Cutting Tool Inserts Key Terms

Familiarize yourself with cutting tool inserts terminology

By Howard Robertson

Cutting tools are important for any manufacturing company, as the quality of products depends upon the properties of cutting tools. A cutting tool insert is a small part attached to cutting tools that can be replaced after pre-defined operation time.

If you want to buy cutting tool inserts, you will need to be conversant with certain terms that indicate specifications, types or materials for cutting tool inserts. This guide will introduce you to some technical terms, such as hardness, cold or hot forming, cutting speed and cermet.

Hardness

Selection of a cutting tool insert depends upon the hardness of the component material. The hardness of a material is its ability to resist deformation due to cutting, stretching, bending and other similar operations. There are various scientific scales for measurement of hardness of materials, such as Brinnell Hardness, Rockwell Hardness and Vickers Hardness.
Try: To understand the definition of hardness and relevant hardness scales, read through the metal forming and welding glossary at Advantage Fabricated Metals, a division of Corrugated Metals.

Cold or hot forming

As the name indicates, a cold forming (or cold working) process is a metal forming operation carried out at room temperature. A hot forming process is carried out at high temperatures, as metals and alloys exhibit less yield strength under higher temperatures. While buying a cutting tool insert, you will need to specify whether you want to use it for a cold or hot forming operation.
Try: Sandmeyer Steel Company, a supplier of industrial steel products, offers a glossary of technical terms, including cold forming and hot forming.

Cutting speed

Cutting speed can be defined as the relative speed between the cutting tool insert edge and component material just ahead of this cutting edge.
Try: For the definition of this technical term, read through the glossary by the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Tech.

Tool steel

Once you understand the different specifications, you must learn about various types of materials for cutting tool inserts. Tool steel includes a typical variety of plain carbon steel and alloy steel materials that are suitable for cutting tools and inserts.
Try: NASS, an information provider for the steel industry, offers a glossary of technical terms explaining various steel categories.

CBN (Cubic Boron Nitride)

CBN is a ceramic material that is very useful for manufacturing cutting tool inserts. CBN inserts have applications in high speed cutting operations.
Try: To understand the basics of CBN and its applications, read through the grinding technology glossary at Abrasive Engineering Society. To learn more about CBN, its grades and applications, browse through information at NTK Cutting Tools.

Cermet

Cermet is another popular tool insert material. It is a composite material of metal and ceramic constituents produced by different processes, such as agglomeration, sintering and spray drying.
Try: You can read through the engineering glossary at International Technical Services. To learn more about cermet and cermet powders, you can also browse through the metallurgical glossary at TD Center.