As automakers strive for increasingly fuel efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles, they’re turning away from traditional iron favorites such as gray and ductile iron (GCI and DCI) to compacted graphite iron, or CGI. Also known as vermiculate graphite iron, CGI’s mechanical attributes meet or exceed its counterparts, sometimes drastically so. Unfortunately, CGI is also more difficult to machine, requiring cutting tools both tough and wear-resistant. And because of the continuing call for cost-effective machining solutions across all manufacturing industries, these tools must also offer a low cost per part and predictable tool life. For facemilling applications, Kennametal says that tool is Mill 16.