Milling operations need specialized cutting tools to achieve precision, such as slot drills and end mills – the two necessary tools for performing a successful job. A slot drill will cut narrow slots, while an end mill will slice through profiles and features with ease. You’ll find both of these cutting bits in many different sizes and shapes.
When selecting a cutting tool for milling, considerations need to be taken into account, such as the material needing to be processed, the finished shape required, and the size and proportions of the cut. End mills and slot drills are viable choices when it comes to slicing through metal, wood, and plastic.
Selecting the correct cutting tool depends on what is being cut. If it is a metal material, a sturdier implement must be used. As well, the bulk of the material dictates the magnitude of the cutting device. Therefore, if a larger item needs to be sliced through, then a correspondingly sizable tool should be chosen.
A deciding factor in choosing your cutting tool is the desired outcome. Slot drills come in handy for cutting grooves or slots, and some fancy shapes may require the use of an end mill. The depth of the incision is also a determining factor, as a deeper cut will require a more robust cutting tool.
When it comes to slot drills and end mills, virtually any shape or size can be accommodated. The specific parameters of the cutting tool must be picked carefully to match the size of the material that is being milled, as well as the desired final shape of the product.
End mills come in all shapes and sizes – ball end, square end, and flute end. To craft round shapes, the ball end mill does the job; and for square or rectangular contours, the square end mills are the tool of choice. As for helical and spiral patterns? That’s where the flute end mills swoop in!
For the purpose of making a variety of slots, slot drills come in three designs – straight, taper, and spiral. The straight option enables one to cut straight slots whereas the taper choice posts one to create tapered slots. And the spiral variant is employed to craft helical and spiral slots.
It is essential to contemplate the nature of the material to be worked on, the form of the finished item, and the size and scope of the cut when selecting a cutting tool. Slot drills and end mills both come in a range of sizes and forms – thereby making it essential to decide which instrument is most suitable for the assignment.
