When working with any machine, you always want to make sure you’re using the appropriate equipment for the task. Sometimes, it can be hard to know what the right tool is. If you’re new to milling, you’ll need to be aware of the difference between end milling and face milling. Read on to learn more about those differences.

End Milling

End mills are tools that cut wood and metal in the milling process. They have cutting teeth on the face and edge of the body, and—unlike a drill press, which typically bores vertically—they cut into materials with a circular motion from side to side. End mills are useful in contouring, slotting, grinding, profiling, and reaming systems to create forms and openings in a workpiece. They come in a range of sizes and styles that have different applications. For example, a straight flute end mill decreases fraying along the edges of a workpiece and allows for smoother cuts. You can also add additional accessories, such as end mill extension holders, to enable access to difficult-to-reach places.

Face Milling

While an end mill has a shape like a screw, a face mill is circular in appearance. It has cutter teeth and coarse and fine teeth on the end face and along the radius. They often function to cut with the cutter’s ends rather than their sides. They are more significant in diameter than the workpiece they face, enabling it to process the surface in one pass. Face milling is the best option when you need to remove a small amount of content or attain a superior surface finish.

Differences Between Them

The most significant difference between end mills and face mills is their designs. End mills use both the ends and sides of the cutter, while face mills complete horizontal cutting using the circular shape and edges along the circumference. The slot and pocket depth of an end mill should be as deep as possible. A face mill aims to clean up a surface, and sometimes, they have no vertical sides when inserted.

At DZ Sales, we have a broad range of products for both face and end milling, like an end mill extension holder. While our shop is in Tennessee, we can ship anywhere in the US. If you have questions about anything from our website, feel free to contact us.