We are running down our stock of uncoated 1 flute aluminium cutters and eventually will only be stocking DLC coated cutters. DLC coated cutters cut faster, longer and cleaner than uncoated and can be found >>here<< If we no longer have a size in uncoated, we will be shipping the DLC version.
When cutting soft metals such as aluminium and brass, a high-grade 1 Flute UP CUT Carbide End Mill for Aluminium is an excellent choice. This type of end mill is specially designed for cutting soft materials and has several benefits. First, it has the best chip ejection, which helps to prevent jamming that is common when cutting gummy materials like aluminium and brass. Second, it has excellent heat dissipation, which further reduces the risk of jamming and prolongs the life of the tool. And also it is more capable of operating with a wide range of feeds and speeds when slotting as compared to 2 and 3 flute end mills. However, if you're looking for a better surface finish on the sides and bottom of the material, using 2 or 3 flutes end mills is recommended. These end mills tend to produce a smoother finish on the perimeter of the cut.
Suitable for
- Soft Metals (Aluminium, Copper & Brass)
- Plastics (ABS, acrylic, HDPE etc)
- Aluminium Composite Materials
Adam’s Tips
When cutting aluminium sheet, the type of cut that you use, whether it's a climb cut or a conventional cut, can affect the finish on the side of the sheet. It's recommended that you do some test cuts and evaluate which side has the best finish, then adjust your toolpath accordingly.
High-grade 1-flute up-cut carbide end mills are also suitable for cutting plastics. They are robust, but they don't have a sharp edge, which allows you to run them faster on plastic materials than a 1-flute end mill for plastics. However, it's important to keep in mind that this might only be suitable for cutting all the way through the material, and depending on the finish you require. On the other hand, a 1-flute end mill for plastics can give you a better surface finish but at a lower cutting speed.
| Feeds and Speeds - 1 Flute for Aluminium mm per minute |
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| Metals | Plastics | |||
| Item Code | Description | Soft | Soft | Hard |
| 1-1/8-SP-1F-3-Al | 1mm x 3.175mm x 3mm 1F | 100 | 850 | 450 |
| 1.5-1/8-SP-1F-4-Al | 1.5mm x 3.175mm x 4mm 1F | 150 | 1,350 | 700 |
| 2-1/8-SP-1F-6-Al | 2mm x 3.175mm x 6mm 1F | 150 | 1,900 | 950 |
| 1/8-1/8-SP-1F-8-Al | 3.175mm x 3.175mm x 8mm 1F | 300 | 3,650 | 1,850 |
| 1/8-1/8-SP-1F-12-Al | 3.175mm x 3.175mm x 12mm 1F | 250 | 3,050 | 1,550 |
| 1/8-1/8-SP-1F-17-Al | 3.175mm x 3.175mm x 17mm 1F | 200 | 2,450 | 1,250 |
| 4-4-SP-1F-12-Al | 4mm x 4mm x 12mm 1F | 400 | 4,700 | 2,350 |
| 4-4-SP-1F-17-Al | 4mm x 4mm x 17mm 1F | 300 | 3,800 | 1,900 |
| 4-4-SP-1F-22-Al | 4mm x 4mm x 22mm 1F | 250 | 3,000 | 1,500 |
| 6-6-SP-1F-15-Al | 6mm x 6mm x 15mm 1F | 800 | 10,250 | 5,150 |
| 6-6-SP-1F-22-Al | 6mm x 6mm x 22mm 1F | 600 | 7,500 | 3,750 |
| 6-6-SP-1F-32-Al | 6mm x 6mm x 32mm 1F | 400 | 4,800 | 2,400 |
| 8-8-SP-1F-22-Al | 8mm x 8mm x 22mm 1F | 1250 | 16,550 | 8,300 |
| Revolutions per minute | 24,000 | 16,000 | 16,000 | |
| 100% width per cut slotting | ||||
| Depth per cut Diameter x 1 | ||||
