For multifunction operations in machining small slots and shapes, various companies offer a single endmill body on which various interchangeable heads can be mounted. The versatility of the system allows shoulder milling, slot milling, small surface face milling, profiling, drilling, chamfering and ramp down operations.

This system is recommended with various shank types for machining of dies and molds in various materials.

The main geometries for face-, shoulder- and slot-milling include flat positive inserts, inserts with ground and molded chipformers, and helical, non-flat inserts with modified rake and clearance faces that provide improved performance. For multifunction operations in machining small slots and shapes, you may choose a single endmill body on which various interchangeable heads can be mounted. The versatility of this type of system allows shoulder milling, slot milling, small surface face milling, profiling, drilling, chamfering and ramp down operations. This system is recommended with various shank types for machining of dies and molds in various materials. Other tool producers offer similar or other systems with different clamping devices but with a smaller range of interchangeable heads.

In only a very few facing applications of dies and molds are flat inserts like SPKN, TPKN, the more positive flat SEKN, the flat, screw-clamped ADCA or similar types used. The corresponding older cutter types with wedge or clamped inserts have been replaced gradually by cutters with screw-clamped inserts with a three-dimensional rake face, more chip space and fine-pitch design. The inserts may have a molded chipformer to ease chip formation and exit, and to improve cost efficiency. The inserts also are available with ground corners for better surface quality and finishing operations.

The more positive rake inserts like SEKN, SEKR or SEKT (with screw-clamping) with large 20′ relief angles replace the popular 11′ clearance angle types because of the stronger, tougher carbide materials available today.