Carbide VS HSS End Mills

End mills are versatile cutting tools with a variety of applications, such as slotting, profiling, face milling, contouring and drilling. They are most commonly made of either High Speed Steel (HSS) or Tungsten Carbide. 

So which tool is better? It's really a question of optimization... 

Carbide end mills typically provide better rigidity than HSS end mills, and can be operated 2-3x faster. This is primarily due to the material properties of carbide allowing it to have a substantially higher heat tolerance.

Carbide is not the best option in all circumstances, however. For machines with lower horse-power and lower rigidity, running carbide end mills at a sub-optimal RPM can reduce their overall effectiveness and tool life. As well, carbide end mills are a more expensive option. 

HSS end mills can be more tolerant of lower-speed cutting, and do not require setups that are as rigid as would be necessary with carbide end mills. HSS end mills also cost substantially less than carbide counterparts - making them an ideal choice for individual jobs or hobby projects.  

At the end of the day, the best tool will be the tool optimized for the specific job. If you have any questions regarding application, you can contact us for a quote & we will be happy to assist you in identifying the proper tool that will get your job done efficiently and affordably.