Stainless steel competence

Stainless steel materials differ by content, property, and machinability. Machining stainless steel requires tools with various geometries and tool materials to cover the three main application groups: ISO P, M, and S.

For more effective stainless steel machining tools, producers search for appropriate answers to growing industrial demands. Global cutting tool leader ISCAR’s latest products clearly supports this conclusion.

In cutting tool design, the type of stainless steel is a major factor for forming cutting geometry, choosing tool material (particularly carbide grade), and deciding about coolant supply.

Turning tools

ISCAR’s three new chip formers for ISO turning inserts determine the profile of an insert rake face; are designated R3M, M3M, and F3M; and are applicable to rough, medium-duty, and finish turning. Usable in negative and positive turning insert designs, typical features are a specially shaped deflector for better chip control and a wavy surface to prevent chip hammering. 3D modeling of chip flow contributed to forming the deflector during the design stage. To identify the chip former, there is an engraved contour around the hole of the insert and each chip former is characterized by the number of contour curves.

ISCAR experts say the combination of the most advanced carbide grades with its SUMOTECH post-coating treatment gives the new chip formers higher performance and increased tool life.

In parting and grooving, ISCAR launched two new carbide grades with PVD TiAlN coating for machining stainless steel: IC1010 for medium-to-high cutting speeds and IC1030 for low-to-medium cutting speeds.

Rotating tools

Technical capabilities of cutting tools are largely determined by their properties. In stainless steel drilling, ISCAR developments resulted in two new carbide grades: IC806 and IC5500. IC806 with PVD coating is mainly for deep drilling difficult-to-cut heat resistant stainless steel (ISO M and ISO S groups). IC5500 features a new substrate and CVD coating for high performance in drilling ferritic and martensitic stainless steel (ISO P group).

The family of milling cutters with round inserts now includes tools intended for machining profile surfaces, especially the working surfaces of blades in turbomachinery. Two design versions include one produced from grade IC5820 for machining austenitic, duplex, and precipitation-hardening stainless steel (ISO M and ISO S groups). The second version, made from carbide grade IC5500, is for milling ferritic and martensitic steel (ISO P group), and considerably increases cutting speeds.

To improve performance in machining austenitic, duplex, and precipitation-hardening stainless steel (ISO M and ISO S groups), a family of five-flute solid carbide endmills use the vibration-proof principle known as ISCAR’s CHATTERFREE. Variable angular pitch and different flute helix portions now include a sub-flute wear control mechanism allowing for more aggressive ramping and enhanced chip evacuation. Made from a new PVD coated hard submicron carbide grade IC608, the combination of the chatter- free approach, the sub-flutes, a reinforced taper core, and the advanced wear-resistant grade in the endmill design delivers increased performance.

Effective cooling

With stainless steel, effective coolant supply influences performance optimization. ISCAR continues to develop indexable cutting technologies with coolant channels directed to the cutting edge with many tools designed to enhance high pressure coolant delivery.

Demands for more and more efficient tools for machining stainless steel require an appropriate response from the cutting tool manufacturer. High competence and expertise, multiplied by an innovation initiative, is the decisive point here and the way to progress. ISCAR remains determined and will continue following this practice in future cutting tool developments.