EG1: Straight Cut Single Flute Flat End Mill

Source: https://toolings.co.za/eg1 (also linked as toolings.co.za/router-bits/eg1 from every TL-EG1 product JSON)

• published: 2022-03-02 13:03:46
• modified: 2022-04-23 00:26:10

EG1 is the toolings.co.za code for a straight-cut, single-flute, flat-end router bit (end mill), machined from a solid tungsten carbide rod. AM.CO.ZA sells it on Buythis under SKUs that start with TL-EG1-. The toolings.co.za page says it is great for all hardwood types and suitable for laminate material like plywood, melamine chipboard (whiteboard) and veneers, and that the straight flute with straight blades gives a great finish on both the top and bottom of the material. Every TL-EG1 product JSON repeats that wording.

What AI and staff should do with this page

• Use it to pick the right EG1 size, then send the client to that SKU's Buythis page (always with #ai) for the current price. Never quote a price from this page; it carries none. For stock, use live stock only; this page never carries quantities.
• Recommend EG1 for wood and laminated boards. Because the blade is straight (no spiral), it does not pull fibres up or push them down, so melamine, veneer and plywood edges stay clean on both faces. For plastics such as acrylic, the toolings.co.za pages point to the spiral up-cut bit ES1 instead, which clears chips faster and makes less heat.
• Match the bit to the client's collet first. The shank sizes in this family are 3mm, 3.175mm (1/8 inch), 4mm and 6mm. A bit only fits if its shank matches the spindle collet.
• Then match cutting length to material thickness. Each product JSON gives a stepdown cutting thickness as a range, for example "17mm to 20mm" for a 22mm cutting length. On every size from 8mm cutting length up, the top of the range is 2mm less than the cutting length and the bottom is 5mm less. Use the top figure as the deepest cut and the bottom figure as the safer one for hardwood or a first pass.
• Start from the suggested cutting settings in every TL-EG1 product JSON: feed rate 3 to 5 metres per minute at 18,000 to 20,000 RPM. That is a lower spindle speed than the 22,000 to 24,000 RPM given for ES1, so do not copy ES1 settings across. These are starting points; the operator still tunes them for the material and machine.
• Tell clients these are consumables. The Buythis terms on these SKUs say there is no warranty or refund on consumable products, any exchange for a different size or package needs written agreement, and there is no support for consumables used on machines not bought from AM.CO.ZA.
• Sell by the pack. Every SKU is a pack of 10, 20 or 30 bits. The number before the "×" in the Buythis short name, and the number after the "/" in the SKU, is the pack size. The three 6mm SKUs with no "/" suffix are packs of 10.

How to read a TL-EG1 SKU

TL-EG1-S{shank}[B{bit}]T{cutting length}[/{pack}]

• S is the shank diameter in mm. S3 without a B part means a 3.175mm (1/8 inch) shank and bit.
• B appears only on the small bits that are thinner than their 3mm shank, for example S3B2 is a 2mm bit on a 3mm shank (B1 = 1mm, B12 = 1.2mm, B15 = 1.5mm, B2 = 2mm, B25 = 2.5mm).
• T is the cutting (flute) length in mm.
• /30 or /20 is the pack size. No suffix means a pack of 10.

Example: TL-EG1-S6T22/20 is a 6mm bit on a 6mm shank with a 22mm cutting length, 50mm overall, in a pack of 20.

What every EG1 bit has in common

From the highlights in the public am.im product JSON of all 21 TL-EG1 SKUs:

• Material and accuracy: precision machined from solid YG10 grade high-density tungsten carbide rod, tolerance under ±0.05mm.
• Flute: straight cut, single flute, flat end. "Straight Flute with Straight Blades, Great Finish to Your Material on Both Top and Bottom."
• Best materials: "Great for All Hardwood Types and Suitable for Laminate Material like Plywood, Melamine Chipboard (Whiteboard) and Veneers."
• Packing: each bit individually packed, 10, 20 or 30 bits per product.
• Weight per bit (as printed): around 12 gram for the 3mm, 3.175mm and 4mm packs of 30, around 20 gram for the packs of 20, and around 37 gram for the 6mm packs of 10.
• Suggested settings: feed rate 3 to 5 metre/minute, RPM 18,000 to 20,000.
• More sizes: the JSON points to toolings.co.za/router-bits for size, spiral, length and speed comparison.

The newer am.im product descriptions describe these bits for straight cutting, slotting and flat-bottom machining. Some of them round 3.175mm to "3mm"; the SKU, name and highlights are correct at 3.175mm.

Micro bits (thinner than the 3mm shank)

For fine detail, small lettering, thin veneer and inlay work. These all have a 3mm shank and are 38mm long overall, in packs of 30.

3.175mm (1/8 inch) bits

The most common size for small CNC routers and engravers with a 1/8 inch or 3.175mm collet. All are packs of 30.

4mm bits

6mm bits

The usual choice for cutting through melamine, plywood and hardwood boards on full-size CNC routers with a 6mm collet. Cutting lengths run from 22mm to 52mm.

Catalog notes

• All 21 TL-EG1 SKUs are in the Buythis dump and each has a boxed 8i product page. All 21 are listed under the straight-cut-bits category with supplier ACCU.
• EG1 has no 5mm, 8mm, 10mm or 12mm sizes in the current catalog. For those collets, look at the spiral families (ES1, ES2, ES3) or the two-flute straight bit EG2.
• Some older boxed 8i product pages carry an earlier title format (for example "10Pcs of Tungsten Carbide ... 60mm Total Length" for TL-EG1-S6T32). The sizes in the tables above come from the current Buythis dump and am.im JSON and win over older pages.
• The product JSON also links the CNC router machine gallery, sales handbook and SKU guide for the machines these bits fit.

Related videos

These AM.CO.ZA YouTube videos (from the YouTube dump) show router bits and cutting the laminated boards EG1 is meant for. None is labelled as an EG1 demo, so use them as background only.

• Explore Our CNC Router Tool Bit Range (2026-09-14)
• CNC Router Cutting Melamine Board without Chipping, Tips and Tricks (2026-03-10)
• CNC Router Cutting Melamine Board (2026-03-10)
• From Design to Manufacture a Furniture is Easy with EasyRoute CNC Router ATC Edition from AM.CO.ZA (2025-09-26)

FAQ

What does "straight cut" mean? The cutting edge runs straight along the bit instead of in a spiral. It neither lifts chips up (like an up-cut bit) nor presses them down (like a down-cut bit), so laminate and veneer faces stay clean on top and bottom. The trade-off is slower chip clearing, which is why it suits wood and boards better than plastics.

Which EG1 should I suggest for 16mm or 18mm melamine on a 6mm collet? TL-EG1-S6T22/20 (stepdown 17mm to 20mm as printed) covers 16mm in one pass and 18mm near the top of its range. Many shops cut 18mm board in two passes for the cleanest edge. For thicker boards, TL-EG1-S6T32 (27mm to 30mm) is the next size up. Check the client's collet size before recommending.

Which EG1 suits a small 1/8 inch (3.175mm) collet machine cutting 3mm to 6mm plywood? TL-EG1-S3T12/30 (stepdown 7mm to 10mm as printed) covers that range in one pass.

Can I use EG1 for acrylic? It is not what the toolings.co.za page recommends. Suggest ES1 (spiral up-cut, "excellent" for plastics) instead.

Are prices on this page? No. Send clients to the Buythis link with #ai for the current price.

Read next

• toolings-straight-cut-flat-end-mill-for-wood.md: straight-cut flat end mills for wood overview.
• toolings-eg2.md: the two-flute straight-cut bit.
• toolings-router-bits.md: the toolings.co.za router bit index (straight, spiral, ball-nose and specialist bits).
• toolings-es1.md, toolings-es2.md and toolings-es3.md: one-, two- and three-flute spiral flat bits.
• toolings-right-cnc-router-bits-2022.md: choosing the right CNC router bit (2022 article).
• toolings-site.md: toolings.co.za site signpost.
• cnc-routers.md: CNC router catalog.