Pistolero
Well-Known Member
This is probably something that only Keith is going to be able to help with, but anyone that
has insight, please chime in.
I am looking at some replacement threading inserts, 16ER A60 type. Which, as I understand the
designations means a #16 size insert, which has a 3/8" inscribed circle, and a A60 thread cutting
tooth, which is partial profile, 60 degree. Partial profile will make the root of the cut thread
correctly, but, unlike a full profile cutter, you have to have the starting workpiece diameter
turned to final OD of the thread in advance. With full profile, you can only cut one TPI for
a cutter, since you are cutting bottom AND top of thread at the same time, therefore depth and width,
so TPI, of the thread is fixed, only works for one (? or a very narrow range) of TPIs. I want a wide range
of TPIs, so A60 partial profile seems right, most flexible. ER means external threads, right hand.
All that lead-in is just HOPING that I understand this part correctly - and if not - want some
correction of any misconceptions here, first off.
The real question is the coating codes. Gold (assumed to be TiN) coating is coded SMX30, and another code,
which is black in color, is coded SMX35. One source says that black coating (without refering
to the SMX35 spec, darn it) is (IIRC, lost the URL of that page) was TiAlN.
Looking at some Chinese inserts, and the typical cryptic semi-English info says
"Black coating for steel stainless steel, general effect is good. Code (SMX35) "
Sounds good, assuming a missing comma after "steel", but wonder if anyone knows ACTUALLY
what SMX35 coating means, or is it a proprietary code rather than some industry
standard? Searching on SMX35 gets lots of PNs of inserts.....no info beyond that
cryptic, semi-English, ultra short sentence.
??????? Hall of mirrors for a relatively new person to the whole indexable tooling
world. I understand that there are a number of very hard PVD/CVD coatings over
carbide, not totally clear if just any of them are OK for general machining...mix of
alloy steel, mild steel, aluminum and brass.
Is a particular coating really bad for any particular material?
Or, just ignore the whole damned coating thing when running garage-wimpy-amateur
low cut depths and feeds because which coating you use is only important for max
cut depth and max feeds used in commercial operations where 10% more parts per
hour is a big deal?
Bill
has insight, please chime in.
I am looking at some replacement threading inserts, 16ER A60 type. Which, as I understand the
designations means a #16 size insert, which has a 3/8" inscribed circle, and a A60 thread cutting
tooth, which is partial profile, 60 degree. Partial profile will make the root of the cut thread
correctly, but, unlike a full profile cutter, you have to have the starting workpiece diameter
turned to final OD of the thread in advance. With full profile, you can only cut one TPI for
a cutter, since you are cutting bottom AND top of thread at the same time, therefore depth and width,
so TPI, of the thread is fixed, only works for one (? or a very narrow range) of TPIs. I want a wide range
of TPIs, so A60 partial profile seems right, most flexible. ER means external threads, right hand.
All that lead-in is just HOPING that I understand this part correctly - and if not - want some
correction of any misconceptions here, first off.
The real question is the coating codes. Gold (assumed to be TiN) coating is coded SMX30, and another code,
which is black in color, is coded SMX35. One source says that black coating (without refering
to the SMX35 spec, darn it) is (IIRC, lost the URL of that page) was TiAlN.
Looking at some Chinese inserts, and the typical cryptic semi-English info says
"Black coating for steel stainless steel, general effect is good. Code (SMX35) "
Sounds good, assuming a missing comma after "steel", but wonder if anyone knows ACTUALLY
what SMX35 coating means, or is it a proprietary code rather than some industry
standard? Searching on SMX35 gets lots of PNs of inserts.....no info beyond that
cryptic, semi-English, ultra short sentence.
??????? Hall of mirrors for a relatively new person to the whole indexable tooling
world. I understand that there are a number of very hard PVD/CVD coatings over
carbide, not totally clear if just any of them are OK for general machining...mix of
alloy steel, mild steel, aluminum and brass.
Is a particular coating really bad for any particular material?
Or, just ignore the whole damned coating thing when running garage-wimpy-amateur
low cut depths and feeds because which coating you use is only important for max
cut depth and max feeds used in commercial operations where 10% more parts per
hour is a big deal?
Bill
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