Emerging Trends in Metal Cutting Technologies

To improve productive manufacturers are continuously looking for ways to improve their

tooling capability . Keeping with the demand of manufacturing industry metal cutting

tools have also evolved over time. By fine tuning the combination of material used in

cutting tool , its angle of cut and coating used toolmakers are regularly making advances

in metal cutting tools.

Given below is emerging trend over the year in Cutting speed variation for Alloy Steel

Given below is emerging trend over the year in Cutting speed variation for Inconel

Metal Cutting Tools – Bipico

Emerging Trends in Metal Cutting Technologies

Given below is emerging trend over the year in Cutting speed variation for Alloy Steel

4140

Nonferrous Fulfilment

To improve fuel efficiency, the tools are adopting aluminium as their tool material of

choice especially in vehicle manufacturing industry. In 1980 where aluminium made up

about 3 percent of typical midsize car, has now increased to 5 percent by 1990 and to 25

percent by 2010. These change in manufacturing are driving the change in metal cutting

industry

Nodular cast iron

Grey cast iron which is used to be the main component of vehicle manufacturing is also

being replaced by tougher Nodular cast iron. Tools to machine such hard metal should be

abrasive and endure interruptions while cutting and nodular cast iron provides just that

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Emerging Trends in Metal Cutting Technologies

Physical-vapor-deposition

Physical-vapor-deposition (PVD) coatings are being hugely preferred these days over

CVD coatings in various operation and machining operations. Commercialized in 1980s,

PVD coating process allows the coating to happen over sharp corner of edges. Tool with

PVD edges are heavily used in milling, drilling of low carbon steels. PVD coating which

are replacing CVD coating are fast becoming coating of choice for tools that are used to

work on titanium, nickel based alloys, and nonferrous materials.

Dry Machining

Government legislation is affecting metal cutting tool development. In few countries

there are environmental concerns over use of cutting fluid. These kind of mandate are

resulting in shifting the cutting process to dry machining. Dry machining is a harsh

process and this requires tools that can minimize use of coolant and follow parameters of

government legislation.

Tool with thick alumina coating are ideal for such machining steel as they allow

increased feed rates reducing contact time with the work piece and reduce temperature of

the tool. This hugely increases productivity of the tool. Tools with PVD TiAlN and

lubricious PVD MoS2 coating are good for dry drilling and tapping. This focus on dry

machining will further enhance tooling capability in future which will provide high

thermal resistance and increase productivity.

Cermets For NearNet

Cermet cutting tools is response to nearnetshape manufacturing trends. Ceremets are high

wear resistance due to its composition of titanium carbonitride (TiCN) with a nickelcobalt

binder. Cermet cutting tool are best for materials that produce ductile chip. They have

high speed capability thus are excellent for producing carbon, stainless steels and produce

excellent finish.

Metal Cutting Tools – Bipico

Emerging Trends in Metal Cutting Technologies

Machining the Hard Way

Cutting tool is constantly on the lookout for developing tool that are productive in hard

machining operations. Both environmental and governmental factors along with financial

constraints govern the development of such tools that can work on hardened work pieces

Latest trend that has emerged in metal cutting industry for hardened material are tools

made of polycrystalline cubic boron nitrides, as well as ceramic tools.

Metal Cutting Tools – Bipico