Mitsubishi Carbide applies AHX-W series technology to steel and cast iron milling AHX640-S

Mitsubishi Materials' AHX-S series can machine a range of materials from alloy and hardened steels through to stainless and super alloys and comes in a choice of fine or standard pitch types to suit the power available on a particular machine. If a large number of teeth requires greater power than available, switching to a cutter with fewer teeth, but at a higher feed per tooth can prove beneficial, advises the company. Cutter bodies are available from 63 to 200 mm diameter in both standard and fine pitch types. They are equipped with through-coolant holes to aid chip removal and promote longer tool life. The geometry of the 360º contact area on the clamping face also provides the insert anti-fly component needed for high speed production. The novel heptagonal, 14 corner inserts are secured with a central clamping screw. This permits a much larger chip pocket design to cope with steel chips that are generally longer than chips formed when machining cast iron. A VP15TF Miracle-based coated insert with an MP chip breaker provides the performance and reliability needed to machine alloy steels, stainless steels and super alloys, adds Mitsubishi. Additionally these inserts can also be used at lower speeds on ductile and grey cast irons. Higher performance when machining cast irons with the AHX-S body can be achieved by using the MC5020 grade with MK or HK chip breakers. The inserts have a corner number sintered into the face for ease of recognition when indexing. Three different chip breakers are available to suit various applications. The MK breaker with a double positive cutting edge geometry offers low cutting resistance, making it suitable for cast iron applications on less rigid and older machines, and the MP breaker is recommended for steel and super alloys and also cast iron. The insert chip-breaker range is complemented by HK and WK types for heavy and wiper-style machining respectively.