Cutting Tools & Tooling

Articles • September 1, 1996 • Joseph Halloran

Ceramics Get Tough

Improvements in cermet and ceramic inserts have made them a good choice for high-speed milling. This article describes how the compositions and designs of these newer inserts make them tough enough to withstand the punishment of a milling operation while maintaining the hardness that makes them wear-resistant.

Articles • September 1, 1996 • Mark McCollom

High Performance at High Speeds

The economic benefits of high-speed machining can be lost if the wrong tools are used. This article describes the types of solid-carbide drills and endmills that can ensure long-running performance. It also covers the proper handling and setup of these tools.

Articles • March 1, 1996 • Louis Caldarera Jr.

Stress Management

High-performance aluminum-alloy workpieces are prone to residual stresses that can lead to part distortion. This article reviews the milling tools and practices that affect these stresses. Some tools and practices alleviate the stress, while others allow the machinist to mill the part without adding more stress.

Articles • March 1, 1996 • Ronald Biagiotti

The Time is Right for Cermets

Cermet inserts have evolved into cutting tools capable of finish-turning steel reliably at high speeds. This article traces the developments that have led to modern cermets and describes the properties that enhance the performance of these tools. The development of coatings for cermets is also covered.

Articles • February 1, 1996 • Andrew Johnson

CVD Diamond Inserts Stick

The development of the CVD thick-film diamond process has made it possible to produce tools that can machine abrasive work materials without losing their cutting edge. In this article, the technology for producing the diamond film and the brazing of these thick-film chips onto inserts is described.

Articles • December 1, 1995 • Elliot Stern

Good Vibrations

Tunable tools can be adjusted to dampen vibration. However, shops must have the right equipment to tune them quickly and precisely. This article describes an instrument that can provide the necessary feedback. A system that uses a mill's vibration frequency to sense problems with the tool is also described.

Articles • October 1, 1995 • Dr. William J. Westerman

Reassessing Recessing

Automatic recessing heads feed a cutter out at a right angle to the spindle's rotation axis as downward pressure is applied to the housing. This article looks at the advantages of using these units and reviews the different types of head available, including heads for special applications and multispindle automatics.

Articles • September 1, 1995 • Ken Booker

Milling Inserts Shape Up

Changes in milling practices have placed new demands on the cutting tool. This article discusses the features toolmakers have added to their milling insert geometries to control chips and cutting forces. The article also reviews the milling process and the forces that act on the insert.

Articles • June 1, 1995 • Richard Thalmann

Cracking the Code

This article reviews the nomenclature that toolmakers use to identify inserts. Both ANSI and ISO codes are described character by character. A chart lists all of the possible choices for each position in the code and what each code letter or number signifies.

Articles • March 1, 1995 • Roy Leverenz

A Simple Groove

This article discusses the trend among insert makers to consolidate chipbreaker designs and carbide grades. The result is the three-chipbreaker/three-grade matrix many insert makers have adopted in some form. The evolution of the chip-forming groove is also traced, and an ANSI proposal for a grade identification system is described.

Articles • February 1, 1995 • James Treglio

Eye on Ions

Ion implantation bombards a tool's surface with accelerated metal ions. According to this article, the process increases tool life and the performance of tool coatings. Two theories explaining why the process works are also discussed.