ER25Collet sizes

Watch this video introduction to steel milling basics. Tech expert Kurt Repsher walks you through how to choose the right end mill and lubricant for your steel milling application, the pros and cons of various tool materials, helix angles, coatings, and much more! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and be the first to see more awesome how-to videos like this one!

ERcollet sizes

To start with, all types of steel are machinable, unless it’s been surface, or through hardened. The harder you push the tool, the more you’ll notice the differences between them. As with all machining, you always need to be careful during fast, heavy cuts, especially when the tool exits the material, which is when the risk of tool chipping is at its highest.

ERcolletDimensions PDF

Try to avoid using two or three flute end mills for steel. Technically they’ll work, but steel isn’t the easiest material to cut, so those 2 or 3 cutting edges will wear pretty fast. Here are a few tips on tool selection:

We believe the right tool is everything! Download our Steel Turning & Machining Guide and ensure you have the information you need to select the right tool for your steel machining applications, every time!

If you’re making a part or two, it won’t really matter how hard you push the tool for maximum material removal. But if you’re making thousands of parts a week, you’ll need a more effective strategy. To effectively mill steel, you'll have to:

Steel is machinable, and commonly found in pretty much any machine shop. The following steel milling basics will help you to hit the ground running, so you can land some good jobs and handle them like a pro.

Er16 collet sizeschart

ER16 colletsize range

Ultimately, if you really want to excel with machining steel, you’ll need to do some experimenting. Contact our tech support team for process improvement advice and steel milling product recommendations.