Dovetail cutters are specialized tools for cutting angled or trapezoidal-shaped grooves (dovetails) into a workpiece. They are used to cut the male and female parts of dovetail joints for industrial slides, as well as for cutting bevels and undercuts, and for deburring parts.

 

Dovetail cutters are also used to cut external features on workpieces for clamping in dovetail-style workholding. The dovetail creates a strong and secure area for clamping, while sacrificing minimal raw material, allowing more surface area of the part to be exposed to the cutting tool. This makes dovetails a great way to securely hold your workpiece during 5-axis operations.