Custom & Special Cutting Tools

When a standard cutting tool does not meet the requirements of your application, Newman Tools can help you find a custom or special cutting tool made to your required specifications.

We supply cutting tools for machine shops, manufacturing, maintenance, plant engineering and other industrial applications. Special tooling may be required when a job involves a non-standard thread, unusual diameter, special length, unique profile, difficult material or a particular machine setup.

Special Cutting Tools for Industrial Applications

Custom tooling can range from a modification to an existing standard tool through to a completely special tool manufactured to a customer's specifications or drawing.

Depending on the application, special tooling can include custom taps, special drills, reamers, thread mills, end mills, port tools and other precision cutting tools.

Custom & Special Taps

Newman Tools has extensive experience supplying standard and special taps in inch, metric and British thread forms. When a standard tap is not suitable, special taps can be specified for unusual thread requirements or machining conditions.

Special tap requirements may include:

• Special thread sizes and pitches
• Custom thread forms
• Special thread lengths
• Long-reach and extension taps
• Bottoming taps for limited-depth applications
• Oversize taps
• Left-hand taps
• Acme and trapezoidal threads
• Special pipe threads
• STI taps for screw thread inserts
• Combined drill and tap tools
• Coolant-through taps
• Special tap dimensions or shank configurations

Newman Tools already supplies a wide range of standard and special taps, including inch, metric and British thread forms, Acme, trapezoidal, pipe threads and STI tooling. Special-size and custom-made taps are also available for applications requiring dimensions outside conventional catalog sizes.

View Taps & Dies

Oversize and Special-Pitch Taps

Some applications require a tap with a controlled increase in pitch diameter. Oversize taps can be useful when a component will subsequently be plated, coated, galvanized or otherwise processed in a way that can affect the final thread dimensions.

Special pitch taps are also available for applications where the required thread pitch is not a standard catalog size.

Learn More About Oversize Taps

Custom Drills & Special Drilling Tools

Special drilling applications may require more than a conventional jobber drill. Custom and modified drills can be specified for unusual hole diameters, depths, step configurations or production requirements.

Special drilling tools may include:

• Step drills
• Long-length drills
• Extension drills
• Special-diameter drills
• Core and piloted drills
• Carbide drills
• Carbide-tipped drills
• Combination drilling tools
• Special-profile drills

When selecting a special drill, the material being machined, hole diameter, hole depth, machine type, coolant requirements and required production rate are important considerations.

Custom & Special Reamers

Reamers are used when a drilled hole must be brought to a controlled diameter and finish. A special reamer may be required when the hole geometry, diameter, length or application does not correspond to a standard catalog reamer.

Special reamer requirements can include:

• Special diameters
• Long-reach reamers
• Special pilot configurations
• Step reamers
• Custom profiles
• Special chamfers
• Special shank configurations
• Reamers manufactured to customer specifications

Custom End Mills & Milling Cutters

Special milling applications can require a cutter with a particular profile, diameter, radius, flute configuration or cutting geometry.

Special Thread Mills

Thread milling can provide an alternative to conventional tapping, particularly when machining larger threads, difficult materials or specialized thread forms.

Special thread mills can be produced for non-standard thread forms, multiple starts, unusual dimensions and other applications where an off-the-shelf thread mill is not suitable.

Special thread milling applications may include:

• Acme and Stub Acme threads
• Trapezoidal threads
• Buttress threads
• Whitworth threads
• Multiple-start threads
• Locking threads
• Special internal and external thread forms

Special Port & Contour Tools

Hydraulic and fluid-power components often require accurately machined port profiles. Special port tools and contour cutters can be used when a standard tool does not provide the required geometry or dimensions.

Depending on the application, special port tooling can include cavity tools, multi-step port tools, trepan tools and other specialized cutting geometries.

View port contour and cavity cutters

Modified Standard Cutting Tools

A completely new tool is not always necessary. In many cases, a standard cutting tool can be modified to suit a particular machining requirement.

A modification to an existing tool can sometimes provide a practical solution when the required change is relatively small.

Custom Cutting Tools Made to Drawing

For unusual applications, a customer drawing, tool print or detailed specification can be used to determine the required tool geometry.

When requesting a quotation for a special cutting tool, useful information may include:

• Tool type
• Part or tool drawing
• Required dimensions
• Material being machined
• Thread size and pitch, when applicable
• Hole diameter and depth
• Machine or machining centre
• Tool holder information
• Coolant requirements
• Quantity required
• Required delivery date

Providing a drawing or detailed dimensions can help ensure that the proposed tool is suitable for the application.

When Should You Consider a Custom Cutting Tool?

A special cutting tool may be worth considering when you encounter one or more of the following situations:

• The required size is not available as a standard tool.
• The required thread pitch is non-standard.
• The tool must reach a deep or difficult-to-access feature.
• A particular profile must be machined in one operation.
• A standard tool requires modification to fit the application.
• A production operation requires a repeatable special geometry.
• A standard tool does not provide the required clearance.
• The component requires a special port or cavity profile.
• A special material requires a different cutting geometry.

Newman Tools – Special Tooling Assistance

Newman Tools has supplied cutting tools and industrial supplies to machine shops, plant engineering and maintenance customers since 1955. Our product range includes more than 30,000 items, including hard-to-find and special sizes.

If you have a requirement that cannot be satisfied by a standard catalog tool, contact Newman Tools with your drawing, dimensions or application details. We can help identify whether a standard tool, modified tool or custom-manufactured cutting tool is appropriate for the job.

Frequently Asked Questions About Custom Cutting Tools

What are custom cutting tools?

Custom cutting tools are drills, taps, reamers, end mills, thread mills and other cutting tools manufactured or modified for a particular machining requirement. They may have special dimensions, geometry, thread forms, lengths, profiles or shank configurations.

Can Newman Tools supply custom taps?

Newman Tools can help customers source special and custom taps for applications involving non-standard thread sizes, pitches, thread forms, lengths, diameters and other special requirements. Customers can provide drawings, dimensions or application information when requesting a quotation.

What information is needed for a custom cutting tool?

Useful information includes the tool type, drawing or dimensions, material being machined, thread size and pitch when applicable, hole diameter and depth, machine or machining centre, tool holder information, coolant requirements, quantity and required delivery date.

Can a standard cutting tool be modified?

In some applications, a standard cutting tool can be modified rather than manufacturing a completely new tool. Possible modifications may include changes to overall length, cutting length, diameter, shank configuration, radius, pilot length or tool reach.

What types of special cutting tools are available?

Special cutting tools can include custom taps, drills, reamers, end mills, thread mills, port tools, contour cutters and other specialized tooling. The appropriate tool depends on the component, material, dimensions and machining operation.

Can special cutting tools be made from a customer drawing?

Yes. A customer drawing, tool print or detailed dimensional specification can be used to determine the required tool geometry and specifications. Providing detailed application information helps with the quotation and tool-selection process.

Request Information on a Special Cutting Tool

Newman Tools Inc.
185 Iber Road
Stittsville, Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K2S 1E7

Telephone: 1-800-465-1384

Local: (613) 836-6776

Email: mail@newmantools.com

When requesting a quotation, please include a drawing or as much dimensional and application information as possible.

Related Newman Tools Information

• Taps & Dies
• Special Tap Dimensions
• Oversize Taps
• Custom & Modified Tools
• Cutting Tools Index