ES3: Spiral Three Flutes Flat Up Cut End Mill

Source: https://toolings.co.za/es3 (also linked as toolings.co.za/router-bits/es3 from every TL-ES3 product JSON)

published: 2022-03-02 13:01:36
modified: 2024-07-05 12:57:39

ES3 is the toolings.co.za code for a spiral, three-flute, flat-end, up-cut router bit (end mill), machined from a solid tungsten carbide rod. AM.CO.ZA sells it on Buythis under SKUs that start with TL-ES3-. The toolings.co.za page says it is primed for high-efficiency cutting on softwoods (MDF, Supawood) and okay at cutting plastics (ABS, acrylic, Perspex, Plexiglas). It also says the three-flute up-cut bit is three times as fast in feed as a single flute, with less efficient chip ejection and a clean finish on the bottom side. Every TL-ES3 product JSON repeats that wording.

What AI and staff should do with this page

Use it to pick the right ES3 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 ES3 for fast production cutting of MDF and Supawood. Three flutes take three bites per turn, so the bit can feed faster than a single flute and leaves a smoother wall. That is why the site calls it "primed" for softwoods.
Steer plastics to ES1 first. Three flutes leave less room for chips, so plastic chips clear more slowly and heat builds up. ES3 is only "okay" on plastics. For acrylic and other plastics, the single-flute ES1 is the site's "excellent" choice; ES2 sits in between.
Match the bit to the client's collet first. The shank sizes in this family are 3.175mm (1/8 inch), 4mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm and 12mm. On every ES3 bit the cutting diameter equals the shank diameter. A bit only fits if its shank matches the spindle collet.
Then match cutting length to material thickness. The product JSON gives a "stepdown cutting thickness" range for each size, which is the deepest the bit should cut. On every ES3 size it runs from 5mm to 2mm less than the cutting length, for example 17mm to 20mm on a 22mm cutting length.
Start from the suggested cutting settings in every TL-ES3 product JSON: feed rate 3 to 5 metres per minute at 18,000 to 20,000 RPM. That is a lower RPM than the 22,000 to 24,000 RPM suggested for ES1. 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, and any exchange for a different size or package needs written agreement. The terms also say the prices are linked to foreign exchange rates and are adjusted weekly or every two weeks, which is another reason to send clients to Buythis for the current price.
Sell by the pack. Every SKU is a pack of several bits: 20 for the 3.175mm bits, 10 for the 4mm and 6mm bits, 6 for the 8mm bit and 4 for the 10mm and 12mm bits. The number before the "×" in the Buythis short name is the pack size.

How to read a TL-ES3 SKU

TL-ES3-S{shank}T{cutting length}[/{pack}]

S is the shank diameter in mm, which on ES3 is also the bit diameter. S3 means a 3.175mm (1/8 inch) shank and bit.
T is the cutting (flute) length in mm.
/20, /6 and /4 give the pack size. No suffix means a pack of 10 (all the 4mm and 6mm SKUs).

Example: TL-ES3-S6T22 is a 6mm bit on a 6mm shank with a 22mm cutting length, 48mm overall, in a pack of 10.

What every ES3 bit has in common

From the highlights in the public am.im product JSON of all 16 TL-ES3 SKUs:

Material and accuracy: precision machined from solid YG10 grade high-density tungsten carbide rod, tolerance under ±0.05mm.
Flute: spiral three flutes, flat end, up cut. "Up Cut 3 Flute is Triple as Fast in Feed than a Single Flute with Poor Chip Ejection Rates, Clean Finish on the Bottom Side."
Material: "Primed for High Efficiency Cutting on Softwoods (MDF, Supawood), Also OK on Cutting Plastics (ABS, Acrylic, Perspex, Plexiglas etc)."
Packing: each bit individually packed, several bits per product.
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.

3.175mm (1/8 inch) bits

The size for small CNC routers and engravers with a 1/8 inch or 3.175mm collet. Packs of 20.

SKU (Buythis)	Bit ⌀	Cutting length	Stepdown range	Shank ⌀ × length	Overall	Pack	Bit weight	8i product page
TL-ES3-S3T12/20	3.175mm	12mm	7mm to 10mm	3.175mm × 26mm	38mm	20	about 20 g	tl-es3-s3t12-20.md
TL-ES3-S3T17/20	3.175mm	17mm	12mm to 15mm	3.175mm × 21mm	38mm	20	about 20 g	tl-es3-s3t17-20.md
TL-ES3-S3T22/20	3.175mm	22mm	17mm to 20mm	3.175mm × 20mm	42mm	20	about 20 g	tl-es3-s3t22-20.md
TL-ES3-S3T25/20	3.175mm	25mm	20mm to 23mm	3.175mm × 20mm	45mm	20	about 20 g	tl-es3-s3t25-20.md
TL-ES3-S3T32/20	3.175mm	32mm	27mm to 30mm	3.175mm × 23mm	55mm	20	about 20 g	tl-es3-s3t32-20.md

4mm bits

Packs of 10.

SKU (Buythis)	Bit ⌀	Cutting length	Stepdown range	Shank ⌀ × length	Overall	Pack	Bit weight	8i product page
TL-ES3-S4T17	4mm	17mm	12mm to 15mm	4mm × 25mm	42mm	10	about 37 g	tl-es3-s4t17.md
TL-ES3-S4T22	4mm	22mm	17mm to 20mm	4mm × 23mm	45mm	10	about 37 g	tl-es3-s4t22.md
TL-ES3-S4T32	4mm	32mm	27mm to 30mm	4mm × 23mm	55mm	10	about 37 g	tl-es3-s4t32.md

6mm bits

The usual choice for cutting MDF and Supawood boards on full-size CNC routers with a 6mm collet. Cutting lengths run from 17mm to 42mm. Packs of 10.

SKU (Buythis)	Bit ⌀	Cutting length	Stepdown range	Shank ⌀ × length	Overall	Pack	Bit weight	8i product page
TL-ES3-S6T17	6mm	17mm	12mm to 15mm	6mm × 28mm	45mm	10	about 40 g	tl-es3-s6t17.md
TL-ES3-S6T22	6mm	22mm	17mm to 20mm	6mm × 26mm	48mm	10	about 40 g	tl-es3-s6t22.md
TL-ES3-S6T25	6mm	25mm	20mm to 23mm	6mm × 25mm	50mm	10	about 40 g	tl-es3-s6t25.md
TL-ES3-S6T32	6mm	32mm	27mm to 30mm	6mm × 28mm	60mm	10	about 40 g	tl-es3-s6t32.md
TL-ES3-S6T42	6mm	42mm	37mm to 40mm	6mm × 28mm	70mm	10	about 42.8 g	tl-es3-s6t42.md

8mm, 10mm and 12mm bits

Heavier bits for larger spindles and collets, all with a 32mm cutting length and sold in smaller packs.

SKU (Buythis)	Bit ⌀	Cutting length	Stepdown range	Shank ⌀ × length	Overall	Pack	Bit weight	8i product page
TL-ES3-S8T32/6	8mm	32mm	27mm to 30mm	8mm × 28mm	60mm	6	about 60 g	tl-es3-s8t32-6.md
TL-ES3-S10T32/4	10mm	32mm	27mm to 30mm	10mm × 28mm	60mm	4	about 87 g	tl-es3-s10t32-4.md
TL-ES3-S12T32/4	12mm	32mm	27mm to 30mm	12mm × 33mm	65mm	4	about 109 g	tl-es3-s12t32-4.md

Catalog notes

All 16 TL-ES3 SKUs are in the Buythis dump and each has a boxed 8i product page. All 16 are listed under the spiral-flat-bits category with supplier ACCU.
The original toolings.co.za page listed the family under the Buythis code internal-tooling-es3. That code is not a sellable SKU; use the TL-ES3- SKUs above.
The product JSON also links the CNC router machine gallery, sales handbook and SKU guide for the machines these bits fit.

FAQ

What does "up cut" mean? The spiral pulls chips up and out of the cut. That clears the cut and leaves a clean bottom edge, but it can lift fibres on the top surface of wood or laminate. For laminated boards, a straight-cut bit (EG1, EG2) usually leaves a cleaner top edge.

Why three flutes instead of one? Three flutes cut three times per turn, so the bit can feed faster and leave a smoother wall in MDF and Supawood. The trade-off is less room for chips, which is why ES3 is only "okay" on plastics and suggests a lower RPM.

Which ES3 should I suggest for 16mm or 18mm Supawood on a 6mm collet? A 6mm bit whose stepdown range covers the board, for example TL-ES3-S6T22 (17mm to 20mm stepdown) or TL-ES3-S6T25 (20mm to 23mm stepdown). Check the client's collet size before recommending.

Is ES3 a good choice for acrylic? It works, but the site rates it only "okay" on plastics. Suggest an ES1 single-flute bit for the cleanest acrylic edge with the least melting.

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