Are there specific router bits for specific materials?

Based from reading around the forums, solid carbide is recommended for CNC work

My question is....

Are there specific bits for milling wood or aluminum? Do I need to buy a bit that says "for aluminum" if I'll be using it for Al?

Or can router bits work with both wood or aluminum?

For example: I see this spec on a website:

Amana solid carbide up spiral 2-flute router bit, 1/8" diam 1/4" shank, 1/2" cut length

and another...
CMT solid carbide 2 flute up-shear spiral bit, 1/8" diam., 1/2" cut length, 1/4" shank

and another...
Onsrud solid carbide general purpose double edge upcut spiral router bit, 1/8" diam, 1/4" shank, 1/2" cut length

Are all these bits good for milling 0.125" 5052 Aluminum? Or are these MDF/Wood type bits?

Sorry for the newbie question. Thanks for any assistance you can give me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fivefishcnc

My question is....

Are there specific bits for milling wood or aluminum?

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Yes. Bits for different materials have different geometries.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fivefishcnc

Do I need to buy a bit that says "for aluminum" if I'll be using it for Al? Or can router bits work with both wood or aluminum?

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Not necessarily. Router bits designed to cut wood will cut aluminum OK.

The bits you mentioned are all designed for wood. Onsrud has a whole catalog of aluminum cutting router bits, and you can also buy aluminum cutting endmills which are usually cheaper than router bits. Aluminum cutting router bits are typically designed to cut at much higher speeds than endmills, but not always. You may need to do some trial and error to see what works best for your machine.

Also, you may find that you need to use coolant to keep the aluminum from sticking to the bit. Different alloys cut differently. I've cut 6061 with a handheld router and in a router table with regular woodworking bits just fine.