Cutting Tools
The broad category of “cutting tools” includes all of the consumable tooling involved in milling, drilling, turning and other lathe and machining center operations.
Drills, end mills, taps, reamers and inserts are all included here. Consumable tooling used on certain other types of machine tools is included here as well. Also found here are toolholders and closely related accessories such as angle heads. Supplier pages, FAQs related to cutting and cutting tools can be found here, as well as essential reading on the topic and all of the latest Modern Machine Shop cutting tools coverage.
Latest Cutting Tools News And Updates
Nidec Universal Head Enables Versatile Machining
The compact universal head enables better accessibility between the tool and the workpiece, as well as improved surface-finish quality, greater motion range and high-efficiency machining under ideal machining conditions.
Read MoreKyocera SGS Through-Coolant End Mills Improve Chip Evacuation
H-Carb end mills feature a specialized core and flute design improve rigidity and chip flow while reducing deflection.
Read MoreBig Daishowa Milling Cutters Provide Versatile Operation
The company has expanded its lineup of Fullcut Mill FCM tools to include larger diameters and additional lengths.
Read MoreH.B. Carbide Grade Performs in Highly Abrasive Operations
The HB-3 grade is a submicron carbide well suited for wear parts and cutting tools being used in non-ferrous machining applications.
Read MoreTungaloy Modular Turning System Provides High Repeatability
The ModuMiniTurn tool system incorporates a specialized coupling mechanism between the modular head and tool shank.
Read MoreWalter Indexable Drill Inserts Provide High Wear Resistance
The WNN15 drilling grade features a hard substrate, which provides high cutting-edge strength and sharpness on indexable inserts.
Read MoreFeatured Posts
Briquetting Manufacturer Tools Up for Faster Turnaround Times
To cut out laborious manual processes like hand-grinding, this briquette manufacturer revamped its machining and cutting tool arsenal for faster production.
Read MoreCustom PCD Tools Extend Shop’s Tool Life Upward of Ten Times
Adopting PCD tooling has extended FT Precision’s tool life from days to months — and the test drill is still going strong.
Read MoreHigh-Feed Machining Dominates Cutting Tool Event
At its New Product Rollout, Ingersoll showcased a number of options for high-feed machining, demonstrating the strategy’s growing footprint in the industry.
Read MoreThe Impact of Cutting Teeth Spacing on Machining Stability
Many cutter designs are available, and variable teeth spacing (or variable pitch) cutters can be used to influence milling stability. Let’s discuss why teeth spacing affects stability.
Read MoreHow to Troubleshoot Issues With Tool Life
Diagnosing when a tool is failing is important because it sets an expectation and a benchmark for improvements. Finding out why gives us a clue for how to fix it.
Read MoreForm Tapping Improves Tool Life, Costs
Moving from cut tapping to form tapping for a notable application cut tooling costs at Siemens Energy and increased tool life a hundredfold.
Read MoreFAQ: Cutting Tools
Why is through-tool coolant valuable, and why are shops are seeing greater need for it?
Getting coolant to the cutting edge is critical for any manufacturing application. It helps in cooling the cutting zone, provides very needed lubrication, and can assist in breaking a chip. Many times, external lines are used to splash coolant near the work zone. Long Chips can easily interfere with this delivery method, possibly knocking the lines out of the way. Additionally, when tools need to be changed or indexed coolant lines might be moved for better access to the tool. Then when the line is put back it is never the same as it previously was. Often times there is a give-and-take methodology used to cover areas being machined with this coolant, so all tools get some cooling, but none of them get ideal cooling. A coolant-through tool allows pinpoint accuracy with a specific direction of coolant pointed exactly at the cutting zone.
Through-tool coolant is available on cutters that couldn't offer it before. What has changed in the technology of tool manufacturing to make this possible?
There’s been a big change is the ability to drill small-diameter holes very deep and do this in a production atmosphere. Part of this comes from the drilling machines being able to reach the necessary speeds and holders that provide superior clamping and runout. The other part comes from tools designed specifically for this drilling application.
On a coolant-through tool, material could be added in areas that may need additional strength, allowing for the intersecting coolant ports to be drilled accordingly.
What aspect of tool engineering is responding to greater cutting speed?
Machines and tools seem to have a back-and-forth dance in terms of which is leading. Coatings continue to evolve, with more layers, and different material being used. This is something all tool manufactures are playing with on some level. The changes in coating technology is somewhat more limited, and not as many are playing in this arena. One process that comes to mind is “HiPIMS,” or high-power impulse magnetron sputtering. This process uses microsecond timing of extreme-power pulses. This allows the metal to ionize to nano size particles to be deposited on the tools. This process allows for greater adhesion and coating hardness, while maintaining great lubricity. Additionally, this process has greatly reduced compressive stresses. This reduction allows for smaller edge preps to be used, thus resulting in sharper tools.
Why is diamond used as an industrial cutting tool?
Developments in polycrystalline diamond (PCD) and cubic boron nitride (CBN) have allowed these materials to improve in ways that make them more versatile and cost-effective. Meanwhile, the machining speed and tool life of these tools continue to take machining processes to levels of performance where carbide cannot go.
Through long tool life and fast cutting parameters, the tools increase machine capacity by reducing the frequency of tool replacements and allowing machines to make parts at a greater rate. Meanwhile, the tooling increasingly figures into expert solutions tailored to more demanding applications in various industries.
Source: The New Rules of Cutting Tools - Rule #3: Diamond Shouldn't Be Rare
What are cutting tools made of?
Polycrystalline diamond (PCD), cubic boron nitride (CBN), ceramic, high-speed steel (HHS), cemented carbide or cermet.
Sources: What's Happening With Cutting Tools
Cutting Tools Supplier Categories
- Deburring Tools (Machine Tool Spindle-Mounted)
- Collets, Solid & Master
- Milling Cutters
- Tap Drivers & Attachments
- End Mills
- Tool Presetters
- Boring Tools & Heads for Machining Centers
- Spline Rolling Tools
- Tooling Materials, Ceramics
- Drills
- Drill Bushings
- Diamond Tools
- Mass Finishing Media & Compounds
- Spline Inserts
- Shear Blades
- Threading Tools - Cutting
- Facing Tools/Heads
- Grinding Wheels & Belts
- Thread Chasers
- Boring Tools
- Punching Tools/Dies
- Collets for Toolholding
- Gear Cutting Tools
- Cut-Off Tools/Attachments
- Grooving Tools
- Tool Repair, Coating & Treatment Services
- Thread Whirling Tools
- Key Seating Tools
- Tooling Materials, Carbides
- Broaching Tools
- Taps
- Slotting Saws
- Thread Milling Cutters
- Endworking Tools
- Tool Blanks
- Burnishing Tools (Roller)
- Grinding Wheel Dressing Units
- Retention Knobs
- Drilling Heads/Attachments
- Threading Tools
- Tool Conditioning Equipment
- Honing & Lapping Tools
- Serration Tooling
- Protective Sleeves & Coatings (for Cutting Tools)
- Milling Heads/Attachments
- Tool Condition Monitoring Systems
- Form Tools
- Tool Storage & Handling Systems
- Gear Rolling Tools
- Gundrills
- Burnishing, Honing & Lapping Tools
- Saw Blades
- Die & Mold Components
- Buffing & Polishing Supplies
- Knurling Tools
- Arbors (for Cutters)
- Cold Heading Tools
- Counterbores/Countersinks
- Abrasive Compounds & Slurries
- Marking Tools
- Shaving Tools
- Boring Tools for Turning Machines
- Reamers
- Tooling Systems, Modular and/or Quick-Change
- Drill Chucks
- Toolholders
- Chamfering Tools
- Thread Rolls & Dies
- Threading Tools - Forming
- Inserts, Indexable (Carbide, etc.) & Tool Inserts