Ball-end mill and insert

Abstract

A ball-end mill includes arcuate cutting edges each extending from a tip end to a peripherally outermost point along a S shape curve when viewed from the front side, spirally-shaped, peripheral cutting edges each smoothly connected to each arcuate cutting edge, and a convex rake face of each arcuate cutting edge protruding forward in a rotation direction. Each arcuate cutting edge has a radial rake angle satisfying β<α≦γ, where α is a radial rake angle at a radial angle of 5°, β is a radial rake angle at a radial angle of 90°, and γ is a radial rake angle at a rotationally most projecting point of the arcuate cutting edge. The radial rake angle has the maximum value at a radial angle in a range of 12-40° and continuously decreases in a range from the rotationally most projecting point to the peripherally outermost point.