Carbide End Mills
for Mold Steel

ZHY manufactures solid carbide end mills for mold and tool steel up to 60 HRC. Square, ball nose and corner radius profiles cover flat features, mold cavities and contoured surfaces, with standard and custom dimensions.

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carbide-end-mills-for-mold-steel
Up to 60 HRC Mold and tool steel
TiAlSiN coating HIPIMS deposition
Three profiles Square · Ball nose · Corner radius
Custom dimensions Drawing-based manufacture

End Mills for Mold Cavities, Cores and Flat Features

The cutting profile follows the shape on the part drawing. Reach and cutting length then determine access to the feature.

Carbide square end mills for mold steel

Square End Mills

Flat floors, slots and straight walls. A square cutting end produces a sharp internal corner where the part drawing requires it.

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Carbide ball nose end mills for mold steel

Ball Nose End Mills

Curved cavities, cores and 3D contours. The ball radius follows freeform surfaces; stepover and contact position affect the remaining scallop.

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Carbide corner radius end mills for mold steel

Corner Radius End Mills

Shoulders, pockets and radiused transitions. A rounded cutting corner suits features with a specified floor-to-wall radius.

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Applications and Tool Selection

A mold steel grade alone does not establish the cutting conditions. The same grade can reach the machine in different heat-treated states.

Feature

Selection considerations

Tool profile

Flat floors and slots

Chip space and access to the bottom of the feature

Square end mill

Shoulders and pocket corners

The specified internal radius and wall height

Corner radius end mill

Curved cavities and cores

Surface curvature, stepover and tool contact position

Ball nose end mill

Deep or recessed features

Neck clearance, holder access and tool overhang

Long-reach or custom configuration

Illustrative close-up of a bronze-coated four-flute carbide end mill cutting face

Cutting Geometry
for Mold Steel

The four-flute configuration combines unequal peripheral helix angles with unequal end-tooth spacing.

35° / 37° unequal helix

Different peripheral helix angles help disrupt repeated cutting-force excitation during milling.

88° / 92° end-tooth division

Unequal end-tooth spacing complements the peripheral geometry. These values describe the end teeth, separately from the helix angles.

0° to −5° rake geometry

The rake configuration supports the cutting edge in mold steel machining. The final configuration follows the tool profile and cutting task.

Carbide, Coating and Workpiece Hardness

Tool Construction

Carbide grain size Below 0.6 μm
Cobalt content 12%
Coating TiAlSiN
Deposition process HIPIMS
Edge preparation Fluid blasting and automated polishing

Mold and Tool Steel up to 60 HRC

This range covers H13 and 718H mold steel machining within the specified hardness limit. Tool choice also accounts for the material condition and the operation.

H13 mold steel

718H mold steel

Pre-hardened molds

Heat-treated molds ≤60 HRC

Powder-metallurgy tool steels need grade-specific selection because carbide content and wear behavior vary. Hardness and material designation should accompany the enquiry.

End Mills for Hardened Steel →

Manufacturing, Coating and Inspection

Our factory combines CNC tool grinding, edge preparation, coating equipment and profile inspection for carbide end mill production.

Carbide cutting tool production workshop at ZHY
Grinding and Edge Preparation equipment

Grinding and Edge Preparation

Five-axis CNC grinding forms the flutes and cutting profile. Fluid blasting and automated polishing prepare the cutting edges.

In-House Coating equipment

In-House Coating

Our coating equipment supports carbide cutting tool production. Coating specifications follow the selected tool and machining task.

Tool Profile Inspection equipment

Tool Profile Inspection

HELICHECK PLUS profile measurement, 150× optical inspection and 300× appearance checks support geometry and edge inspection.

Custom Tools and OEM Supply

We make mold steel end mills to drawing and supply customer-marked tools with private-label packaging for distributors and machining companies.

Custom Tooling →
Cutting dimensions Diameter, cutting length and corner radius
Access and reach Neck clearance, shank and overall length
Workpiece details Steel grade, actual hardness and operation
Supply details Quantity, customer marking and packaging

Mold Steel End Mill FAQ

What end mill should I use for mold steel?

A solid carbide end mill with a coating and geometry matched to the steel’s actual hardness is a suitable starting point. ZHY offers square, ball nose and corner radius tools for mold steel up to 60 HRC. The part shape, cutting operation and required reach determine the final tool configuration.

Can these end mills machine mold steel at 55 HRC?

The ZHY mold steel range covers machining up to 60 HRC, including 55 HRC applications. Steel grade, heat treatment, tool diameter, overhang and cutting engagement still need to be considered together.

Which end mill is suitable for mold cavities and 3D finishing?

Ball nose end mills suit curved mold cavities, cores and freeform finishing. Square end mills suit flat floors and straight walls; corner radius tools suit radiused transitions. Deep features may require additional neck clearance and a shorter cutting length.

What coating does ZHY use for mold steel end mills?

ZHY uses a TiAlSiN coating deposited with HIPIMS technology for this mold steel range. The coating works with the ultra-fine carbide substrate and cutting geometry; cutting parameters should match the workpiece hardness and machining setup.

Are mold steel end mills and hardened steel end mills the same?

The applications overlap because mold steels can be supplied pre-hardened or machined after heat treatment. This ZHY mold steel range is specified for hardness up to 60 HRC. For a 65 HRC workpiece, the hardened steel range is the relevant starting point.

Can ZHY make long-reach or custom mold steel end mills?

ZHY can manufacture custom diameters, cutting lengths, shank dimensions, overall lengths and corner radii. For a deep cavity, a drawing showing depth, wall angle and holder clearance helps establish the neck and reach required.

What information is needed for a mold steel end mill quotation?

A quotation needs the cutter profile, diameter, cutting length, overall length and quantity. The mold steel grade, measured hardness, machining operation and any corner-radius or neck-clearance requirements help identify the appropriate configuration. Customer marking and packaging can be included.