If you are in the business of creating precise parts or are working for someone who is, you probably know that selecting the right cutting tools can have a huge effect on how efficient the process can be, how good the final product looks, and the cost overall. End mills are very functional cutting tools that can be used to cut or even remove material in different ways. If you are considering the use of an end mill for your business, two important options are solid carbide end mills and those made from HSS or high speed steel.
For quite some time, a large number of businesses that shape metal and other materials have used end mills made from high speed steel or HSS. Such end mills were the preferred choice because they were affordable and were much tougher than those made with carbide. HSS end mills, which are available with high speed steel suppliers, are a very good all-around choice when you are working with materials such as plastics, regular steel, and aluminum, for as long as the speeds are not too fast. They are less likely to break or chip if the cutting is not smooth and the machine is not that stable.
But the way materials are shaped have changed. Today, there is great demand for faster cutting, much smoother results, and having to work with tougher materials. Because of such requirements, solid carbide end mills have become more and more popular. Such end mills are made from tungsten carbide and are definitely much harder. They also resist wear much better than HSS.
One major difference lies in their ability to perform in higher temperatures. While high speed steel end mills have a tendency to soften at higher cutting speeds, which leads to shorter tool life, solid carbide end mills maintains its hardness and cutting efficiency even when temperatures rise. Most reputable high speed steel suppliers also often offer carbide end mills because they are aware of the diverse needs of most of their clients.
HSS end mills possess a toughness that makes them less likely to suffer brittle fractures that can be a concern with carbide. For much smaller machine shops or for creating prototypes where the volumes of parts is low, the much more affordable initial cost of HSS end mills can be very attractive. High speed steel suppliers are well aware that HSS end mills are easier to resharpen which extend their usable like and even help to reduce overall tool costs in certain cases. They often offer resharpening services or guidance on properly maintaining HSS mills.
Being able to make the choice between solid carbide and high speed steel end mills will depend on a careful evaluation of your business' or your application requirements. Things like the hardness of the material to be cut, the required surface finish, the feed rate, and your budget, play a major role. Though HSS end mills remain the cost-effective and more versatile option for a number of machining work, carbide end mills provide better performance and productivity when the material gets harder, the speeds increase, or the work becomes more complex. Many high speed steel suppliers now offer both HSS and solid carbide end mills, making it easier for their clients to select the best tool for each specific project.