2 flute vs 4 flute cutters

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Mikesal

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I've owned machine shop equipment for years, but never had any formal training. I just received a set of mill cutters & some are 2 flute & others 4 flute. What type of cutting jobs is a 2 flute tool good for? I'm from the "more is better" school.
thanks
Mike Sal
 
I prefer 4 flute for cutting steel. I use 2 flute also but at a slower speed. Either one is good on aluminum.
 
Two flute allows for better chip evacuation.
 
Also when I look at my collection of two and four flute. My two flute are centre cutting where as my four flute are not. So depending on what you are doing it could be a consideration if you intend to plunge cut.

David
 
Use a 3 flute for cutting keyways . They won't overcut when pushed . ;)
 
2 flutes for soft materials, at moderate to rapid feed rates
4 for harder materials, at slower feed rates
 
I like to use 2 flute for narrow slots such as keways for better chip evacuation especially in stainless steel.4 flute for machining aluminum and mild steel for better surface finish.4 flute in narrow pockets and slots will tend to jam chips and ruin finish and possibly break the cutter. Just my 2 cents.---Glenn
 
I use two flute end mills when cutting a slot, when both sides are cut at one pass.

Four flute cutters under the same conditions will 'walk' sideways, when one flute is in the lead, it's pushing the flute behind it into the side wall, so it will not cut to size. I use a four flute end mill to cut on one side only.

Having said that, when cutting a slot to a specific width I use a two flute smaller than the slot and make finish passes to get the slot to size.
 
Thanks for all the tips. Tom, are you a studebaker guy? I have a few myself....'50 champ the oldest, '70 Avanti the newest.
Mike Sal
 
Hi Mike, yeah I bought the one shown Jan 6, 1959, restored it about 15 years ago. Also have and drive daily a '55 Land Cruiser with the original start-in-first transmission and a '63 full flow 289. My first was a '50 LC, in '55. Wish I still had it.
 
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