How To Choose the Correct Coating for Your Cutting Tools
As if choosing the right cutting tool for certain jobs wasn't difficult enough, choosing the right coating for that tool can be just as imporatant. These tips can make that decision easier.
Titanium Aluminum Nitride (TiALN) Multilayer TiALN offers higher hardness than TiCN and excellent oxidation resistance, permitting high-speed and semi-dry or dry machining operations. It's more stable at higher temperatures than TiN or TiCN. It is used for machining cast iron, stainless steel, nickel-based, high-temperature (up to 800'C or 1,470'F) alloys and titanium alloys, and hardened steel workpieces less than 55 RC.
Titanium Carbonitride (TiCN) TiCN provides higher hardness, good wear resistance and enhanced toughness over TiN. This coating is used where higher feed and speed rates are needed, and especially for hard-to-machine metals and space-age materials. It's good for abrasive materials like cast iron and high silicon aluminum alloys.
Titanium Nitride (TiN) TiN is a good all-purpose coating that provides good lubricity and resists abrasive and adhesive wear. A step above non-coated tools, TiN increases the tool life and the machine's productivity by keeping the tool edge sharper longer. This coating is chosen for machining iron-based materials, for metal forming and for plastics molding.
The right type of coating chosen for drills, endmills and taps can save the machinist both time and trouble with a project. However, making the wrong decision may mean decreased lubricity, excessive wear on tools, shorter tool life and more downtime of machines while sharpening the tools.
The right coating will provide greater performance and productivity, but certain coatings cost more, and spending the extra dollars may or may not be necessary, depending on the type of job. Following these guidelines will help you choose the right coating for the job.
Coated drills, endmills and taps are carried by a variety of brand-name manufacturers. Contact your supplier for technical information, including recommendations about coatings. They may even be able to coat cutting tools to the customer's specifications.
Tip provided by Travers Tool (Flushing, NY). They can be reached at (800) 221-0270.
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