Sumitomo Electric introduces new coated carbide grade for machining nickel, cobalt and titanium alloys
June 17, 2019
Carbide cutting tools in the AC5000S series (Courtesy Sumitomo Electric Industries)
Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd. (SEI), Osaka, Japan, has introduced a new coated carbide grade to meet growing demand for tools capable of machining nickel-based alloys, cobalt-based alloys and titanium alloys. These alloys are used frequently in equipment and parts found in the aircraft and auto industries due to their superior heat resistance and corrosion resistance.
In its journal, SEI Technical Review, SEI states that when cutting Ni-based, Co-based and Ti alloys, the work material is likely to adhere onto the cutting edge of a tool, possibly resulting in fracturing of that edge. The tool life is significantly shorter than that of tools for cutting general steel, so demand for cutting tools with stable performance and long tool life is rising.
The newly-developed AC5015S and AC5025S coated carbide grades are said to be characterised by improved wear resistance and fracture resistance. This was reportedly achieved by applying a physical vapour deposition (PVD) coating using the company’s proprietary Absotech technology and a new AlTiSiN-based film to improve oxidation resistance, and through the use of a cemented carbide developed with new raw materials and a new sintering process, said to offer superior toughness while maintaining hardness.
These materials reportedly help to reduce tool replacement frequency and tool consumption by extending the tool life, reducing overall machining costs. The new cemented carbide tools are said to have a fracture resistance 1.5 x higher than that of conventional products.
