Aluminum is soft when compared to other metals. This means chips can clog up the flutes of your CNC tooling, especially with deep or plunging cuts. Coatings for end mills can help alleviate the challenges that sticky aluminum can create. Titanium carbo-nitride coatings are slippery enough to help keep chips moving, especially if you aren’t using coolant. This coating is often used on carbide tooling. If you’re using high-speed steel (HSS) tooling, look for coatings like titanium carbo-nitride (TiCN). That way you get the lubricity needed for aluminum, but you can spend a little less cash than on carbide.

If you ask five CNC machinists the same question, you’re bound to get seven answers. But that doesn’t mean they're indecisive, just there are many different ways to perform any given CNC operation. That being said, there is no 100% right or wrong way to cut aluminum, but here are a few things to keep your eyes on when buying end mills.

A place to put towels and toiletries is paramount in any bathroom. When you need additional bathroom storage, a spacious vanity is your best bet. Unlike drop-in or undermount sinks, vessel sinks mount above the vanity countertop, leaving more storage space in the cabinet. You also gain counter space by having the sink mounted on top of the counter rather than in it. As an added bonus, this makes the above counter sink unit it easier to maintain a clean and clutter-free look – a great strategy for building a bathroom you love.

Vessel sinks come in a range of materials, including solid surface (composite), glass, and porcelain ceramic. But choosing a bathroom sink doesn't have to be complicated. No matter the material, all Kraus vessel sinks are easy to clean and extremely durable, with smooth non-porous surfaces that are resistant to stains and discoloration over time. You won’t need any abrasive brushes or harsh cleansers to keep these sinks clean; just wipe them down with a soft damp cloth.

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The ultimate design element to create a striking centerpiece in any bathroom, Kraus vessel sinks make a distinctive style statement that will send your guests scrambling to see how they can achieve the same look. There’s nothing quite like the “wow” factor that a vessel sink can bring. A perfect focal point for a powder room, or an eye-catching touch for a master bath: These sinks can do it all!

If you’re looking to cut aluminum, fear not… it’s a forgiving material. If you want to cut aluminum better, look for end mills with high lubricity and an efficient flute design for chip evacuation. With some fine-tuning in your feeds and speeds, you’ll use your CNC machine to make piles of aluminum chips in no time.

Vessel sinks have made a huge impact on the design world. The eye-catching design of a contemporary vessel sink is at once classic and modern, recalling the essence of a large washbasin and pitcher resting on the dresser or vanity. Updated shapes and modern materials (not to mention modern plumbing) have brought the above-counter sink into the current day. Nowadays, vessel sinks come in many shapes, sizes, colors, and materials, making it easy to create a look you love.

Not all faucet types work with every sink, so it's important to pair your vessel sink with a tall faucet that will provide ample clearance for the sink bowl. Vessel sinks sit above the countertop, and therefore require taller faucets. A well-chosen vessel faucet dresses up your small bathroom sink like a piece of jewelry. Ceramic sinks in clean white or soft neutral hues look graceful and elegant when paired with a sleek and simple tall vessel faucet. For a more ornate look, try a tall faucet with decorative detailing, or install a waterfall faucet with matching glass disk and watch the water cascade into the sink.

Carbide stays sharper longer. While it might be more brittle than other end mills, we’re talking aluminum here, so carbide is great. The biggest downside to this type of end mill for your CNC is that they can get pricey. Or at least more expensive than high-speed steel. As long as you have your speeds and feeds dialed in, carbide end mills will not only cut through aluminum like butter, but they will also last quite a while. Get your hands on some carbide end mills here.

Most vessel sinks with a round or curved bottom need to be installed with a mounting ring so that the sink is stable and does not shift or wobble on the countertop. Additionally, this style of sink needs a pop-up drain that’s compatible with sinks without overflow drain holes. If you choose a sink that’s clear or translucent, you’ll be able to see even more of the mounting ring. You can match the finish to your bathroom faucet and hardware for a coordinated look, or pick a bold, bright finish for a pop of contrasting color.

So much of CNC machining is about math, and choosing an end mill is no different. While the number of flutes is an important consideration, flute geometry should also be considered. High-helix flutes help dramatically with CNC chip evacuation, and they also help with the cutting process. High-helix geometries have more consistent contact with your workpiece… meaning, the cutter is cutting with fewer interruptions.

Interrupted cuts are hard on tool life and surface finish, so using high-helix geometries allows you to stay more consistent and move CNC machine chips out faster. Interrupted cuts wreak havoc on your parts. This video shows how interrupted cuts with a chipped end mill can affect your cutting strategies.

This is arguably the most important feature to consider when choosing an end mill for CNC machined aluminum. Again, aluminum is gummy and soft, which means it tends to stick in the flutes of your CNC mill. While coatings can help alleviate this issue, if you’re using a 4- or 5-flute end mill to cut aluminum, even the best coatings may not help. One of the main goals of flutes when cutting aluminum is to clear CNC machined chips. While having fewer flutes makes your tool less rigid, it also allows for more efficient movement of those chips. If you don’t get chips out of there, you risk ruining your surface finish, by re-cutting chips, or worse, destroying your end mill by friction welding the chips right to your cutter - every CNC machine owners worse nightmare! Your best bet for an end mill in aluminum is two or three flutes. While you can get away with more flutes, if you are really concerned about rigidity, your risk of destroying your end mill will go up.

Sometimes called countertop or above-counter sinks, “vessel” is a popular style of sink that rests directly on top of a bathroom counter, with plumbing concealed by the vanity cabinet below. The easiest way to make a bold design statement, all you’ll have to do before installation is cut a small hole in the countertop for the drainpipe (unlike drop-in or undermount sinks which require a sometimes-difficult cutout). This streamlined configuration also allows you to update your bathroom sink without replacing the entire vanity, for a quick and simple style upgrade you’re sure to love.