M A T E R I A L S rotary vs indexable In the early industrial days of cutting tool development, metalworking was very limited. It was a slow task until the nineteenth century when the industrial age brought the availability of machine power from the steam engine and, later, electricity. Machine tools developed considerably in response and with the introduction of high speed steel (HSS) in the 20th century, the modern metal cutting era began. Today, there are two types of cutting tools, rotary and indexable. Rotary, also known as solid round tools, forms one entire piece made up of the cutting edge and shank. It is typically associated with drilling, threading and milling applications. Indexable tools are predominantly made of inserts or tips, where the cutting edge is a replaceable shaped piece which is welded or clamped on to a tool body. These are generally used for turning, milling and hole-making operations. Material – indexable At the beginning of the twentieth century, cutting tool material was sometimes only slightly harder than the material being cut. Therefore tool-life was poor and cutting speeds had to be kept very low. As cutting tool materials developed, they allowed for increased machining parameters and the ability to withstand higher temperatures while maintaining hardness. The harder the tool substrate the more wear resistant the cutting tool, resulting in longer tool life. The compromise A tale of two cutting tools: Fabio Sala, Dormer Pramet product manager for round tools and Lukas Pavlis, product manager for indexables discuss the key elements which make up the differences between the two types of cutting tools, including the material, performance and versatility. Dormer Pramet has an extensive assortment of round tools and indexables available. Indexables provide options for turning, milling and hole-making applications. 24 February 2017
EN feb17 Digi5
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