Business leaders have been making some very enthusiastic comments about the future of solid carbide tools in the metalworking industry. The advanced design capabilities enabled by solid carbide provide tools that meet specific application requirements that generate greater investment returns. Solid carbide’s distinctive combined properties of toughness and hardness make it a major player in the realm of metalworking tools.
Contents
Reduces Build-Up and Chipping
Chipping and build-up can occur when workpiece material begins to adhere to the tool or fails to fully evacuate the gullet. Kennametal’s SGL and HXL carbide drills were designed to address these issues. Both tools make good use of the advantages of solid carbide. They’re also well-suited to the performance needs of high-volume job runs requiring faster production speeds.
The Kennametal carbide HPX drills were designed for use in applications involving cast iron and steel. The tools come in three diameter lengths and were engineered to reduce chipping and build-up. The solid carbide HPX delivers higher cutting parameters, reduced vibration, improved chip evacuation and longer tool life.
The carbide drills in the SGL line are for stainless steel and high-temperature alloys. These carbide drills provide better chip flow and reduced build-up. The drill’s efficiency also decreases the amount of stress introduced to the workpiece. Like the HPX line, the SGL drills last longer and come in three-diameter lengths. There are also deep hole versions available in five-diameter sizes.
Saves on Machining Time & Frees Up Capacity
High-performance solid carbide tools have longer life cycles, bring greater process predictability and help maximize CNC machine performance. They can often be run at significantly higher speeds, so there’s a reduction in machining time that can free up production units for additional workloads. Because they perform well in highly demanding production environments, they also enable a company to take on the typically rigorous requirements of aerospace tooling and machining.
Solid Carbide Tools Provide an Attractive Production Option
Higher production feed rates and a longer tool life make solid carbide an attractive option for a wide range of drilling, roughing and end milling operations. Carbide tools can meet the demanding needs of machining titanium components such as those destined for use in aircraft engines and medical devices. Companies seeking to expand and adapt to more high-end production work have much to gain from bringing solid carbide tooling into their facilities.
Obtain Outstanding MRR With Solid Carbide Tools
The material removal rate obtained when solid carbide tools are used is another reason for machining companies to look into including them in their production environments. Carbide tools provide outstanding MRR when working with a wide range of workpiece materials that includes titanium, stainless steel and aluminum.
A solid carbide end mill can run longer, cut faster and provide long tool life even in demanding applications such as aerospace machining. The Kennametal HARVI line of solid carbon end mills, for example, covers a wide range of applications. The possible uses include extreme ramping operations and dynamic milling. A skilled application support staff is available to provide assistance when choosing the best possible solid carbide tools for the full range of challenging operations.
