Drill inserts for austenitic stainless steel offer much advantage

Kennametal's KSEM-HPL(M) inserts are a completely new geometry for the modular KSEM solid-carbide drill in combination with the additional new grade KC7320 guaranteeing maximum process safety for drilling austenitic stainless steels and, at the same time, a low machining noise level. With cutting parameters often allowing double productivity, tool lives are achieved which are far in excess than comparable tool lives of common solid-carbide or HSS tools. The new, patented HPL(M) geometry creates four individual chips, without front-face chip grooves. This construction avoids chip jams because the four smaller chips are evacuated more quickly and more smoothly through the chip flutes than two big chips. Unexpected tool breakage is practically excluded and even applications up to 10xD are quite possible. High noise levels, which had been usual up to now in the machining of stainless steels, are a thing of the past, thanks to the better chip control of the HPL(M) geometry. Being a consistent further development of the Kennametal HP-point, the HPL(M)-point itself is also in a position, even in such difficult workpiece materials, to master feed rates far above those of competitors' tools. The new PVD-AITiN-coated grade KC7320, developed especially for the HPL(M)-point, increased cutting speeds and, at the same time, longer tool lives are additionally possible due to high temperature stability. Process safety, efficiency and long tool life are the outstanding features of this insert and a regrinding of the insert would jeopardise these features and is, therefore, not offered. KSEM-HPL(M) inserts can be used in standard toolholders and can be employed without restrictions in all applications in austenitic steels (cutting groups 14.1 and 14.2). The main fields of application of the new KSEM-HPL(M) geometry are in particular general mechanical engineering and energy generation. The new HPL(M) geometry is available in the complete KSEM diameter range from stock, from 12.5 to 40 mm.