ISO 1641-2:2011

Overview

ISO 1641-2:2011 specifies the general dimensions and the designation system for end mills and slot drills that have Morse taper shanks and a tapped hole. The part covers: flat-ended and ball-nosed end mills (standard and long series) and slot drills (short and standard series). Morse taper shanks are referenced to ISO 296 and ISO 5413. The standard uses millimetres for all dimensions and refers to ISO 2768-1 and ISO 2768-2 for tolerance classes.

This part of ISO 1641 is specifically not applicable to cutters with cylindrical shanks (see ISO 1641-1), 7/24 taper shanks (see ISO 1641-3), or to solid hardmetal end mills and slot drills.

Key Topics

• Scope and applicability: End mills (flat-ended and ball-nosed) and slot drills with Morse taper shanks and a tapped hole. Covers standard, long and short series where applicable.
• Referenced taper standards: Morse tapers per ISO 296 and positive drive per ISO 5413.
• Dimensions and units: All dimensions and tolerances are given in millimetres; unspecified tolerances default to tolerance class “m” (ISO 2768-1) and class “K” (ISO 2768-2).
• Designation rules: Clear, repeatable designation format for product labelling and documentation (see examples below).
• Examples of designation:
  • Flat-ended end mills ISO 1641-2 – 8 – 1
  • Ball-nosed cylindrical end mills ISO 1641-2 – 8 – 1
  • Slot drill ISO 1641-2 – 8 – 1

Applications

ISO 1641-2:2011 provides practical value across manufacturing and tooling workflows:

• Tool specification and procurement: Enables purchasers and manufacturers to specify end mills and slot drills unambiguously by diameter and Morse taper number.
• Interchangeability and inventory: Standardized dimensions support interchangeability between suppliers and simplify inventory classification.
• Machine setup and tooling selection: Clear linkage to Morse taper sizes (nos. 1–5) assists in selecting compatible tool holders and spindles following ISO 296/5413.
• Quality and CAD libraries: Use the standard as the authoritative source for creating CAD models, tooling libraries, and inspection criteria.

Related Standards

• ISO 1641-1 - End mills and slot drills with cylindrical shanks (complements Part 2 for different shank types).
• ISO 1641-3 - End mills and slot drills with 7/24 taper shanks.
• ISO 296 - Machine tools - Self-holding tapers for tool shanks (Morse taper definitions).
• ISO 5413 - Machine tools - Positive drive of Morse tapers.
• ISO 2768-1 / ISO 2768-2 - General tolerances for linear/angular and geometrical features.

By aligning tooling specifications and shop practices with ISO 1641-2:2011, manufacturers and tool users gain consistent dimensions, clearer designation conventions, and improved compatibility across machines and suppliers.