In the 1970s, development and use of PCD tools were, with few exceptions, limited to the production of so-called “indexable inserts.” This term is quite wrong, since PCD was simply soldered onto one side of these inserts. After the discovery of spark erosion (1978) for the systematic removal of polycrystalline electroconductive particles such as polycrystalline synthetic diamonds (PCD and boron nitrides PCBN), this should change. Since 1980, progressive developments in electrical discharge grinding (EDG) and wire EDM turned the “niche tool” PCD into a global player.
In a nutshell, polycrystalline cutting tools became a continuing success story, for tool manufacturers and for users – from stationary turning tools and cutting inserts to rotating milling cutters, drills, step drills, reamers, saws, dressing rolls and other tools.
A selection of PCD and PCBN inserts, developed during the 1970s, for milling and turning.
Unimaginable without PCD tool
Many industries have profited from this in the most literal sense of the word during the last decades – first and foremost the automobile industry by implementing the principle of “energy savings through light-weight designs.” This success would have been unimaginable without PCD tools. Other pioneer accomplishments include the aircraft industry, machining of propellers in the wind-turbine industry and in general the wood and plastic (composite) industry, even spanning to achievements in electro engineering and in medical technology. The list could easily be continued. Whoever thinks that we are at the end of this development is mistaken. For example, laser technology will one day be so advanced that it will take its place as an efficient, precise manufacturing alternative, next to spark erosion and grinding.
Regarding further developments of the supply of polycrystalline synthetic diamonds (PCD) by the “biggest” suppliers for the tool manufacturing industry, I must express my scepticism whether we can “soon” expect significant improvements in one or the other components for advanced production and use.
Originally, we were talking about names like GE Superabrasives or DeBeers. Today, PCD buyers must get used to the fact that the respective companies and departments have changed owners and names up to four times. Other, additional products intermittently offered on the market, such as mono diamonds and CVD (chemical vapor deposition), do not make any difference in this regard. The latest DeBeers/ Element Six product – so-called “Labour-made” jewel diamonds on CVD basis – are by the way currently the hype on the jeweller market. Such diamonds (brilliants) should be offered to consumers at a 70% “cheaper” price, and via a separate distribution channel than to natural diamonds. DeBeers/Element Six is building a large production facility in Pennsylvania for these “Labour-made” gem diamonds. Sales in the U.S. have already started, branding it “Lightbox Jewelry.”
A diagram of spark erosion grinding with rotating electrode, either graphite or copper.
The Beginning of a Success Story
Please accompany me now to the beginnings of forming and rotating PCD tools with an all-encompassing focus on the automotive world. So far, we touched on the here and now. Back to the year 1980. One of the questions at the time was: Is it possible to transfer the looming success of PCD tools in the industrial series production of wood and plastic to the metal and composite industry?
From a historical perspective, this question was initially posed to Lach-Spezial-Werkzeuge GmbH, which was worldwide the first manufacturer of diamond tools for machining all wood and plastic materials (Feb. 1979 – see part 5 of this article series “Poly – poly – or what?”).
Lach-Spezial is the sister company of the family-managed Lach Diamant Jakob Lach GmbH & Co. KG., founded in 1922. It developed from a diamond grinding shop for natural diamonds with approximately 600 employees, and already in the mid 1930s, it had targeted the metal industry with a special program. Initially, it included industrial diamonds for dressing conventional grinding wheels in the automobile, ball bearings and rolling bearings industries, but in the early 1960s the programme was extended, and e.g. natural turning diamonds were offered for turning copper commutators for the electrical industry (Bosch, Siemens, AEG). The following production of resin- and metal-bond diamond and Borazon/CBN grinding wheels completed this program.
As pioneer in machining, development and application of polycrystalline diamond and CBN machining tools, Lach Diamant achieved worldwide reputation after superabrasive manufacturer General Electric offered PCD cutting material for the first time in 1973 (see also part 1 of this article series “Poly – poly – or what?”).
After the discovery of spark erosion for forming polycrystalline cutting materials, it should now become possible to offer more and more customized solutions for the use of PCD tools (see part 1-3 of this article series “Poly – poly – or what?”). Why was this not implemented – or better – why could this not yet be implemented during the early 1980s? Analogous to the successful introduction of diamond tools in the furniture industry?
Demonstration of LACH-EDG spark erosion grinding on a »Dia-2200-mini«.
Easier for Woodworkers…
The answer could be explicitly clear: The automotive industry was not ready yet to fully use the advantages of PCD tools in serial production. It was easier for woodworkers. During my preparation for LIGNA 1979, I could already assert, that at that time the machine development in the wood industry already fulfilled the requirements for the use of cost-saving, long-lasting PCD diamond tools.
An example: multiple-axis routers on which it was already easy to measure the advantages of PCD endmills/profile mills compared to carbide. Of course, the same applied to the immediate success of diamond tool combinations on so-called double-end profile machines.
Decisive Stakeholders
Only one driving force is the appropiate explanation for the rapid acceptance of diamond tools in the furniture industry: the stakeholders. At the time, all necessary decisions during the introduction of polycrystalline tools were shaped by medium-sized enterprises: All manufacturers of PCD tools – without exception family-managed companies – and equally the buyers, therefore the decision makers. Incidentally, I experienced identical developments not only in Germany, in Europe and in the United States, but also worldwide. The “big players” often came much later – manufacturers as well as buyers.
Let’s refocus on the status of PCD tools in the automotive industry at the beginning of the 1980s. Using PCD tools for the external and internal turning of materials such as copper, electrographite carbon and, of course, aluminium was fairly well known. The same milling heads previously fitted with carbide inserts were now available for the starting production of aluminium engines and upcoming milling tasks. Soldered PCD milling heads were at that time not yet a solution for aluminium machining.
A look at the (still existing) Lach production and order book, beginning with the first entry in 1979, tells us the following: The first so-called dreboform PCD profile turning tools/threaded steel/endmills et al. were successfully used for machining nonferrous and composite materials at customers such as Rowenta in Offenbach, Grundig in Georgensmünd, Messerschmitt Bölkow Blohm GmbH in Donauwörth, Waldrich in Coburg, FAG in Schweinfurt, Behr in Wendlingen, Bosch in Stuttgart, Fokker in the Netherlands and Vielmetter in Berlin.
The PDC spiral drill »PS-plus« is for machining composite materials.
Press Coverage
From the many press releases covering this issue in 1980, I quote an excerpt from the trade journal “Produktion” in March 1980: “In excellent shape with long tool times: Nothing is more precise than diamonds. Synthetic diamond cutting edges for machining nonferrous and plastic materials are unstoppable. New grinding procedures (this refers to Lach DiamantI’s so-called spark erosion method) made it possible to produce blades from sintered diamonds in any desired shape and form. Ground into shape, they are perfect for turning and milling aluminium, brass, copper and various carbon and plastic composites. The blade can be shaped in any manner, concave or convex, similar to a saw or threaded profile, with all conceivable options up to a maximum insertion width of 13 mm” (at the time the available maximum for PCD) – today 70 mm to a maximum width of 100 mm.
Other press reports of this year allow the conclusion that expectations regarding the future use of PCD tools in the automotive industry had increased enormously. A quote from “Fachberichte für Metallbearbeitung” Nov./Dec. issue in 1980: “Tripling today’s production capacities (as announced by Lach Diamant at FAMETA 80 in Essen and Stuttgart) promises security to consumers in a now economically viable machining technology – and ultimately, this is attributed to Lach Diamant as a counter-initiative to the Japanese challenge.”
This also indicates the contemporary mentality at a time when pros and cons of numerically controlled machines and robots were intensely debated for serial industrial production.
The keyword “Tradeshow FAMETA 80 in Essen” gives me an opportunity to point out another event, quasi a world premiere. At that time, PCD monoblock milling cutters, straight-edged as well as profiled cutting edges, were already in use in the furniture industry, particularly in the kitchen cabinet industry.
PCD tools are effective for machining wind turbine components.
Time not Right Yet
Aluminium milling was still left to PCD cartridge mills, fitted with PCD inserts. Regarding the world premiere: At FAMETA 80 in Essen, Lach Diamant presented the first PCD monoblock milling cutter for aluminium – featuring an elaborate profile – and demonstrated milling at high feed rates in creep speed.
Actually, this presentation already established the basis for the introduction of soldered monoblock PCD milling cutters in the automotive industry, but, unfortunately, the time was – even in retrospect – not quite right for this yet.
Another showstopper was at the time the developmental stage of numerical controls; there were initial approaches from perforated discs to punched tapes for scanning specified machine data. But compared to today, these were small beginnings to successfully execute only a few electromotoric axial movements. The real takeoff into the future of freely programmable controls can be pinpointed between the years of 1984-1990; starting with the design of toy computers and going as far as the complete replacement of perforation strips for tooling machines.
Now you will ask yourself what happened at FAMETA 80 during the premiere presentation of monoblock PCD milling cutters for aluminium machining? You will be surprised to hear about the following developments, which also lead to an international patent. You can read more about this topic in the next article of “Poly – poly – or what?”
Related Glossary Terms
- chemical vapor deposition ( CVD)
chemical vapor deposition ( CVD)
High-temperature (1,000° C or higher), atmosphere-controlled process in which a chemical reaction is induced for the purpose of depositing a coating 2µm to 12µm thick on a tool’s surface. See coated tools; PVD, physical vapor deposition.
- composites
composites
Materials composed of different elements, with one element normally embedded in another, held together by a compatible binder.
- cubic boron nitride ( CBN)
cubic boron nitride ( CBN)
Crystal manufactured from boron nitride under high pressure and temperature. Used to cut hard-to-machine ferrous and nickel-base materials up to 70 HRC. Second hardest material after diamond. See superabrasive tools.
- dressing
dressing
Removal of undesirable materials from “loaded” grinding wheels using a single- or multi-point diamond or other tool. The process also exposes unused, sharp abrasive points. See loading; truing.
- electrical-discharge machining ( EDM)
electrical-discharge machining ( EDM)
Process that vaporizes conductive materials by controlled application of pulsed electrical current that flows between a workpiece and electrode (tool) in a dielectric fluid. Permits machining shapes to tight accuracies without the internal stresses conventional machining often generates. Useful in diemaking.
- feed
feed
Rate of change of position of the tool as a whole, relative to the workpiece while cutting.
- gang cutting ( milling)
gang cutting ( milling)
Machining with several cutters mounted on a single arbor, generally for simultaneous cutting.
- grinding
grinding
Machining operation in which material is removed from the workpiece by a powered abrasive wheel, stone, belt, paste, sheet, compound, slurry, etc. Takes various forms: surface grinding (creates flat and/or squared surfaces); cylindrical grinding (for external cylindrical and tapered shapes, fillets, undercuts, etc.); centerless grinding; chamfering; thread and form grinding; tool and cutter grinding; offhand grinding; lapping and polishing (grinding with extremely fine grits to create ultrasmooth surfaces); honing; and disc grinding.
- milling
milling
Machining operation in which metal or other material is removed by applying power to a rotating cutter. In vertical milling, the cutting tool is mounted vertically on the spindle. In horizontal milling, the cutting tool is mounted horizontally, either directly on the spindle or on an arbor. Horizontal milling is further broken down into conventional milling, where the cutter rotates opposite the direction of feed, or “up” into the workpiece; and climb milling, where the cutter rotates in the direction of feed, or “down” into the workpiece. Milling operations include plane or surface milling, endmilling, facemilling, angle milling, form milling and profiling.
- milling cutter
milling cutter
Loosely, any milling tool. Horizontal cutters take the form of plain milling cutters, plain spiral-tooth cutters, helical cutters, side-milling cutters, staggered-tooth side-milling cutters, facemilling cutters, angular cutters, double-angle cutters, convex and concave form-milling cutters, straddle-sprocket cutters, spur-gear cutters, corner-rounding cutters and slitting saws. Vertical cutters use shank-mounted cutting tools, including endmills, T-slot cutters, Woodruff keyseat cutters and dovetail cutters; these may also be used on horizontal mills. See milling.
- polycrystalline cubic boron nitride ( PCBN)
polycrystalline cubic boron nitride ( PCBN)
Cutting tool material consisting of polycrystalline cubic boron nitride with a metallic or ceramic binder. PCBN is available either as a tip brazed to a carbide insert carrier or as a solid insert. Primarily used for cutting hardened ferrous alloys.
- polycrystalline diamond ( PCD)
polycrystalline diamond ( PCD)
Cutting tool material consisting of natural or synthetic diamond crystals bonded together under high pressure at elevated temperatures. PCD is available as a tip brazed to a carbide insert carrier. Used for machining nonferrous alloys and nonmetallic materials at high cutting speeds.
- polycrystalline diamond ( PCD)2
polycrystalline diamond ( PCD)
Cutting tool material consisting of natural or synthetic diamond crystals bonded together under high pressure at elevated temperatures. PCD is available as a tip brazed to a carbide insert carrier. Used for machining nonferrous alloys and nonmetallic materials at high cutting speeds.
- sawing machine ( saw)
sawing machine ( saw)
Machine designed to use a serrated-tooth blade to cut metal or other material. Comes in a wide variety of styles but takes one of four basic forms: hacksaw (a simple, rugged machine that uses a reciprocating motion to part metal or other material); cold or circular saw (powers a circular blade that cuts structural materials); bandsaw (runs an endless band; the two basic types are cutoff and contour band machines, which cut intricate contours and shapes); and abrasive cutoff saw (similar in appearance to the cold saw, but uses an abrasive disc that rotates at high speeds rather than a blade with serrated teeth).
- turning
turning
Workpiece is held in a chuck, mounted on a face plate or secured between centers and rotated while a cutting tool, normally a single-point tool, is fed into it along its periphery or across its end or face. Takes the form of straight turning (cutting along the periphery of the workpiece); taper turning (creating a taper); step turning (turning different-size diameters on the same work); chamfering (beveling an edge or shoulder); facing (cutting on an end); turning threads (usually external but can be internal); roughing (high-volume metal removal); and finishing (final light cuts). Performed on lathes, turning centers, chucking machines, automatic screw machines and similar machines.
- wire EDM
wire EDM
Process similar to ram electrical-discharge machining except a small-diameter copper or brass wire is used as a traveling electrode. Usually used in conjunction with a CNC and only works when a part is to be cut completely through. A common analogy is wire electrical-discharge machining is like an ultraprecise, electrical, contour-sawing operation.
Author
Managing Director and CEO of LACH DIAMANT, Jakob Lach GmbH & Co. KG, Donaustr.17, 63452 Hanau, Germany. After 55+ professional years in the world of diamonds - Horst Lach, born on April 3rd, 1940, is known as one of the pioneers of the diamond tool industry. His outstanding and brilliant ideas were simply remarkable, and he initiated a complete new way of thinking in the tool industry. Tool life should no longer be measured in hours, but in weeks and months. In 1960, Horst Lach joined his father's diamond cutting facility, founded in 1922.
Horst Lach is not only CEO of LACH DIAMANT Germany, but also of LACH DIAMOND INC., Grand Rapids, MI 49512, Tel. (616) 698-0101.
Website : http://www.lach-diamant.de
CTE is happy to be publishing a series of articles by Horst Lach. To date we have published the following :
How new superhard cutting materials revolutionized machining, Part 1 (Published 9/20/18)
LACH DIAMANT looks back on 95 years, Part 2 (Published 10/18/2018)
'Poly–poly–or what?' third part – hard turning, Part 3 (Published 11/12/18)
'Poly–poly–or what?' fourth part – a trade show initiates a brilliant idea, Part 4 (Published 12/6/2018)
'Poly–poly–or what?' fifth part - Diamonds Show Profile, Part 5 (Published 1/8/2019)
'Poly – poly-or what?' sixth part - Quo vadis – Where are you going …?, Part 6 (Published 3/1/2019)
Poly – Poly - or what? Part 7: Stumbling blocks on the way into the automotive world …, Part 7 (Published 4/15/2019)
'Poly – Poly – or what?' Part 8: How the 'issue with the comma' became a success, Part 8 (Published 6/25/2019)
Poly – Poly – or what? Part 9: Lach Diamant Goes East, Part 9 (Published 1/6/2020)
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