684 ACT 3/16 3/16 3/4 2-1/2 45° 2 ZRN 9
    $43.49
  • A76611 ACT 1/4 1/4 1-1/4 3 45° 3 Uncoated 22
    $58.47
  • A76543 ACT 5/16 5/16 13/16 2-1/2 45° 3 Uncoated 100
    $51.66
  • A76283 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 0.0150 (1/64) 45° 2 ZrN 46
    $29.15
  • A76237 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 0.0100 45° 3 ZrN 8
    $51.38
  • A76124 ACT 5/16 5/16 13/16 2-1/2 45° 3 Uncoated 36
    $55.82
  • A76018 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 0.0150 (1/64) 45° 3 ZrN 76
    $29.15
  • A75980 ACT 5/16 5/16 13/16 2-1/2 45° 2 Uncoated 100
    $53.27
  • A41059 ACT 1/4 1/4 1/2 2 45° 2 Uncoated 84
    $29.53
  • A57690 ACT 3/16 3/16 5/8 2 45° 3 Uncoated 100
    $27.33
  • A76525 ACT 5/16 5/16 13/16 2-1/2 45° 2 ZrN 59
    $63.53
  • A76489 ACT 1/4 1/4 1-1/4 3 45° 3 ZrN 11
    $67.20
  • A76448 ACT 5/16 5/16 13/16 2-1/2 45° 3 ZrN 47
    $61.88
  • A76284 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 0.0300 45° 2 ZrN 54
    $29.15
  • A76238 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 0.0150 (1/64) 45° 3 ZrN 11
    $51.38
  • A76030 ACT 5/16 5/16 13/16 2-1/2 45° 3 ZrN 13
    $66.13
  • A76019 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 0.0300 45° 3 ZrN 33
    $29.15
  • A71590 ACT 1/4 1/4 1/2 2 45° 2 ZRN 31
    $33.89
  • A57692 ACT 3/16 3/16 5/8 2 45° 3 ZRN 100
    $30.92
  • A76594 ACT 5/16 5/16 1/2 2 45° 3 Uncoated 8
    $40.25
  • A76552 ACT 5/16 5/16 1-3/8 3 45° 3 Uncoated 100
    $84.72
  • A76516 ACT 5/16 5/16 1-3/8 3 45° 2 Uncoated 100
    $87.25
  • A76239 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 0.0200 45° 3 ZrN 10
    $51.38
  • A76133 ACT 5/16 5/16 1-3/8 3 45° 3 Uncoated 45
    $88.76
  • A57698 ACT 3/16 3/16 3/4 2-1/2 45° 3 Uncoated 100
    $39.54
  • A57695 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 0.02 45° 3 ZRN 36
    $29.15
  • A57679 ACT 1/8 1/8 1/2 1-1/2 .02 45° 2 ZRN 65
    $29.15
  • A40996 ACT 1/4 1/4 3/4 2-1/2 45° 2 Uncoated 100
    $38.60
  • A76619 ACT 5/16 5/16 1/2 2 45° 3 ZrN 6
    $49.89
  • A76534 ACT 5/16 5/16 1-3/8 3 45° 2 ZrN 58
    $97.50
  • A76457 ACT 5/16 5/16 1-3/8 3 45° 3 ZrN 35
    $94.87
  • A76240 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 0.0300 45° 3 ZrN 11
    $51.38
  • A76039 ACT 5/16 5/16 1-3/8 3 45° 3 ZrN 7
    $99.15
  • A57701 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 0.02 45° 3 Uncoated 100
    $41.80
  • A57700 ACT 3/16 3/16 3/4 2-1/2 45° 3 ZRN 100
    $43.49
  • A41172 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 0.01 45° 2 Uncoated 100
    $41.80
  • A49840 ACT 1/4 1/4 3/4 2-1/2 45° 2 ZRN 94
    $43.25
  • A76603 ACT 5/16 5/16 13/16 2-1/2 45° 3 Uncoated 13
    $49.81
  • A76544 ACT 3/8 3/8 1 2-1/2 45° 3 Uncoated 28
    $54.01
  • A76416 ACT 3/16 3/16 5/8 2 0.0100 45° 3 Uncoated 14
    $36.61
  • A76394 ACT 3/16 3/16 15/16 2-1/2 45° 3 ZrN 21
    $47.71
  • A76286 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 0.0100 45° 2 Uncoated 100
    $41.80
  • A76125 ACT 3/8 3/8 1 2-1/2 45° 3 Uncoated 24
    $59.08
  • A76076 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 0.0150 (1/64) 45° 3 Uncoated 100
    $41.80
  • A75981 ACT 3/8 3/8 1 2-1/2 45° 2 Uncoated 100
    $55.58
  • A41010 ACT 1/4 1/4 1-1/4 3 45° 2 Uncoated 100
    $54.50
  • A76526 ACT 3/8 3/8 1 2-1/2 45° 2 ZrN 35
    $67.62
  • A76481 ACT 5/16 5/16 13/16 2-1/2 45° 3 ZrN 12
    $60.12
  • A76449 ACT 3/8 3/8 1 2-1/2 45° 3 ZrN 11
    $66.05
  • A76417 ACT 3/16 3/16 5/8 2 0.0200 45° 3 Uncoated 12
    $36.61
  • A76395 ACT 7/32 7/32 5/8 2 45° 3 ZrN 25
    $37.48
  • A76347 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 0.0150 (1/64) 45° 2 Uncoated 100
    $41.80
  • A76077 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 0.0300 45° 3 Uncoated 100
    $41.80
  • A76031 ACT 3/8 3/8 1 2-1/2 45° 3 ZrN 4
    $71.17
  • A49868 ACT 1/4 1/4 1-1/4 3 45° 2 ZRN 85
    $59.25
  • A76612 ACT 5/16 5/16 1-3/8 3 45° 3 Uncoated 14
    $78.91
  • A76517 ACT 3/8 3/8 1-1/2 4 45° 2 Uncoated 100
    $103.00
  • A76471 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 0.0100 45° 3 Uncoated 100
    $41.80
  • A76440 ACT 3/8 3/8 1-1/2 4 45° 3 Uncoated 100
    $100.11
  • A76418 ACT 3/16 3/16 5/8 2 0.0300 45° 3 Uncoated 16
    $36.61
  • A76348 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 0.0300 45° 2 Uncoated 100
    $41.80
  • A76134 ACT 3/8 3/8 1-1/2 4 45° 3 Uncoated 8
    $105.10
  • A41122 ACT 1/4 1/4 1/2 2 45° 3 Uncoated 100
    $29.53
  • A41060 ACT 5/16 5/16 1/2 2 45° 2 Uncoated 72
    $35.95
  • A76574 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 0.0150 (1/64) 45° 3 ZrN 54
    $48.16
  • A76535 ACT 3/8 3/8 1-1/2 4 45° 2 ZrN 54
    $116.02
  • A76490 ACT 5/16 5/16 1-3/8 3 45° 3 ZrN 11
    $89.35
  • A76458 ACT 3/8 3/8 1-1/2 4 45° 3 ZrN 18
    $113.13
  • A76325 ACT 3/16 3/16 5/8 2 0.0100 45° 3 ZrN 8
    $43.25
  • A76158 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 0.0150 (1/64) 45° 2 ZrN 64
    $48.16
  • A76040 ACT 3/8 3/8 1-1/2 4 45° 3 ZrN 5
    $118.33
  • A71608 ACT 1/4 1/4 1/2 2 45° 3 ZRN 53
    $33.89
  • A71591 ACT 5/16 5/16 1/2 2 45° 2 ZRN 24
    $41.31
  • A76595 ACT 3/8 3/8 5/8 2 45° 3 Uncoated 18
    $43.96
  • A76575 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 0.0300 45° 3 ZrN 46
    $48.16
  • A76545 ACT 1/2 1/2 1-1/4 3 45° 3 Uncoated 76
    $99.90
  • A76326 ACT 3/16 3/16 5/8 2 0.0200 45° 3 ZrN 9
    $43.25
  • A76159 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 0.0300 45° 2 ZrN 70
    $48.16
  • A76126 ACT 1/2 1/2 1-1/4 3 45° 3 Uncoated 47
    $106.12
  • A75982 ACT 1/2 1/2 1-1/4 3 45° 2 Uncoated 100
    $102.86
  • A49847 ACT 1/4 1/4 3/4 2-1/2 45° 3 Uncoated 100
    $38.60
  • A40998 ACT 5/16 5/16 13/16 2-1/2 45° 2 Uncoated 100
    $45.69
  • A76527 ACT 1/2 1/2 1-1/4 3 45° 2 ZrN 42
    $122.04
  • A76473 ACT 3/8 3/8 5/8 2 45° 3 ZrN 9
    $55.41
  • A76450 ACT 1/2 1/2 1-1/4 3 45° 3 ZrN 13
    $119.00
  • A76327 ACT 3/16 3/16 5/8 2 0.0300 45° 3 ZrN 12
    $43.25
  • A76032 ACT 1/2 1/2 1-1/4 3 45° 3 ZrN 19
    $125.13
  • A57703 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 0.02 45° 3 ZRN 23
    $48.16
  • A57687 ACT 1/8 1/8 3/4 2-1/4 .02 45° 2 ZRN 65
    $48.16
  • A49854 ACT 1/4 1/4 3/4 2-1/2 45° 3 ZRN 100
    $43.25
  • A49841 ACT 5/16 5/16 13/16 2-1/2 45° 2 ZRN 53
    $51.28
  • A76632 ACT 3/16 3/16 3/4 2-1/2 0.0100 45° 3 Uncoated 16
    $52.03
  • A76604 ACT 3/8 3/8 1 2-1/2 45° 3 Uncoated 100
    $52.81

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

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