Niagara Cutter 17012320 Cobalt Steel Square Nose End Mill, Inch, Weldon Shank, TiAlN Finish, Roughing Cut, 35 Degree Helix, 4 Flutes, 3.25' Overall Length, 0.500' Cutting Diameter, 0.500' Shank Diameter

The Niagara Cutter EXR350 TiAlN-coated cobalt steel fine-pitch rougher end mill with chamfer end combines powdered-metal cobalt steel, flutes with low-friction cutting edges, and a 35-degree helix angle for milling difficult-to-machine materials. The fine-pitch tooth design is suitable for machining dense materials such as high-temperature alloys. The number of flutes varies by diameter to optimize the feed and cut rate. The cutting edges of the flutes are treated with extra grinding passes, creating a low-friction surface on the cutting edge to help prevent chips from sticking to the tool. The 35-degree helix angle provides more support behind the cutting edge than higher angles and increases cutting action and chip evacuation compared to the standard 30-degree helix. It efficiently cuts difficult-to-machine material, moving it up the spiral and away from the workpiece.

Powdered-metal cobalt is high-speed steel (HSS) with 8.5% cobalt, which provides better heat and wear resistance than high-speed steel, and increased toughness when compared to general-purpose cobalt. The TiAlN coating resists heat better than TiN and TiCN coatings, increasing tool life and performance. It also offers increased hardness compared to TiN and may reduce the need for lubricants based on the application. (TiAlN is suitable for a range of materials, but TiCN or uncoated end mills are recommended for machining aluminum.)

Rougher end mills are special-purpose tools whose chip-breaking cutting edges create small chips for heavy cuts and remove more material in less time than conventional end mills, with minimal vibration (chatter). The end mill produces a rough finish that can be smoothed by a second finishing cut. The tool has an eccentric primary relief feature that provides better support behind the cutting edge than a flat relief, reducing tooth breakage in deep cuts. The center-cutting design has cutting teeth at the end of the tool, so it can be fed straight into the workpiece like a drill bit. The tool€s square end creates sharp, unrounded cuts and has a corner chamfer on the cutting edges to provide more strength than standard square end tools in applications where cutting forces are high. Cutting diameter tolerance is +0.003" to -0.000" for sizes 1" and under, and +0.006" to -0.000" for sizes over 1". This tool has a Weldon shank.

End mills are designed to remove material and create multi-dimensional shapes and profiles. They have cutting edges along the outside diameter and flutes that remove chips from the cutting area and allow cooling fluids to enter. If heat is not reduced effectively, the tool€s cutting edges will dull and additional material buildup can occur. The number of flutes can range from two to eight. Two-flute designs offer the most efficient chip removal, but more flutes provide a smoother finish. The shank is the end of the tool held in place by a tool holder or machine. Center-cutting end mills can create three-dimensional shapes and profiles, and make plunge cuts similar to a drill bit. Non-center-cutting end mills are for applications such as peripheral milling and finishing, but cannot make plunge cuts.

Niagara Cutter has been designing and manufacturing precision cutting tools since 1954. Specializing in end mills, cutting mills, and saws, the company is based in New York and manufactures its tools at two facilities in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. This allows the company control over production, an essential benefit for customers in a variety of industries, especially aerospace and automotive.