Kingswinford-based Kennametal UK Ltd has introduced a four-flute ball-nose end mill to its HARV I TE series of cutters.

This latest addition, which is for ‘highly productive 3-D roughing and finishing operations’, has been designed to deliver lower machining cost through maximum metal removal on a broad range of materials.

The cutters have an innovative proprietary relief that in the most critical area — the ball-nose section — features a wavy contour/rippled relief that provides improved coolant flow into the cutting zone and allows the use of higher feeds and speeds as well as increased depth of cuts, thanks to advanced vibration damping and lower cutting forces.

HARVI I TE ball-nose end mills are available in two lengths, both with a diameter range from 2 to 20mm. The ‘regular’ length is the first choice for 3-D copy milling operations, while the long version offers sufficient length-of-cut (up to 4xD) for many applications, including ‘shoulder milling when wall and floor finishing is required’.