What is the difference between a rotary tool and a die grinder?

Both drive shafted tools at high speed. A die grinder has a long neck and reaches into deep mould surfaces, weld preparations and bores; a rotary tool is shorter and better balanced, so it is easier to control in the hand.

What speed range is needed?

Small-diameter tools need 20,000 rpm and above. Plastic and aluminium want the speed brought down: too fast and the material melts and welds itself to the cutter. The range is given in the spec table.

Is a milling machine the same as a drill stand?

No. A drill stand fixes the vertical axis and is not built for side load. A milling machine is bearinged to work under side load; milling in a drill stand ruins both the surface and the spindle.

Which tools does it take?

Tungsten carbide cutters, HSS twist drills, mounted grinding points, cutting and diamond discs, polishing felts and wire brushes — all chosen by shank diameter.

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Micro Drills & Mills

A micro rotary tool runs cutters, grinding points, cutting discs, polishing felts and wire brushes in the same chuck, so one machine does many jobs. Bench milling machines give the same precision on a fixed table and with measured travel.

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Hand-held or bench

The hand-held tool gives freedom: in engraving, deburring, mould dressing and repair the hand goes where the eye is looking. Where nothing has to be held to a dimension, that is the right choice.

The bench gives repeatability. A milling machine used with a compound table gives measured travel in X and Y, and that is the only way to make ten of the same part to the same size.

Collets, chucks and shank size

Micro tools mostly mount on a collet. A collet grips the shank all the way round and runs truer than a chuck; in exchange it needs one collet per shank diameter.

The common shanks are 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.35, 3.0 and 3.2 mm. Keyed chuck models cover a wide range in one mounting and are the practical choice where tools change often.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a rotary tool and a die grinder?
Both drive shafted tools at high speed. A die grinder has a long neck and reaches into deep mould surfaces, weld preparations and bores; a rotary tool is shorter and better balanced, so it is easier to control in the hand.
What speed range is needed?
Small-diameter tools need 20,000 rpm and above. Plastic and aluminium want the speed brought down: too fast and the material melts and welds itself to the cutter. The range is given in the spec table.
Is a milling machine the same as a drill stand?
No. A drill stand fixes the vertical axis and is not built for side load. A milling machine is bearinged to work under side load; milling in a drill stand ruins both the surface and the spindle.
Which tools does it take?
Tungsten carbide cutters, HSS twist drills, mounted grinding points, cutting and diamond discs, polishing felts and wire brushes — all chosen by shank diameter.