A ball cutter, also known as a ball end mill, is a type of milling cutter used in machining operations to create contoured surfaces or cavities with rounded profiles. Unlike traditional flat end mills, which have a flat cutting edge, ball cutters feature a rounded cutting edge shaped like a sphere or hemisphere. This design allows them to effectively remove material along curved paths, producing smooth and precise surfaces. Ball cutters are commonly used in 3D machining applications, such as sculpting, engraving, and mold making, where intricate shapes and complex geometries are required. They are particularly useful for generating fillets, chamfers, and other curved features on workpieces. Ball cutters come in various sizes and materials, including high-speed steel (HSS), carbide, and cobalt, to suit different machining requirements and materials.