Machining Tool Selection — Quick Reference
Machining tools at AIMS cover the full metal-cutting workflow: tapping, milling, drilling, reaming, turning, grinding, deburring. Selection by operation + material + production volume drives tool life + part quality.
| Operation | Primary Tools | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Tapping (Internal Threads) | Hand taps, spiral point, spiral flute | Cutting internal threads — match flute to through/blind |
| Milling — Face + Profile | Square, ball nose, corner radius | Slotting/profiling/3D — match profile to cut |
| Drilling — Hole Making | Jobber, cobalt, carbide | HSS for mild + soft; cobalt for stainless; carbide for hardened |
| Reaming — Precision Holes | Chucking, hand reamers | ±0.025mm precision — finishing drilled holes |
| Turning — Lathe Work | Lathe tools, indexable inserts | OD/ID turning, threading, parting |
| Grinding — Surface + Cylindrical | Grinding wheels, mounted points | Hardened steels + precision finishing |
| Deburring + Edge Prep | Deburring tools, burrs, countersinks | Edge finishing, weld blending, casting flash |
| Workholding | Machine vices, magnets, clamps | Securing part during cutting |
Brand depth: Sutton Tools (AU patriot), Bordo, Goliath, Recoil (inserts), Noga, Pferd, P&N. Material rule of thumb: HSS for ≤Rc 30 mild steel; cobalt M35/M42 for Rc 30-45 stainless + tough alloys; solid carbide for Rc 45+ hardened + production. Companion: end mill guide, cobalt drill bit guide, threading tap size chart.
Machining Tools at AIMS Industrial
AIMS Industrial carries a comprehensive range of machining tools covering tapping, milling, drilling, reaming, turning, grinding and deburring applications. Whether you're equipping a job shop, a maintenance workshop or a production floor, the range spans the tools most commonly needed for metal cutting and hole-making work.
Taps and Threading
The AIMS tapping range covers hand taps, spiral point gun taps, spiral flute taps, thread forming taps and thread repair inserts. Brands include Sutton Tools, Bordo, Goliath and Recoil, in metric, imperial and pipe thread sizes. Tap wrenches and die holders are stocked to complete the threading toolkit.
End Mills and Milling Cutters
Square end mills, ball nose end mills and corner chamfer end mills from Sutton Tools and Bordo cover the majority of CNC and manual milling requirements. The range includes solid carbide VHM options in regular and extra-long reach, with TiAlN-coated variants for harder materials.
Drill Bits
Jobber drill bits, carbide drill bits, stub drill bits and self-centering drill bits from Sutton Tools, Bordo and P&N. HSS, cobalt steel and solid carbide options span metric, imperial and wire gauge sizes. Left-hand cobalt jobber drills are available for broken fastener extraction.
Reamers
The AIMS reamer range includes adjustable hand reamers and chucking reamers from Sutton Tools, Bordo and Maxigear. Adjustable hand reamers cover both metric and imperial sizes with replaceable tungsten chrome alloy blades. Taper pin reamers in HSS handle taper pin fitting in shafts and couplings.
Indexable Inserts and Turning Tooling
SECO indexable inserts cover turning, milling, threading and parting/grooving applications. Lathe tool bits in HSS and cobalt steel from Sutton, Bordo and Maxigear complete the turning toolkit for manual lathes.
Rotary Burrs and Bench Grinders
Rotary burrs for die grinders and flexible shafts cover deburring, porting, profiling and weld preparation work. Bench grinders and bench grinder accessories support tool sharpening and dressing operations in the workshop.
Toolholding and Accessories
Tap wrenches, die holders, chuck keys, drill chuck keys and drill chuck holders are stocked to support the full range of machining operations. Contact the AIMS team for assistance selecting the right toolholding solution for your lathe, mill or drilling machine.
People Also Ask — Machining Tools and Consumables
Q: What machining categories does AIMS stock?
Our machining range covers drilling (twist drills, jobber drills, mag-drill annular cutters, centre drills, step drills), threading (taps, dies, thread chasers, thread mills), turning (HSS toolbits, indexable inserts and holders), milling (end mills, slot drills, ball-nose end mills, side and face cutters), grinding wheels and abrasives, reamers, knurling tools, and the holders, collets, chucks, and measuring instruments that support all of these.
Q: Which brands of cutting tools does AIMS supply?
Sutton Tools (Australian-made, full range), Bordo (industrial drills and cutters), P&N (Australian made HSS), SECO (premium indexable tooling), and OSG. For each tool family we typically stock a premium grade and a workshop-grade option so you can match the tool to the application without overspending on occasional-use sizes.
Q: Do I need carbide or HSS tooling for my work?
HSS or HSS-Cobalt for general workshop work, manual machines, lower production volume, and softer materials. Solid carbide for production CNC, high cutting speeds, harder materials, or where tool life justifies the higher cost. For most workshop work, HSS-Cobalt covers stainless and tougher steels at a fraction of carbide's cost. Production environments running consistent material types benefit from carbide investment.
Q: What cutting fluid should I use for general machining?
Soluble oil (water-mixed cutting fluid) is the workshop default for steel and stainless. Use straight cutting oil for heavier-duty operations or stainless threading where the lubricity matters. Aluminium and brass machine dry or with kerosene; cast iron is machined dry to avoid the abrasive paste that forms when fluid mixes with cast iron dust. Match the fluid to the material — using the wrong fluid causes premature tool wear or surface finish problems.
Q: How do I work out the right RPM for a cutting tool?
Start with the cutting speed (Vc) for the material — typically published in m/min by the tool manufacturer. Convert to RPM using: RPM = (Vc x 1000) divided by (pi x diameter in mm). Multiply by chip load per tooth and number of flutes to get feed rate. The hard part is selecting the right Vc — consult the manufacturer chart for the tool-material combination. Start conservative; you can always speed up once the tool is cutting cleanly.