Cutting Tools & Tooling

Combat rising carbide costs with Tungaloy’s DrillMeister series, a head-changeable drill system that offers a wide range of drilling heads for diverse applications. DrillMeister reduces carbide waste and minimizes downtime, helping manufacturers protect the bottom line and stay competitive in an environment where prices remain volatile.

Onyx DLC (ta-C) coatings from Scientific Cutting Tools (SCT) are now available across several solid carbide thread mill product lines, including UN and metric single-profile thread mills, straight flute thread mills, and 15° helical thread mills. According to the company, the coating provides an ultra-low friction surface and high hardness that help reduce adhesion and wear when machining aluminum and other non-ferrous materials.

Scientific Cutting Tools (SCT), a U.S.-based manufacturer of precision carbide cutting tools, has announced the hard launch of its Zirc (ZrCN) and Onyx DLC (ta-C) coating programs, expanding performance options for machining non-ferrous materials and demanding threading applications.

Mazak Optonics Corporation’s Lz Series -2D Laser Processing Machines from its new OPTONICS brand features higher power levels and table sizes that allows for the production of larger work pieces.

Shipments of cutting tools, measured by the Cutting Tool Market Report, a collaboration between AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology and the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI), totaled $220.7 million in January 2026. Orders increased 2.7% from December 2025 and were up 9.9% from January 2025.

AFC Industries has launched Cline Tool Customs, a brand focused on "delivering custom engineered tooling solutions designed to solve complex manufacturing challenges with precision and speed." Cline Tool Customs builds on the former Cline Tool’s long-standing reputation for technical expertise, application knowledge, and hands-on service.

Rising tungsten prices, increasing raw-material scarcity, and growing demand from high-end manufacturing sectors are reshaping the global cutting tool industry, according to a new release from Tungaloy Corporation. In 2025, carbide rod and cutting tool manufacturers implemented multiple price adjustments, with their full impact expected to become more visible in 2026.

With the onset of rising tungsten prices and raw material scarcity, manufacturers are left searching for new lifecycle strategies to continue managing production effectively. Tungaloy is addressing these challenges through solutions that reduce carbide consumption while preserving quality in the machining process and helping manufacturers stay competitive.

Experience power and precision with Ingersoll’s new, premium, solid carbide end mills, designed to deliver maximum performance in aluminum alloys for roughing (PrimoAluR) and finishing (PrimoAluF) operations. These tools excel in long reach applications where stability, surface quality, and productivity are critical.

Now in its fourth year, the Big Daishowa Tools for Schools program continues to invest in the next generation of manufacturers. This year, the program awarded tooling certificates totaling $51,000 to technical schools selected by Big Daishowa customers. This brings the program’s cumulative impact to nearly $120,000 in donated tooling certificates.

Platinum Tooling, the importer and master distributor of live tools, angle heads, Swiss machine products, knurling tools and marking tools manufactured by various international suppliers has a new sales representative firm. Located in Conway, South Carolina, Sellers Marketing offers high quality cutting tools, workholding and tool holding solutions in the Southeastern United States.

ISCAR is expanding the BALL-PLUS family—a line of one-insert profile milling cutters—with new additions, including ball-nose-shaped inserts and the tools that accommodate them. The new inserts are available in the following design options:HCR D300-QF: A general-duty insert with a diameter of 30mm (1.181”), having a 180° spherical cutting edge and two straight tangent cutting edges.