indexable carbide tools

hi anyone use the indexable caride tools are there any good

Yes and yes

Edited By mike T on 06/04/2016 18:18:37

Definitey worth it even if you don't need repeatability.

Only when I need to as HSS is good enough for most jobs I do and far cheaper than buying inserts.

I would have said no stick with HSS a couple of years ago, but now I'm a convert

So yes, but they take getting used to. Most folk here find CCGT and CCMT inserts work well on smaller lathes.

I still have plenty of HSS too.

Neil

I have some CCGT and CCMT because i tried grinding a HSS lathe bit once and it was poor. Not a very good finish in aluminium at all. I had slightly better success with a thread cutting tool. Probably harder to get that wrong with 2 30 degree grinds

The el-cheapo 7mm and 10mm boring bars from China are much better than anything i can make. Says a lot for me doesnt it. But to me they appear to be quite good and well made. None of the screws have given way yet either.

Material choices are quite often debated and in my honest opinion the real magic is in the geometry of the tool you are using.

Because of how much more heat it can take the carbide will work even at high speed, so the traditional rules for speeds and feeds can be used alot more leniently within reason, obviously one down side is you can't resharpen it without a green grit wheel. Also because it is an inserted tip, you have to be mindful of how well it is fastened to it's holder, especially with insert p-off tools.

HSS can be sharpened with a standard corundum grinding wheel and is alot more flexible for re making into different sorts of tools.

Michael W

When first starting out as a Model Engineer there's a lot to take in: materials, tools, measuring, dials, cutting speeds, coolants, work holding, reading drawings, suppliers, setting up a workshop, what to buy first: there's an almost endless list of new things to explore.

An advantage of indexable carbide for the beginner is that it eliminates the need to develop a rather difficult new skill, that is how to correctly sharpen HSS with a grinding wheel. It's well worth joining the HSS club but these days newcomers can choose to do it as and when it suits them.

You won't go far wrong with indexable carbide. In my experience it's rather well matched to a small lathe run fast.

Cheers,

Dave

+1 Mike T... although I use a HSS tangential tool for most of my cutting, I have a few indexible tips that are used on ally so have most of my needs covered.

George.

Yes, for indexable tooling, without a doubt. I still use HSS although very rarely. HSS is still used in industry on lathes especially for heavily interrupted cuts on HRSA's. So its not dead in the water, even in industry.

It is also alot cheaper when you consider the huge diversity of HSS cutters that are available whereas carbide being a bit more expensive and harder tends to restrict the range for it somewhat. I am a fan of all materials really, whether it be carbon, HSS or carbide steel i like to own a mixed array of tools for different jobs.

Michael W

I was going to say how much I've enjoyed using an insert tool for a job that had clearance issues, but having just switched back to my tangential tool the finish I'm getting is great. Must buy some more inserts I think.