The selection of the appropriate cutter depends on factors such as the desired slot dimensions, material hardness, machine speeds and the required surface finish. Square/sharp corner end mills are versatile and can be used for roughing and finishing operations.

There are several common types of milling cutters, such as cylindrical milling cutters, face milling cutters, end mills, face milling cutters, angle milling cutters, saw blade milling cutters, and T-shaped milling cutters: Cylindrical milling cutter: used for processing planes on horizontal milling machines.

HSS milling cutters are designed for machining soft materials such as softer steels, aluminium and brass. They have a high working hardness with excellent toughness whilst remaining sharp during prolonged use. They are relatively affordable and provide a good balance between durability and efficiency.

Usually tools with corner radius or high-feed milling cutters are used. In some cases a ball cutter can be used to remove the residual material in corners.