The Niagara Cutter ACB337 uncoated (bright) high-speed steel end mill has a chipbreaker tooth design and a 37-degree helix for removing aluminum and other non-ferrous materials in less time than conventional end mills. Rougher-finisher end mills are special-purpose tools with chip-breaking cutting edges that create small chips for heavy cuts. They produce a finer finish than fine- or coarse-pitch roughers, reducing the need for a second finishing cut in some applications. The 37-degree helix angle gives more support behind the cutting edge than higher angles and offers increased cutting action and chip evacuation compared to the conventional 30-degree helix. It efficiently cuts aluminum and other non-ferrous material, moving material up the spiral and away from the workpiece. The rounded area behind the cutting edge, called the cylindrical land, stabilizes the tool and smoothes the surface of the workpiece, minimizing tool vibration (chatter) when machining non-ferrous materials. The cutting edge is treated with extra grinding passes, minimizing surface roughness and creating a low-friction surface on the cutting edge to help prevent chips from sticking to the tool. The end mill has three flutes to optimize the feed and cut rate.
High-speed steel (HSS) is a common, general-purpose steel for cutting tools and is compatible with a variety of materials; the tool has no coating or surface treatment. The tool’s square end has straight cutting edges that create sharp, unrounded cuts. The center-cutting design has cutting teeth at the end of the tool, so it can be fed into the workpiece like a drill bit. 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. Cutting diameter tolerance is +0.001" to -0.000". The 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 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.
