Engraving F.A.Q.s
Return to FAQ Main


What are clearance angles, cutting angles and included angles?

The angles ground on a cutter are often referred to as "cutter geometry" and determine how a tool cuts.

The Cutting Angle is the angle of the cutting edge in reference to the shank of the tool. Standard tools for plastic have a 30° cutting edge, Standard tools for metals have a 40° cutting edge, and Profilers hace a 15° cutting edge.

The Included Angle is another reference to the cutting angle, but is double the angle of the cutting edge to the shank. Standard tools for plastic have a 60° included angle, Standard tools for metals have a 80° included angle, and Profilers have a 30° included angle.

Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player.

Get Adobe Flash player

Clearance angles refer to the anglebehind the cutting edge that allows for chip clearance. Tools for softer materials have more clearance and tools for harder material have less clearance (and a stronger cutting edge).

Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player.

Get Adobe Flash player

For a complete description of cutter angles see our Antares Fact Sheet: "The Anatomy of an Engraving Cutter".