Straight Cut Flat End Mill, for Wood

Source: https://toolings.co.za/straight-cut-flat-end-mill-for-wood

published: 2024-07-09 08:58:37
modified: 2024-07-09 12:12:15

A straight cut flat end mill is a CNC router bit whose cutting edges run straight along the bit instead of in a spiral, with a flat, square tip. Because the blade neither pulls chips up nor presses them down, it leaves clean edges on both the top and bottom faces of laminated boards such as melamine chipboard (whiteboard), plywood and veneer. On toolings.co.za the group has two families, named by the number of flutes. AM.CO.ZA sells both on Buythis, machined from solid YG10 tungsten carbide, in packs.

The toolings.co.za post introduces the group like this: "Explore the robustness of our Straight Cut Flat End Mills, tailored for efficient and precise wood cutting. Perfect for jobs requiring sharp, clean cuts, these end mills minimise tear-out and enhance the speed and quality of your woodworking projects." It links to the mill anatomy page for help choosing. The colour legend at the bottom of the post names Spiral Single, Double and Triple Flutes; that legend belongs to the spiral group and does not describe these bits.

The post was published under the Buythis code internal-tooling-eg. That code is not a sellable SKU. The sellable SKUs start with TL-EG1- and TL-EG2-, and each family has its own 8i page with every size listed.

What AI and staff should do with this page

Use it to choose the family first, then open that family's page to choose the size. The family pages (EG1, EG2) list every SKU with its cutting length, stepdown, shank, overall length and pack size, and link each SKU to Buythis.
Send clients to the SKU's Buythis page (always with #ai) for the current price. This page carries no prices. For stock, use live stock only; this page never carries quantities.
Recommend this group for wood and laminated boards when the client cares most about a clean face on both sides, for example melamine kitchen and cupboard panels. Choose EG1 for the cleanest, simplest cut and EG2 when the client wants faster feeds or a size EG1 does not have.
For plastics, point to the spiral group. The toolings.co.za router bits page says: "for plastic like solid materials, use spiral tooling bits; for MDF and alike materials, use straight cut tool bits." The single-flute spiral up-cut bit ES1 is the one rated excellent for acrylic and Perspex. EG2's own toolings.co.za page also rates it excellent for plastics, so it is a valid straight-cut option if the client already uses it.
Match the shank to the client's collet before anything else. A bit only fits if its shank matches the spindle collet. The micro bits (1mm to 2.5mm) have a 3mm shank, not a 3.175mm (1/8 inch) one.
Then match cutting length to material thickness. Each product JSON gives a stepdown range as printed. On most sizes 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.
Give the suggested settings as a starting point only: feed rate 3 to 5 metres per minute at 18,000 to 20,000 RPM, the same printed figure for both families. The operator still tunes them for the material, bit size 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.

The two families side by side

Both are straight-cut, flat-end bits made from solid YG10 grade high-density tungsten carbide rod with a tolerance under ±0.05mm, and each bit is individually packed. The wording below is taken from the toolings.co.za family pages, the 2022 toolings.co.za launch article and the am.im product JSON of every SKU.

	EG1: single flute	EG2: double flute
Product JSON wording	"Great for All Hardwood Types and Suitable for Laminate Material like Plywood, Melamine Chipboard (Whiteboard) and Veneers"	"Great for All Timber Wood Types and Suitable for Laminate Material like Plywood, Melamine Chipboard (Whiteboard) and Veneers"
2022 launch article	For use on wood	For use on timber, laminates and melamine coated chipboard
Plastics	Not recommended; use ES1	Rated excellent on its toolings.co.za page
Feed	Baseline	"Twice as fast in feed than a single flute"
Finish	Clean on top and bottom	Clean on top and bottom
Suggested settings	3 to 5 m/min at 18,000 to 20,000 RPM	3 to 5 m/min at 18,000 to 20,000 RPM
SKUs on Buythis	21	41
Bit diameters	1mm to 6mm (no 5mm)	1mm to 6mm, including 5mm
Pack sizes	10, 20 or 30 bits	10, 20 or 30 bits

Why straight cut matters. A spiral up-cut bit lifts chips out of the cut but can lift fibres on the top face of laminate; a down-cut bit does the opposite. A straight blade does neither, so both faces of a melamine or veneered board stay clean. The trade-off is slower chip clearing, which is why this group is sold for wood and boards and the spiral group is sold for plastics.

Why a second flute matters. Each flute takes one bite per turn of the spindle. Two flutes take two bites, so EG2 can move faster at the same spindle speed. The printed starting settings are the same for both families; the extra flute is what lets the operator push the feed higher once the cut is clean.

Which sizes each family offers

This table lists the cutting lengths offered for each bit diameter in each family, from the 62 TL-EG SKUs in the Buythis dump. Open the family page for the exact SKU, stepdown, overall length and pack.

Bit ⌀	Shank ⌀	EG1 cutting lengths	EG2 cutting lengths
1mm	3mm	3mm	3mm
1.2mm	3mm	4mm	4mm
1.5mm	3mm	8mm	5mm, 8mm
2mm	3mm	8mm, 12mm	6mm, 8mm, 12mm, 15mm, 17mm
2.5mm	3mm	12mm, 17mm	12mm, 15mm, 17mm
3.175mm	3.175mm	12mm, 17mm, 22mm, 25mm, 32mm	8mm, 12mm, 15mm, 17mm, 20mm, 22mm, 25mm, 28mm, 32mm
4mm	4mm	17mm, 20mm, 22mm, 25mm, 32mm	12mm, 17mm, 20mm, 22mm, 25mm, 28mm, 32mm, 42mm
5mm	5mm	not offered	17mm, 22mm, 25mm, 32mm
6mm	6mm	22mm, 32mm, 42mm, 52mm	12mm, 17mm, 22mm, 25mm, 28mm, 32mm, 42mm, 52mm

A few things stand out:

Every EG1 size also exists in EG2, with the same bit diameter and cutting length. EG2 adds the in-between lengths, shorter bits (for example 12mm on 4mm and 6mm, and 8mm on 3.175mm) and the only 5mm straight-cut bits in the catalog.
So EG1 is chosen for its single-flute cut, not for a size. If a client needs a length EG1 does not list, EG2 is the straight-cut answer.
The longest reach is the same in both families: 52mm on 6mm bits. EG2 also has a 42mm reach on 4mm.
Neither family has 8mm, 10mm or 12mm bits. For those collets, use the spiral families (ES1, ES2, ES3).

Quick picks

These are examples to start a conversation, not a replacement for checking the client's collet, material and machine.

16mm or 18mm melamine on a 6mm collet: a 22mm cutting length (stepdown 17mm to 20mm as printed) covers it in both families. TL-EG1-S6T22/20 for the cleanest straight cut, TL-EG2-S6T22/20 for faster production. Many shops cut 18mm board in two passes for the cleanest edge.
Thicker boards or two sheets on a 6mm collet: TL-EG1-S6T32 or TL-EG2-S6T32 (stepdown 27mm to 30mm as printed).
3mm to 6mm plywood on a 1/8 inch (3.175mm) collet: TL-EG2-S3T8/30 (stepdown 3mm to 6mm) or, for more reach, TL-EG1-S3T12/30 (7mm to 10mm).
A 5mm collet: only EG2 fits, for example TL-EG2-S5T22/20.
Fine veneer inlay or small lettering: a micro bit such as TL-EG2-S3B2T6/30, after confirming the collet takes a 3mm shank. Micro bits need gentle feeds and shallow passes.

Related groups on toolings.co.za

Spiral Flat End Mill: spiral up-cut flat bits, the ES1, ES2 and ES3 families, for plastics and fast wood cutting, including 8mm, 10mm and 12mm sizes.
Spiral Ball Nose End Mill: round-tipped bits for 3D carving, including the EB2 family.
Router bits index: the toolings.co.za mill anatomy and straight versus up-cut versus down-cut comparison.
Stone work uses different tooling; see stone tooling for granite and marble.

The product JSON of these bits also links the CNC router machine gallery, sales handbook and SKU guide for the machines these bits fit.

FAQ

Is "straight cut flat end mill" one product? No. It is the group name for two families, EG1 and EG2. Each family has many sizes, and each size is its own Buythis SKU.

EG1 or EG2 for melamine? Both give a clean finish on top and bottom. EG1 is the simple single-flute choice; EG2 feeds twice as fast per turn and comes in more sizes, so it suits production work.

Can these bits cut acrylic? The group post and the router bits page point plastics to spiral bits, and EG1 is not recommended for plastics. EG2's own toolings.co.za page rates it excellent for plastics. If the client reports melting, suggest ES1.

Why does the post show a spiral flute legend? It appears to be copied from the spiral group post. These bits are straight cut, not spiral.

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