The $1,800 End Mill

Is a $1,800 end mill a bargain? That is a likely price for a “veined” PCD tool formed by packing diamond into grooves in a tool blank. A tool such as this performs well in machining composites—so well, in fact, that it might easily pay its way. Even at $1,800 per tool, the price tag is a relatively minor variable affecting overall cost. See the complete cost comparison in this article, and see video of various composites milling cuts—including the veined tool—starting with this one.