Tool Types

MapleCAM models cutting tools as one of five concrete types. The type of a tool determines its geometry — the shape of the cutting profile — which in turn affects toolpath generation, tool offset calculation, and which operations the tool can be used in.

Flat Endmill

A cylindrical cutter with a flat bottom and constant diameter along the cutting length. The most common CNC router tool.

Best for: pockets, contours, facing, line engraving. Wide-diameter flat endmills are also used as surfacing or spoilboard bits.

Ball Endmill

A cutter with a hemispherical tip and a constant shank diameter above the ball. Produces a rounded bottom along its centreline.

Best for: 3D surface finishing, smooth contours where a rounded bottom is acceptable.

V-Bit

A conical cutter with a pointed tip, characterised by the included angle (commonly 30, 60, 90, or 120 degrees). The cutting width depends on the depth of cut: width = tipDiameter + 2 * depth * tan(angle/2).

Best for: V-carving, chamfering, fine line engraving.

Tapered Ball Endmill

A ball-tipped endmill where the shank tapers outward toward the collet. Stronger than a straight ball endmill at the same effective tip diameter, with side cutting that follows the taper angle.

Best for: detailed 3D carving with a small effective tip and extra rigidity for reach.

Burr Endmill

A small-diameter cutter with a rounded or rounded-end tip used for fine detail work and clean-up passes. Geometry is similar to a ball endmill at small diameters.