Carbide insert

Any modern tool and die, injection mold making or precision machining operation uses carbide cutting tools extensively. With the huge variety of cutters available, such as indexable end mills, carbide cut off saw blades, face mills, tapered end mills and spade drills, there is a tool for every purpose.

Most tooling manufacturers specialize in one or more areas, and have developed technologies that provide efficiencies that were unthinkable, even a few years ago.

Hard machining is a good example of this development. The high end machine tools, such as the Mikron HSM 400, or the Sodick HS430L are capable of very fine finishes, fast metal removal rates, and a high degree of accuracy.

High speed machining demands a high level of performance from the carbide cutting tools. Usually these cutters are coated with any one of several materials to enhance the performance and extend the tool life.

Another, somewhat new machining practice is hard milling. This eliminates a great deal of time and can save money in the manufacturing of mold cores and cavities and other industrial tooling applications.

For example, sinker EDM time is greatly reduced, finish grinding and polishing is also reduced. Yet it is the ability of the lowly end mill to perform that plays a critical role in this process. If any part of this integrated procedure breaks down, then entire process stops.