1/4" 2-Flute TiN Ball End Mill (metal)
The metal-side ballnose, and the last 1/4” bit in the drawer. A Melin Tool ball end mill in TiN-coated carbide, bought from McMaster like the other metal cutters. Where B01 carves wood and plastic, this one puts fillets and 3D contours into aluminum and brass.
Specifications
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Cutting diameter | 0.250” (−0.002” tolerance) |
| Ball radius | 0.125” |
| Shank diameter | 0.250” |
| Flutes | 2, 30° helix |
| Cutting length | 1.125” |
| Overall length | 3.000” |
| End | Ball, center cutting |
| Material | Solid carbide, TiN coated |
| Manufacturer | Melin Tool |
Feeds & Speeds
For the X-Carve Pro and its 1.5 kW spindle. These match the presets stored on this tool in the Fusion hub library, mirroring the numbers proven on U03.
| Material | RPM | Feed | Chipload | Plunge | Depth / stepover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum — adaptive | 12,000 | 90 ipm | 0.0037” | 15 ipm | 10% radial, DOC to 0.375” |
| Aluminum — 3D finish | 12,000 | 90 ipm | 0.0037” | 15 ipm | 0.015–0.020” stepover |
| Brass / bronze | 12,000 | 90 ipm | 0.0038” | 15 ipm | 0.060” DOC |
| Fiberglass / G10 | 12,000 | 70 ipm | 0.0029” | 15 ipm | light passes |
| Plastic | 10,000 | 110 ipm | 0.0055” | 20 ipm | 0.060” DOC |
Lubricate in aluminum. Same rule as the other metal bits: aluminum galls onto a dry cutter, coated or not. WD-40 or A9 and clear the chips.
No wood presets, on purpose. B01 is the wood ballnose and cuts cleaner there; a preset that exists will eventually get picked.
Notes
Fiberglass and G10 are respirator jobs. Dust extraction on, respirator on, same as with U02. The dust is abrasive glass, not sawdust.
Center cutting, so it can plunge — but at 15 ipm in metal, a ramp entry is still gentler on the tip. The ball’s center has near-zero surface speed, same as every ball and V tool in the drawer.
1.125” of flute is the most reach of any 1/4” bit here, worth remembering when a 3D contour dips into a deep pocket the shorter bits can’t finish.
Links
- Product page: McMaster-Carr 8885A331
- Machine: X-Carve Pro
- CAM library: Fusion hub library, Human Crafted