Developed for the machining of Inconel and ductile cast irons, the toughness of the grade enables it to machine at higher feeds and heavier depths of cut than alternate ceramic grades, says NTK. What's more, the company has recently identified a niche application for the grade, the high speed milling of Inconel overlays and Stellite welds that are commonplace in the oil and gas industry.
According to NTK, the introduction of the SX9 ceramic grade has already enabled one subcontractor to take valve machining times from 3 hours to 13 minutes.
