Description
Product Overview
This CBN ball nose end mill is designed for precision
finishing of HRC60+ hardened steel, quenched mold cavities,
automotive lamp molds, curved surfaces, inclined features
and complex three-dimensional profiles.
The full-radius ball nose profile provides continuous cutting
contact across changing surface geometries. The ZHY-developed
NL900 CBN grade, controlled vacuum brazing, 70% large-core
design, 20° helix and 10° negative cutting-edge chamfer work
together to support high rigidity, edge strength and stable
surface finishing.
Recommended Machining Applications
The full-radius cutting profile is suitable for hardened
components requiring continuous contact across cavities,
curved surfaces, slopes, transition areas and complex
three-dimensional mold features.
Hardened Mold Cavities
Suitable for precision finishing of quenched mold
cavities, inserts and recessed three-dimensional
features above HRC60.
Automotive Lamp Molds
Designed for curved lamp-mold surfaces requiring
controlled ball-radius accuracy and low surface
roughness.
Free-Form Surface Finishing
Supports complex free-form surfaces, transition
profiles and detailed hardened mold geometries.
Inclined and 3D Profiles
Suitable for sloped surfaces, curved transitions
and three-dimensional contour finishing with a
low and consistent machining allowance.
Why Use a CBN Ball Nose End Mill for Hardened Steel?
Conventional carbide tools can experience rapid wear,
edge degradation and unstable surface quality during
long finishing cycles on hardened materials. CBN provides
high hot hardness, wear resistance and chemical stability
with ferrous materials.
High-Hardness Finishing Performance
- Designed for hardened materials above HRC60
- High hot-hardness retention during continuous cutting
- Strong resistance to abrasive cutting-edge wear
- Suitable for low and stable finishing allowance
- Supports long continuous machining cycles
- Reduces frequent tool changes in batch production
3D Surface and Radius Stability
- Full-radius profile supports continuous surface contact
- Ball-radius accuracy controlled within 0.003–0.005 mm
- Supports Ra 0.3 μm or better under suitable conditions
- Helps reduce variation between adjacent toolpaths
- Suitable for automated high-precision finishing
- Low spindle and holder runout are recommended
CBN Ball Nose Geometry and Cutting Performance
The NL900 CBN material, vacuum brazing process, large-core
geometry, negative edge preparation and precision ball-profile
grinding are developed for stable hardened mold finishing.
NL900 CBN Material
The ZHY-developed NL900 material is selected for
precision finishing of hardened steels and mold
components above HRC60.
Approximately 1.0 μm Grain Structure
The controlled grain structure supports consistent
cutting-edge formation, wear resistance and stable
finishing performance.
HV41 Hardness Specification
The NL900 grade uses the HV41 hardness specification
for high-hardness mold finishing and precision
hardened-component machining.
Controlled Vacuum Brazing
Vacuum brazing helps reduce oxidation,
decarburization and CBN insert deformation while
producing a stable brazed connection.
Reduced Brazing Deformation
Controlled temperature and vacuum conditions help
maintain the position of the CBN cutting section
and reduce profile variation.
70% Large-Core Design
The approximately 70% core diameter improves tool
rigidity and helps reduce deflection during
high-precision 3D finishing.
20° Helix Geometry
The controlled 20° helix supports stable cutting
engagement and predictable chip formation during
hardened-material finishing.
10° Negative Edge Chamfer
The negative chamfer strengthens the cutting edge,
improves resistance to micro-chipping and supports
longer tool life.
Full-Radius Ball Nose Profile
The full-radius profile provides continuous cutting
contact across mold cavities, curved surfaces,
slopes and three-dimensional contours.
R0.1 Minimum Radius Capability
Walter five-axis precision grinding supports small
ball nose tools down to approximately R0.1 for
detailed mold and micro-feature finishing.
Ball Radius Accuracy of 0.003–0.005 mm
Controlled grinding and profile inspection support
ball-radius accuracy between approximately
0.003 and 0.005 mm, depending on tool size.
CBN-Specific Grinding Wheels
Dedicated CBN grinding wheels are used to control
cutting-edge sharpness, ball-profile consistency
and negative edge preparation.
High Thermal Stability
CBN retains hardness and cutting stability at
elevated temperatures, supporting continuous
finishing of hardened ferrous materials.
Chemical Stability with Ferrous Materials
CBN offers greater chemical stability with
iron-based materials than diamond cutting tools,
making it suitable for hardened steel finishing.
Long Cutting-Edge Retention
Under suitable stable finishing conditions,
machining life may reach approximately 20 hours
while maintaining usable edge and profile quality.
Walter Five-Axis Grinding
Walter five-axis precision grinding supports
stable dimensions, consistent ball geometry and
repeatable production quality.
Surface Finish and Ball Radius Accuracy
Actual surface quality and dimensional accuracy depend on
workpiece hardness, machining allowance, step-over,
spindle runout, tool overhang, cutting parameters and
overall machine stability.
Surface Finish Capability
- Approximately Ra 0.3 μm or better under suitable conditions
- Suitable for automotive lamp molds and precision cavities
- Supports curved and three-dimensional surface finishing
- Helps reduce variation between adjacent machining paths
- May reduce subsequent manual polishing requirements
- Step-over and toolpath strategy must be correctly controlled
Ball Profile Control
- Ball-radius accuracy of approximately 0.003–0.005 mm
- Walter five-axis profile grinding
- CBN-specific precision grinding wheels
- Suitable for small-radius tools down to approximately R0.1
- Supports repeatable three-dimensional contour machining
- Low holder and spindle runout are essential
Long Tool Life for Automated Finishing
High wear resistance and cutting-edge retention make CBN
suitable for continuous finishing and automated batch
production where frequent tool replacement can reduce output.
Tool-Life Potential
- Strong resistance to abrasive edge wear
- Stable cutting edge during long finishing cycles
- Tool life may reach approximately 20 machining hours
- Fewer tool changes during continuous production
- Improved consistency between production parts
- Final life depends on the complete cutting condition
Batch Production Benefits
- Supports automated high-precision machining
- Reduces machine interruptions for tool replacement
- Helps maintain stable dimensional accuracy
- Supports consistent mold-surface quality
- Suitable for repeat production of hardened parts
- Process verification is recommended before mass production
Recommended Operating Conditions
CBN ball nose end mills are intended for precision
semi-finishing and finishing rather than heavy roughing.
Stable machining conditions are essential for preventing
edge chipping.
Recommended Applications
- Workpiece after final heat treatment
- Hardened material above HRC60
- Low and consistent finishing allowance
- Continuous or stable cutting engagement
- High-rigidity machine and toolholder
- Automated precision mold finishing
Conditions to Avoid
- Heavy roughing and large stock removal
- Strong interrupted cutting
- Unstable workpiece clamping
- Excessive tool overhang
- Severe spindle or holder runout
- Unexpected scale, gaps or hard inclusions
Standard and Custom CBN Ball Nose End Mill Sizes
Standard diameters, small-radius tools, long-neck
configurations and customized dimensions are available
according to the mold geometry, finishing allowance and
required machining reach.
| Tool Diameter | Standard Metric Sizes / Custom Diameter |
|---|---|
| Ball Radius | Standard Radius / Small Radius / Custom Radius |
| Minimum Radius Capability | Approximately R0.1 |
| Cutting Length | Standard / Short Cutting Edge / Custom |
| Neck Length | Standard / Long Neck / Custom |
| Shank Diameter | Standard Shank / Custom Shank |
| Overall Length | Standard / Extended Reach / Custom |
Send us the workpiece material, final hardness,
tool diameter, ball radius, cutting length,
neck length, overall length, finishing allowance,
required surface quality and order quantity to
receive a suitable recommendation and quotation.
Technical Specifications
Standard and customized CBN ball nose end mills can be
supplied according to workpiece hardness, mold geometry,
finishing allowance, surface requirement and tool reach.
| Tool Type | CBN Ball Nose End Mill |
|---|---|
| CBN Material Grade | NL900 |
| CBN Grain Size | Approximately 1.0 μm |
| Hardness Specification | HV41 |
| Recommended Workpiece Hardness | HRC60 and Above |
| Brazing Process | Controlled Vacuum Brazing |
| Core Diameter | Approximately 70% |
| Helix Angle | 20° |
| Edge Preparation | 10° Negative Chamfer |
| Minimum Radius Capability | Approximately R0.1 |
| Ball Radius Accuracy | Approximately 0.003–0.005 mm |
| Grinding Process | CBN-Specific Precision Grinding |
| Surface Finish Capability | Approximately Ra 0.3 μm or Better |
| Tool-Life Potential |
Up to Approximately 20 Machining Hours Under Suitable Finishing Conditions |
| Main Operations |
Mold Cavity Finishing / Curved Surfaces / Inclined Surfaces / Free-Form Profiles / 3D Contour Finishing |
| Dimensions |
Standard Sizes / Small Radius / Long Neck / Custom Dimensions |
| OEM Options |
Custom Dimensions / Laser Marking / Customer Model Number / Private Label |
Recommended Workpiece Materials
This CBN ball nose end mill is primarily designed for
high-hardness finishing. Application testing is recommended
for selected nickel-based alloys, graphite molds and other
non-standard materials.
CBN Ball Nose End Mill Manufacturer and OEM Supplier
ZHY supplies standard and customized CBN ball nose end mills
to cutting-tool distributors, mold manufacturers, precision
machining companies and private-label tool brands.
Application and Wholesale Support
- Standard and customized ball nose dimensions
- Application review based on hardness and mold profile
- Small-radius tools down to approximately R0.1
- Standard, long-neck and extended-reach tools
- Sample tools for finishing verification
- Mixed-size and batch-order quotations
OEM and Private Label
- Customized diameter and ball radius
- Customer logo laser marking
- Customer model and product numbers
- Custom labels and barcode stickers
- Private-label tool packaging
- Packaging verification before shipment
Production and Ball Radius Inspection
Controlled brazing, five-axis grinding and ball-profile
inspection support consistent radius geometry, cutting-edge
quality and repeatable finishing performance.
Request a CBN Ball Nose End Mill Recommendation
Send us the workpiece material, final hardness,
tool diameter, ball radius, machining allowance,
required surface finish, tool reach, machine condition
and order quantity. Our team will review the finishing
application and recommend a suitable standard or
customized CBN ball nose end mill.
