What are the Benefits of Machining with Ceramic Turning ...

Are Ceramic Inserts Expensive Compared to Carbide Inserts?

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Ceramic inserts are 2-3 times more expensive compared to carbide. However, due to metal removal rates achieved the cost per edge is less than carbide.

Do You Need a High Power or High Speed Machine Tool?

Modern machine tools have no issues with ceramic inserts when turning, grooving or profiling but when milling, the power pulled needs to be calculated and compensated with cutter diameter.

Can I use Standard Tool Holders for Ceramic Turning Inserts?

In short &#; NO. When turning, it is recommended to use ceramic specific tool holders. Normal negative carbide tool holders have a top and side rake of -5°, whereas when machining with ceramics it is recommended (on materials under 45 HRc) to use tool holders with -5° top rake & -10° side rake. Also, when milling, due to high RPM, holders balanced in excess of the cut RPM must be used.

How Long Do Ceramic Inserts Last Compared to Carbide Inserts?

On average, when machining HRSA&#;s with ceramics the in-cut time is between 5&#;8 minutes for turning and 3&#;5 minutes for milling. The metal removal rates are far greater than carbide with up to a hour cut time.

Link to Zmdy Ceramics

Grades of ceramic insert available

Al2O3 (commonly known as a white ceramic) is suitable for both roughing and finishing applications for turning & milling cast iron.

Al2O3 + Tic Composite Ceramic (commonly known as black ceramic) is suitable for machining hardened materials up to 65 HRc.

Si3N4 Silicon Nitride inserts have high toughness and are suitable for machining Cast Iron (Generally grey in colour).

Whisker Ceramics are made up of silicon carbide whiskers (SiCw) which dramatically give strength to the ceramic matrix making it ideal for machining Heat Resistant Alloys and allows coolant to be used (Green in colour).

When you hear the word &#;ceramic&#;, the first thing people may think of is the &#;white&#; material used for plates and sanitary ware (toilets).
But that type of ceramic is just one of a number of ceramics. There are as many as &#;ve ceramics used for cutting tools.

In this article, we will introduce the 5 types of ceramic used in cutting tools.

What is ceramic in the &#;rst place?

In a broad sense, ceramics are a blend of metal or nonmetal with oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), carbon (C), etc., and this baked material is used as a cutting tool.
The ceramic used in cutting tools is roughly available in two types of &#;Alumina ceramic&#; (Al2O3) and &#;silicon nitride (Si3N4) ceramic&#; made by blending various additives with the main ingredients to develop specific characteristics.
It is further subdivided by the addition of various additives to the main ingredients.

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