Milling cutter and method of assembly

An end mill comprising:

• a shank having a hole at its forward end;
• a pull rod mounted in the hole;
• an end mill head mounted on a front end of the pull rod;
• the end mill head having cutting edge means, a center opening into which the pull rod projects, and an internal fastening portion disposed in the center opening and releasably fastening the end mill head to the pull rod;
• the end mill defining a center axis of rotation;
• the end mill head formed of injection molded material;
• the fastening portion and the cutting edge means being formed as one integral piece with the end mill head;
• the end mill head including a rearwardly facing first surface extending radially outwardly, and the shank including a forwardly facing second surface extending radially outwardly and facing the first surface, the first and second surfaces abutting one another along an interface extending substantially to a radially outermost portion of the end mill head for limiting an axial convergence of the end mill head and shank and for supporting the end mill head;
• the second surface defining an axially forwardmost portion of the shank;
• the material from which the end mill head is formed being an injection molded, sintered hard alloy or cermet;
• the shank forming a first channel portion;
• the pull rod forming a second channel portion;
• the end mill forming a third channel portion;
• the first, second and third channel portions communicating with one another for defining a flush channel that conducts a pressurized fluid to the end mill head.