Direct Answer: Start with an end mill for slots, pockets and profiles, a face mill for flat surfaces and a ball nose cutter for 3D shapes. Add reamers, spot drills and drill bits for holes, and thread mills or taps for threads.
The right cutter decides accuracy, surface finish, tool life and cost.
CNC milling is a form of CNC machining in which a rotating cutting tool removes material from a workpiece under computer control. The tool you choose affects accuracy, surface finish, tool life and cost.
Knowing the main types matters whether you are new to CNC machines or buying for a shop. Milling cutters are commonly made from high-speed steel (HSS) or carbide, and are often coated to improve hardness and heat resistance.
Below are the ten tools most CNC milling operators need to know, with what each does and how to choose.
Quick Reference: Which CNC Milling Tool for Which Job
Use this table to match a job to the right tool before reading the details.
| Job | Tool |
|---|---|
| Slots, pockets, profiles and side milling | End mill |
| Flat surfaces over a large area | Face mill, fly cutter or shell mill |
| 3D contours and curved surfaces | Ball nose cutter |
| Slots and straddle milling on a horizontal mill | Side and face cutter |
| Cutting threads | Thread mill or tap |
| Finishing an existing hole to size | Reamer |
| Locating a hole accurately before drilling | Spot (centre) drill |
| Making holes | Drill bit |
The sections below explain each tool in turn.
10 Types of CNC Milling Machine Cutting Tools: The Easy Guide
Each tool below has a clear job, and choosing well saves time, cutters and material.
1. End Mills
End mills have sharp cutting flutes on their ends and sides. Side milling machines an edge surface, slot milling cuts between two edge surfaces, and face milling machines the top face of the part.
Every end mill has several cutting edges machined into the side of the tool, which give chips an easy path out of the cut. Coatings increase hardness and tool life.
More flutes generally give a finer finish in harder materials. Fewer flutes, often two, leave more room for chips and suit softer materials such as aluminium. Too many flutes can clog the tool and let heat build up, so match the count to your material and machine.
2. Face Mills
Face mills flatten the top of the stock before other milling tools are used. A face mill has a solid body with multiple cutter inserts that can be swapped as needed, and more cutters remove metal faster.
Face mills suit surfaces perpendicular to the cutter axis and can work vertically or horizontally. Mount the cutter securely before you set the depth of cut.
3. Fly Cutters
Fly cutters have a body into which one or two tool bits are inserted. The whole unit rotates, and the tool bits take broad, shallow facing cuts.
Like face mills, fly cutters are used for face milling and have replaceable cutters. Face mills offer more rigidity, indexable inserts and greater depth of cut, but they cost more.
Fly cutters can leave a fine surface finish on flat faces and are a low-cost way to face a part. They remove material more slowly than a multi-insert face mill.
4. Thread Mills and Taps
A thread mill cuts threads by travelling around the work in a helical path, much like an end mill. It can cut internal or external threads with one tool.
Taps cut internal threads by feeding straight into a pre-drilled hole. Both suit materials such as aluminium, copper and brass as well as steel.
For tap sets, see our threading tools and Volkel tap sets.
5. Side and Face Cutters
Among CNC machine tools, the side and face cutter has cutting teeth on its side and circumference. They are made in various diameters and widths to suit the application.
Earlier they were widely used, but end mills have largely replaced them. They still suit slotting and straddle milling on a horizontal mill.
Pick the right cutter for the job
Tell us your material, machine and operation, and we will recommend a suitable tool and send a customised quote within 24 hours.
6. Ball Nose and Bull Nose Cutters
Ball nose cutters have a fully hemispherical end and are used to machine 3D shapes and curved surfaces on machining centres. They can also add a radius between perpendicular faces to reduce stress concentration.
Bull nose, or corner radius, cutters are a different tool. They have a flat bottom with rounded corners, which strengthens the corners and reduces stress concentration.
Choose a ball nose for contours and a bull nose for stronger, longer-lasting corners.
7. Reamers
Reamers enlarge an existing hole slightly and give it an accurate size and a smooth finish. They ensure a hole has accurate roundness and diameter.
A reamer needs a pre-drilled hole close to the final size, so it only removes a small amount of material. Reamers are cylindrical or conical and are used in machine tools such as drill presses, lathes and screw machines.
8. Spot Drills
A spot drill starts a hole in the right place so the drill that follows does not wander. It is a sturdy tool that creates an accurate conical start before drilling.
Spot drilling is common when a drill tends to move away from the centre. Choose a spot drill whose point angle matches or exceeds that of the drill bit.
9. Shell Mills
A shell mill is a milling cutter with a modular construction: an arbor and a separate cutting shell. This modular design suits large cutters, because the body stays on the machine and only the shell, or its inserts, is replaced when worn.
Most shell mills today use indexable inserts for the cutting edges.
10. Drill Bits
Drill bits make round holes and are used on milling machines for every job that needs a hole. Twist drills are the standard choice.
Carbide drills hold an edge longer and suit production work and harder materials, while HSS drills suit general work. Start the hole with a spot drill for accuracy.
For help choosing, read our 6-step framework for choosing drill bits by material. You can also see our guide on solid carbide drills replacing HSS jobber drills.
Milling Cutters, Inserts and Machines at Al Rizq
Al Rizq supplies milling cutters and accessories to workshops, fabricators and manufacturers across the UAE. Start with our milling machine tools and cutting tools.
Cutters that use replaceable inserts pair with our carbide inserts. Describe your material, machine and operation, and we will recommend the right tool.
Name the operation, we’ll suggest the cutter
See the milling cutters and accessories we supply, then send us your operation and material.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common CNC milling cutting tools?
The most common CNC milling cutting tools include end mills, face mills, ball cutters, reamers, drills, fly cutters and shell mills.
Which CNC milling tool is best for beginners?
End mills are one of the most useful tools for beginners because they can be used for slotting, profiling, side milling and general material removal. Add a face mill for flat surfaces, and a spot drill and drill bit for holes.
What is the difference between an end mill and a drill bit?
A drill bit is mainly used to make holes by cutting downward, while an end mill can cut from the side, bottom and different directions. End mills are better for slotting, profiling and shaping workpieces.
What is the difference between end mills and face mills?
End mills are used for side cutting, slotting and profiling. Face mills are mainly used to create flat surfaces on the top of a workpiece.
How do I choose the right CNC milling cutting tool?
Choose based on the material, cutting operation, tool diameter, number of flutes, coating, cutting depth and required surface finish. For better results, always match the tool with the machine and job requirements.
Which CNC milling tool should a beginner learn first?
Start with the end mill: it handles slotting, profiling, side milling and general material removal. Then learn the face mill for flat surfaces.
Should I choose HSS or carbide milling tools?
HSS is tougher and more economical for general work and lower speeds. Carbide holds an edge longer and allows higher cutting speeds, which suits production work and harder materials. Tell us your material and machine and we will help you choose.
Where can I buy CNC milling tools in Dubai?
Al Rizq supplies milling cutters and accessories across the UAE. Send us your requirements and we will send a customised quote within 24 hours.