Tuning for cutting processes - 'WB Werkstatt + Betrieb' features article on CERATIZIT

MAMER, Luxembourg - April 28, 2016 - PRLog -- A magazine for the cutting tools sector, 'WB Werkstatt + Betrieb' focuses on information for the technical management, works and production managers in mechanical engineering and vehicle construction as well as all fields of the value added chain of cutting tools.

The March 2016 edition features a technical article by Dr. Uwe Schleinkofer from CERATIZIT, who reports on an efficient and reliable cutting process requiring the optimal interaction of tool parameters such as coating and cutting edge geometry. This very complex task can be solved best with a mixture of know-how and competence in the field of testing.

Demands are rising in terms of both machining quality and machining efficiency due to rapid innovations in production machining of components and the fast-paced development of work piece materials. However, it has to be accepted that the cutting process depends on so many factors that it is virtually impossible to put a theoretically optimal process into practice.

Modern powder metallurgy processes for best granulate properties

The main factors influencing the supposedly optimal process are defined by the highly complex interaction of powder, substrate, tool coating, cutting edge geometry, chip groove, tool design and the related process parameters in technical application. In the years from 1998 to 2002 CERATIZIT created the water-spray process for the manufacture of carbide granulate, which was patented and brought to production stage on a large scale. This innovative powder production represented a quantum leap in the manufacturing of carbide granulates for the entire sector.

Teamwork for optimal results: substrate and coating

The composition of the carbide granulates is specially tailored to the applications of the grades produced regarding their toughness, heat resistance and wear resistance. In addition to the mechanical aspects, for example hardness and toughness, the thermally controlled factors like creep values and chemical reactions with the work piece material and the atmosphere are also precisely analysed and taken into consideration when it comes to the structure and micro-structure of the newly developed carbides, cermets and ceramics.

The properties of the substrate are not the only ones which are decisive in this context. Instead, it is rather the combination of the substrate properties with the coatings and finishing processes and the tool geometry which are crucial.

Efficient tooling technology

The holistic understanding of the interaction between the tool, the insert and the associated chip groove is the prerequisite for the development of innovative, highly efficient tooling systems.

Optimisation of production processes in the cutting tools sector

Companies which want to stay competitive in the cutting tool industry or improve their own competitiveness must continuously optimise the production processes with regards to powder metallurgy and tool production.At CERATIZIT for this reason both products for standard applications and customised tooling solutions are developed in holistic teams where construction engineers, product engineers and application engineers are involved. The prototypes, their manufacturing processes and application tests contribute decisively to the success of the products and are characterised by considerable customer benefit.

For further information about the main influencing factors of the cutting process with examples of possible solutions from the competence brand Cutting Solutions by CERATIZIT (http://www.ceratizit.com/products/metal-cutting/), go to our website: Tuning for cutting processes (Tuning für Zerspanprozesse) (http://www.ceratizit.com/company/news-press/news/detail/n...) (German).