HEX Series End mill for hardened steel
HEX Ball Nose End Mill for Hardened Steel HRC60–68
Range reference: KVX-016
- workpiece material
- Hardened Steel
- application type
- Semi-Finishing; Finishing
- flute type
- Ball Nose End Mill
- Coating
- DR3 Coating
1. Suitable for semi-finishing and finishing of 60-68HRC hardened steels 2. The diameter precision of the HEX end mill is around ±3 μm. 3. Imported ultra-fine powder carbide with a grain size of 0.4um, 9%Co 4. DR3 Coating (bronze color) 5. Large core diameter up to 68% 6. 0° ~-5° negative rake angle, 35° helix angle
Enquire about this tool →Technical data
| Specification | R | Flute L | Shank | Overall L |
| R0.5X2XD3X50L | R0.5 | 2 | 3 | 50 |
| R1.0X4XD3X50L | R1 | 4 | 3 | 50 |
| R0.50X2XD4X50 | R0.5 | 2 | 4 | 50 |
| R0.50X2XD6X50 | R0.5 | 2 | 6 | 50 |
| R0.75X3XD4X50 | R0.75 | 3 | 4 | 50 |
| R0.75X3XD6X50 | R0.75 | 3 | 6 | 50 |
| R1.00X4XD4X50 | R1 | 4 | 4 | 50 |
| R1.00X4XD6X50 | R1 | 4 | 6 | 50 |
| R1.25X5XD4X50 | R1.25 | 5 | 4 | 50 |
| R1.25X5XD6X50 | R1.25 | 5 | 6 | 50 |
| R1.50X6X3X50 | R1.5 | 6 | 3 | 50 |
| R1.50X6XD4X50 | R1.5 | 6 | 4 | 50 |
| R1.50X6XD6X50 | R1.5 | 6 | 6 | 50 |
| R1.75X7XD4X50 | R1.75 | 7 | 4 | 50 |
| R1.75X7XD6X50 | R1.75 | 7 | 6 | 50 |
| R2.00X8XD4X50 | R2.0 | 8 | 4 | 50 |
| R2.00X8XD6X50 | R2.0 | 8 | 6 | 50 |
| R2.25X9XD6X50 | R2.25 | 9 | 6 | 50 |
| R2.50X10X5X50 | R2.5 | 10 | 5 | 50 |
| R2.50X10X6X50 | R2.5 | 10 | 6 | 50 |
| R2.50X10X6X60 | R2.5 | 10 | 6 | 60 |
| R2.75X11XD6X50 | R2.75 | 11 | 6 | 50 |
| R2.50X10XD6X50 | R2.5 | 10 | 6 | 50 |
| R3.00X12XD6X50 | R3.0 | 12 | 6 | 50 |
| R3.25X13XD8X60 | R3.25 | 13 | 8 | 60 |
| R3.50X14XD8X60 | R3.5 | 14 | 8 | 60 |
| R3.50X14XD7X60 | R3.5 | 14 | 7 | 60 |
| R3.75X15XD8X60 | R3.75 | 15 | 8 | 60 |
| R4.00X16XD8X60 | R4.0 | 16 | 8 | 60 |
| R4.50X18XD10X75 | R4.5 | 18 | 10 | 75 |
| R5.00X20XD10X75 | R5.0 | 20 | 10 | 75 |
| R6.00X24XD12X75 | R6.0 | 24 | 12 | 75 |
| R7.00X40XD14X100 | R7.0 | 40 | 14 | 100 |
| R8.00X40XD16X100 | R8.0 | 40 | 16 | 100 |
| R8.00X30XD16X100 | R8.0 | 30 | 16 | 100 |
| R9.00X40XD18X100 | R9.0 | 40 | 18 | 100 |
| R10.0X40XD20X100 | R10.0 | 40 | 20 | 100 |
| R12.5X40XD25X100 | R12.5.0 | 40 | 25 | 100 |
Additional technical data
| Machining Task | Why HEX Ball Nose End Mill Fits |
|---|---|
| 3D contour milling | Ball nose geometry supports smooth curved surface transitions |
| Mold cavity finishing | Precise R-angle grinding improves contour accuracy |
| Curved surface machining | Stable cutting helps improve surface consistency |
| High-hardness finishing | DR3 coating improves wear resistance under high cutting temperature |
| Semi-finishing of mold components | Strong edge support reduces micro-chipping |
| Precision mold machining | Tight R-angle control supports better dimensional accuracy |
Additional technical data
| Item | Range / Notes |
|---|---|
| Tool type | Ball nose end mill |
| Hardness range | HRC60–68 |
| Workpiece material | Hardened steel, high-hardness mold steel |
| Typical materials | H13, 718H, NAK80, S136 and similar mold steels |
| Application | Semi-finishing, finishing, 3D contouring |
| Custom service | Diameter, flute length, overall length, R size, shank, coating, and special geometry |
Technical notes
- HEX ball nose end mills are specially developed for hardened steel machining from HRC60 to HRC68 . They are designed for 3D contouring, curved surface machining, mold cavity finishing, and precision finishing of high-hardness mold components.
- Compared with general-purpose ball nose end mills, the HEX series provides stronger edge support, better wear resistance, and more stable cutting performance in high-hardness machining. Its ultra-fine carbide substrate, DR3 high-wear-resistant coating, precise R-angle grinding, and negative rake geometry help improve tool life, surface quality, and dimensional accuracy.
- This tool is especially suitable for finishing and semi-finishing of hardened mold steels such as H13, 718H, NAK80, S136 , and similar high-hardness mold materials.
- Standard Size List
- KERNVEX HEX series ball nose end mill is available in a wide range of standard sizes, covering ball radius from R0.5 to R12.5 , cutting diameter from 2 mm to 40 mm , shank diameter from 3 mm to 25 mm , and overall length up to 100 mm .
- This complete size range allows machinists to choose the right tool for both small, high-precision mold details and large cavity finishing . Smaller radius tools such as R0.5–R2 are ideal for fine contour and detail machining, while larger sizes up to R12.5 provide higher efficiency and stability in large surface and cavity finishing operations.
- 1. Material – Ultra-Fine Carbide for HRC60–68 Machining
- KERNVEX HEX ball nose end mills are manufactured from ultra-fine carbide with an average grain size of 0.4 μm and 9% cobalt content .
- This carbide substrate provides:
- • High hardness for machining hardened steel from HRC60 to HRC68
- • Excellent wear resistance for long-cycle finishing
- • Good toughness and edge strength to reduce micro-chipping
- • Stable cutting performance in continuous finishing operations
- Compared with conventional carbide, the ultra-fine grain substrate offers better wear resistance while maintaining sufficient toughness, making it especially suitable for high-hardness mold steels.
- 2. Coating – DR3 High-Wear-Resistant Coating
- The cutting tool uses DR3 high-wear-resistant coating , specially developed for hardened steel and high-hardness mold steel machining.
- Coating advantages include:
- • Heat resistance up to 1300°C
- • Improved oxidation resistance under high cutting temperatures
- • Lower friction to reduce cutting heat and support smoother chip evacuation
- • Better wear resistance for semi-finishing and finishing applications
- This coating helps extend tool life and maintain consistent surface quality when machining hardened steel at high spindle speeds.
- 3. Design Features – Geometry Optimized for Hardened Steel Finishing
- KERNVEX HEX ball nose end mills adopt a reinforced geometry design for precision finishing of hardened steel.
- Key design features include:
- • Large core diameter design up to 68% for better rigidity and vibration resistance
- • 0° to -5° negative rake angle for stronger edge support and reduced micro-chipping
- • 35° helix angle for smooth cutting action and stable tool engagement
- • Precise ball nose geometry for 3D contouring and mold cavity finishing
- 4. Precision Ball Nose Accuracy
- For HEX ball nose tools, the R-angle grinding accuracy can be controlled within 0.003–0.005 mm .
- This helps improve:
- • Contour accuracy
- • Surface consistency
- • Mold cavity finishing quality
- • Dimensional stability during precision machining
- Accurate ball nose geometry is especially important for hardened mold finishing, where surface transitions and profile accuracy directly affect the final machining result.
- 5. Application Range
- KERNVEX HEX ball nose end mills are suitable for machining high-hardness materials from HRC60 to HRC68 , including:
- • Other hardened mold and die steels
- They are widely used in:
- • Mold cavity finishing
- • 3D surface machining
- • Curved surface finishing
- • Complex contour and profile finishing
- • High-precision mold and die manufacturing
- Recommended Application Guide
- Size Range Overview
- Detailed dimensions can be listed in the specification table according to standard and customized models.
Technical illustrations and dimension data
