BOFA supplies solid carbide end mills for CNC milling of steel, mould materials and other engineering alloys. Compare flat, ball nose and micro geometries by material, reach and finish requirement, then send the exact model or drawing for a condition check.
Choose the carbide end mill geometry
| Family | Best starting point | BOFA series |
|---|---|---|
| Flat end mill | Slots, pockets, walls and general profiling | HRC55 4-flute Flat, HRC55 Micro Flat, HRC60 Flat or HRC65 Rainbow Flat |
| Ball nose end mill | 3D surfaces, contoured mould work and finishing | HRC55 2-flute Ball, HRC55 Micro Ball, HRC60 Ball or HRC65 Rainbow Ball |
| Corner-radius end mill | Shoulders where edge strength and finish must be balanced | HRC55 Corner Radius, HRC60 Corner Radius or HRC65 Rainbow Corner Radius |
Recommended materials and decision fields
Material names alone are not enough to select cutting data. Include the exact alloy/grade, measured hardness and operation so BOFA can confirm geometry, coating and conditions.
| Workpiece | Confirm before cutting | RFQ inputs |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium | Alloy, temper, chip-control need and target removal rate | Diameter, flute count, rpm/feed units, coolant |
| Stainless or heat-resistant steel | Grade, hardness and heat generation risk | Engagement, coolant pressure, overhang |
| Carbon/alloy or mould steel | Measured HRC/HB and roughing/finishing operation | Tool radius, ap/ae, holder runout |
| Titanium or other difficult alloy | Exact grade, machine power and stability | Cutting-speed target, feed per tooth, drawing |
Technical data to compare
- Substrate: solid carbide; request the BOFA grade code, grain size and cobalt content on the quotation.
- Coating and geometry: confirm coating family/thickness, helix angle and rake for the material and diameter.
- Size and reach: send diameter or ball radius, cutting length, shank, overall length and flute count.
- Quality: specify diameter/length tolerance and tool-tip runout measurement position.
- Interface: state spindle taper, holder type and gauge length; use the shortest safe overhang.
Engineering guides and downloads
Use the CNC tool selection and material guides for geometry decisions, then read the practical guides for aluminum end-mill selection, carbide vs HSS, stainless-steel milling, chatter checks and tool-life tracking. The BOFA product catalog has published charts; use a technical RFQ for a condition card or custom profile.
Common questions
How do I choose flat or ball nose?
Use flat for slots, pockets and planar walls. Use ball nose when the toolpath follows a 3D contour or mould surface. Choose corner radius when the edge needs more support than a sharp corner.
Can one carbide end mill cover every material?
No. Material grade, hardness, coating, flute geometry and machine rigidity change the safe cutting window. Send the actual workpiece and operation for confirmation.
What cutting parameters should I start with?
Do not copy a generic rpm/feed table without the tool diameter and setup. BOFA can return rpm, feed per tooth, table feed, axial depth and radial engagement after the key fields are supplied.
Which data is needed for a custom tool?
Send the drawing or model, material and hardness, operation, dimensions, interface, tolerance/runout target, quantity and requested date.
Need a tool recommendation?
Send the model, size and material through the technical RFQ. The form accepts drawings and machine/interface details so the factory can check a standard or custom configuration.