Key Features

• Number of flutes varies; fewer flutes have more chip-carrying capacity and more flutes produce a finer finish
• Titanium aluminum nitride (TiAlN) coating lubricates the end mill for high-temperature stability and abrasion resistance at high cutting speeds, offering better heat resistance than TiN and TiCN coatings
• Cobalt steel resists abrasion and high cutting temperatures, and has higher feed rates than high-speed steel
• Square nose end mills (also called square end) create sharp, unrounded cuts
• Center-cutting design allows the end mill to plunge into material like a drill bit while also performing conventional surface milling

Product Description

The Niagara Cutter SPC408 TiAlN-coated cobalt steel square nose end mill has a 30-degree helix angle for milling a wide range of materials, including high-temperature alloys The number of flutes varies; fewer flutes provide better chip-carrying capacity, while more flutes produce a finer finish. 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.) The cobalt steel substrate can be run at faster speeds and stays sharp longer than high-speed steel tools, while offering greater resistance to heat and abrasion.

The 30-degree helix angle supports general-purpose applications. It balances lower angles’ strong cutting edge for difficult-to-machine materials with higher angles’ increased cutting action. The tool’s square end has straight cutting edges that create sharp, unrounded cuts, while the center-cutting design has cutting teeth at the end of the tool that support making pocket cuts, profiling, and slotting. Cutting diameter tolerance is +0.001” to -0.000”. The end mill 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 facilities in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. This allows the company control over production, from substrate to coating, which is essential for customers in a variety of industries, especially aerospace and automotive.