Cutting Tools
The broad category of “cutting tools” includes all of the consumable tooling involved in milling, drilling, turning and other lathe and machining center operations. Drills, end mills, taps, reamers and inserts are all included here. Consumable tooling used on certain other types of machine tools is included here as well. Also found here are toolholders and closely related accessories such as angle heads. Supplier pages, FAQs related to cutting and cutting tools can be found here, as well as essential reading on the topic and all of the latest Modern Machine Shop cutting tools coverage.
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Latest Cutting Tools Articles
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Tooling Alternatives as Carbide Costs Rise
Shops have a variety of cutting tool options — including but not limited to carbide — when it comes to effectively machining heat-resistant super alloys.
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Ceratizit Solid Carbide End Mills Support Stable, High-Performance Cutting
IMTS 2026: Ceratizit features its SilverLine four- and five-flute solid carbide end mills, engineered with advanced geometry and Dragonskin coating technology for high-performance machining.
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Scientific Cutting Tools Port Mills Expand Options for Hydraulic Port Machining
IMTS 2026: Scientific Cutting Tools Inc. introduces a standard line of solid-carbide port mills for machining SAE J1926 ORB and AS5202 hydraulic port profiles, with uncoated and Versa (AlCrN) coated options available.
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Nomura Dual-Spindle Mill Enables Precise Micro-Hole Machining
IMTS 2026: Nomura DS introduces the S-500D ultrasonic micro-hole machining center, which pairs HSK-E32 tooling with 38,000-rpm direct-drive ultrasonic spindles for improved surface finish in hard materials.
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ANCA Tool Grinder Supports Connected Regrinding Workflow to Reduce Carbide Consumption
IMTS 2026: ANCA demonstrates a workflow integrating the MX7 Ultra CNC tool grinder, Zoller Genius measuring technology and Aims Connect software.
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NSK Spindle System Streamlines Small-Tool Machining
IMTS 2026: NSK America Corp.'s iSpeed5 is a fully tool-changeable, independent electric motor spindle system available in 60,000 and 80,000 rpm configurations, designed to expand small-diameter tooling capability on standard machining centers.
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Beyond the Dial: Why Geometry is the True Limit of Your Lathe
Stop tweaking speeds and feeds. Learn how insert geometry—shape, rake, lead angle, and nose radius—controls chip formation and tool life on the lathe.
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WATCH: 3-Flute Solid Carbide 90º End Mills for Maximum Performance in Aluminum Alloys
Ingersoll’s new line of premium solid carbide end mills excel in aluminum alloy roughing and finishing operations.
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Erowa Giant Tooling System Enhances High-Precision Heavy-Duty Machining
Erowa Technology Inc. introduces the Giant Tooling System (GTS), designed for robust and efficient machining of large and heavy workpieces in demanding environments.
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Maximizing Milling Operations With the Right Cutter
Selecting milling cutters that are suited to the task at hand can reduce cycle times, improve part quality and save money. Here’s where three milling cutters excel.
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How to Mitigate Chatter to Boost Machining Rates
There are usually better solutions to chatter than just reducing the feed rate. Through vibration analysis, the chatter problem can be solved, enabling much higher metal removal rates, better quality and longer tool life.
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IMCO Carbide Tool Inc. End Mills Provide Faster Part Cycles
The M936 Pow-R-Feed series is designed to make various toolpath moves without slowing down, providing faster cycle times and more production.
WatchLatest Deburring Articles
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Grizzly Deburring Machine Streamlines Finishing Processes
The G0974 deburring machine enables fabricators to work for hours at a time without injury or strain, all while maintaining consistent quality and cleaner shop air.
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Heule Deburring Tool Designed for Micromachining in a Wide Range of Materials
The DL2 deburring tool is designed to provide high efficiency and process reliability on even and slightly uneven bore edges.
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How to Accelerate Robotic Deburring & Automated Material Removal
Pairing automation with air-driven motors that push cutting tool speeds up to 65,000 RPM with no duty cycle can dramatically improve throughput and improve finishing.
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Monaghan Tooling Group Compensation Nuts Correct Runout Errors
Monaghan Tooling Group introduces the Easyzero runout compensation nuts in kit form, designed to quickly address misalignment for round tools using ER collets.
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Choosing the Right Drill Type
Specifying the right option for your application can save time and tools.
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Heule Cutting Tool Provides Chatter-Free Countersinks
PMTS 2025: GH-K tooling is well suited for conventional milling of chamfers around the perimeter of larger holes or entire parts.
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Monaghan Reaming System Provides Long Service Life
The Diatool Top Speed Ring modular reaming system features multiblade design with uneven spacing of cutting edges to create round and cylindrical bores.
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New Modular Tool Options for Small Spindle Milling
Tooling options have been limited for small spindle milling applications. Now modular, indexable systems are available that provide broad flexibility to get the right cutter for the job with less inventory and at lower cost.
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Increasing Productivity in Drilling Holes in Steel
A new three-fluted drill designed for high production can improve the speed of drilling holes in steel by 50% while improving roundness and accuracy.
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Marubeni Citizen-Cincom Turning Center Features Modular Tooling System
Marubeni Citizen's Cincom L12 Swiss turning center features user-friendly programming, a detachable guide bushing and modular tooling for versatile, efficient machining.
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Toolpath Improves Chip Management for Swiss-Type Lathes
This simple change to a Swiss-type turning machine’s toolpath can dramatically improve its ability to manage chips.
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Modulated CNC Turning: How a Reversal in the Tool Path Can Deliver Greater Cutting Speed
UNCC researchers introduce modulation into the tool path. Chip breaking was the goal, but higher metal removal rate is an intriguing secondary effect.
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Video: Chipbreakers Are Not All the Same—How to Break Chips Effectively
Different chipbreakers are engineered for different parameters. Machining footage shows the difference in effectiveness between chipbreakers used in the right and the wrong applications.
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Latest Cutting Tools News And Updates
Big Daishowa Fine Boring Tools Feature Streamlined Operation
IMTS 2026: Big Daishowa Inc.’s EWR series of fine boring tools is designed for improved usability, readability and simplified operation via a high-resolution, full-color external reader.
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Engis Bore Honing Tools Enable Simultaneous Finishing of Dual Diameters
IMTS 2026: Engis Corp. showcases single-pass, dual-diameter bore finishing and processes capable of holding diametrical tolerances under 1 micron (0.00004") in production.
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Flex Waterjet System Provides Efficient Cutting of Complex Parts
IMTS 2026: Flex Machine Tools demonstrates the FlexJet Flx-1365 waterjet system with IGEMS Tilter five-axis cutting head, along with a range of tapping, drilling and torque reaction arm solutions.
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Air Turbine Tools' Live Tool Boosts Swiss-Type Lathe Output at High Speeds
IMTS 2026: Air Turbine Tools Inc. highlights the 822CX Air Turbine live tool, a governed 80,000-rpm spindle designed for small-tool Swiss-type lathe applications.
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Omega TMM Tool Presetter Offers Ergonomic Measurement Control
IMTS 2026: Omega TMM introduces the Sedeo, a three-axis CNC tool presetter designed for seated operation with joystick control and expanded snap-gauge and large-diameter capability.
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Tungaloy High-Feed Milling Series Reduces Cost Per Edge for Mold Machining
IMTS 2026: Tungaloy-NTK America's DoFeedTri features double-sided inserts with six cutting edges and is designed to improve stability and productivity in complex moldmaking operations.
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Featured Posts
A Framework for Limiting Tool Wear in Machining
Because tool costs can be significant, selecting a process plan that limits tool wear to an acceptable, predictable level is important for machining. Consider these metalcutting wear mechanisms to get the most out of your tooling.
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Extend Tool Life with Tooling, Toolpath and CAM Developments
Advanced tooling and tool path strategies can do just as much as a new machine tool to cut cycle times and improve tool life. Learn from tooling specialists about recent optimizations, as well as the tool paths and advanced CAM features they see improving job shops’ productivity.
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Cut Cycle Times Through an HPC and HSM Ecosystem
High-performance tooling can make deep cuts in your cycle times, but requires the right preparations to make full use of it. Sandvik’s Chris Monroe walks us through some of the considerations for making the best use of today’s advanced tooling.
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When Machinists Own the Tools: How to Standardize Setups Without a Toolroom
How one shop standardized repeatable setups without a toolroom by using operation-level tool lists, location discipline and a pragmatic ERP workflow.
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Methods for Threading Blind Holes in Thin Materials
Struggling with blind holes in thin materials? Use these drill point strategies, tap selections and clearance tips to maximize usable thread depth and meet pull-out specs without redesigning the part.
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When ‘U’ Want to Turn on a Mill
A U-axis head can be a good option for shops hoping to perform turning and boring operations on a CNC milling machine.
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FAQ: Cutting Tools
Why is through-tool coolant valuable, and why are shops are seeing greater need for it?
Getting coolant to the cutting edge is critical for any manufacturing application. It helps in cooling the cutting zone, provides very needed lubrication, and can assist in breaking a chip. Many times, external lines are used to splash coolant near the work zone. Long Chips can easily interfere with this delivery method, possibly knocking the lines out of the way. Additionally, when tools need to be changed or indexed coolant lines might be moved for better access to the tool. Then when the line is put back it is never the same as it previously was. Often times there is a give-and-take methodology used to cover areas being machined with this coolant, so all tools get some cooling, but none of them get ideal cooling. A coolant-through tool allows pinpoint accuracy with a specific direction of coolant pointed exactly at the cutting zone.
Through-tool coolant is available on cutters that couldn't offer it before. What has changed in the technology of tool manufacturing to make this possible?
There’s been a big change is the ability to drill small-diameter holes very deep and do this in a production atmosphere. Part of this comes from the drilling machines being able to reach the necessary speeds and holders that provide superior clamping and runout. The other part comes from tools designed specifically for this drilling application.
On a coolant-through tool, material could be added in areas that may need additional strength, allowing for the intersecting coolant ports to be drilled accordingly.
What aspect of tool engineering is responding to greater cutting speed?
Machines and tools seem to have a back-and-forth dance in terms of which is leading. Coatings continue to evolve, with more layers, and different material being used. This is something all tool manufactures are playing with on some level. The changes in coating technology is somewhat more limited, and not as many are playing in this arena. One process that comes to mind is “HiPIMS,” or high-power impulse magnetron sputtering. This process uses microsecond timing of extreme-power pulses. This allows the metal to ionize to nano size particles to be deposited on the tools. This process allows for greater adhesion and coating hardness, while maintaining great lubricity. Additionally, this process has greatly reduced compressive stresses. This reduction allows for smaller edge preps to be used, thus resulting in sharper tools.
Why is diamond used as an industrial cutting tool?
Developments in polycrystalline diamond (PCD) and cubic boron nitride (CBN) have allowed these materials to improve in ways that make them more versatile and cost-effective. Meanwhile, the machining speed and tool life of these tools continue to take machining processes to levels of performance where carbide cannot go.
Through long tool life and fast cutting parameters, the tools increase machine capacity by reducing the frequency of tool replacements and allowing machines to make parts at a greater rate. Meanwhile, the tooling increasingly figures into expert solutions tailored to more demanding applications in various industries.
Source: The New Rules of Cutting Tools - Rule #3: Diamond Shouldn't Be Rare
What are cutting tools made of?
Polycrystalline diamond (PCD), cubic boron nitride (CBN), ceramic, high-speed steel (HHS), cemented carbide or cermet.
Sources: What's Happening With Cutting Tools
Cutting Tools Supplier Categories
- Deburring Tools (Machine Tool Spindle-Mounted)
- Collets, Solid & Master
- Milling Cutters
- Tap Drivers & Attachments
- End Mills
- Tool Presetters
- Boring Tools & Heads for Machining Centers
- Spline Rolling Tools
- Tooling Materials, Ceramics
- Drills
- Drill Bushings
- Diamond Tools
- Mass Finishing Media & Compounds
- Spline Inserts
- Shear Blades
- Threading Tools - Cutting
- Facing Tools/Heads
- Tool Storage & Handling Systems
- Thread Chasers
- Boring Tools
- Punching Tools/Dies
- Collets for Toolholding
- Gear Cutting & Rolling Tools
- Cut-Off Tools/Attachments
- Grooving Tools
- Inserts, Indexable (Carbide, etc.) & Tool Inserts
- Tool Repair, Coating & Treatment Services
- Thread Whirling Tools
- Key Seating Tools
- Tooling Materials, Carbides
- Broaching Tools
- Taps
- Grinding Wheels & Belts
- Tooling Systems, Modular and/or Quick-Change
- Slotting Saws
- Thread Milling Cutters
- Endworking Tools
- Tool Blanks
- Burnishing Tools (Roller)
- Grinding Wheel Dressing Units
- Retention Knobs
- Drilling Heads/Attachments
- Threading Tools
- Honing & Lapping Tools
- Serration Tooling
- Protective Sleeves & Coatings (for Cutting Tools)
- Milling Heads/Attachments
- Tool Conditioning & Monitoring
- Form Tools
- Gundrills
- Burnishing, Honing & Lapping Tools
- Saw Blades
- Die & Mold Components
- Buffing & Polishing Supplies
- Knurling Tools
- Arbors (for Cutters)
- Counterbores/Countersinks
- Abrasive Compounds & Slurries
- Marking Tools
- Shaving Tools
- Boring Tools for Turning Machines
- Reamers
- Drill Chucks
- Toolholders
- Chamfering Tools
- Thread Rolls & Dies
- Threading Tools - Forming
